Neil Woods’s Grimsby Town youth team ended the decade on a high as they beat Chesterfield 5-3 in the EFL North East Youth Alliance at Cheapside.

The young Mariners started brightly in their final game of 2019 without creating any real clear-cut chances in the first 10 minutes.

But Town put the Spireites to the sword in the following 20 minutes, showing lots of attacking intent.

Evan Khouri opened the scoring after 15 minutes when he cut in from the right and smashed home from distance.

Town doubled their lead immediately after, following some good play by Brandon McPherson who played in captain Joe Starbuck to make it 2-0.

 

McPherson then got a goal himself, after more good individual play, as he made it 3-0 on 25 minutes.

But the visitors responded and tucked away a penalty, shortly after McPherson’s strike, to make it 3-1.

But Town restored their three-goal lead minutes later, as forward Lennon Stead made it 4-1.

It was all action at the other end as the Spireites were awarded another penalty and tucked it away to make it 4-2 at half time.

 

Town came out with intent after the break as Stead tapped home from close range for his brace.

But the visitors were awarded a third penalty of the match which was converted to make it 5-3.

Town dominated the remainder of the game to pick up all three points, and move off the bottom of the table, heading into 2020.