The Imps recorded a goalless draw for the second successive game on Saturday with the blank against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park keeping City fifth in the League 2 table.

City enjoyed the better of the chances in what was generally an evenly-matched affair in the sunshine with first half efforts from Mark Stallard and Junior Mendes forcing Town 'keeperm Phil Barnes to save at full stretch on two occasions.

At the other end Alan Marriott was relatively untroubled, with his eventual clean sheet - the 98th of his Football League career - putting him ahead of Dan McPhail in the all-time shut-out chart.

The point means that a win over Chester City next Saturday will guarantee a fifth placed finish for John Schofield's side.

Lee Beevers in the thick of the action

Match report by John Vickers at Blundell Park:

Head Coach John Schofield named an unchanged starting XI for this local derby at Blundell Park, although there was a couple of changes on the bench with Nat Brown, returning from suspension, and Ollie Ryan in the 16.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon in Cleethorpes as the teams made their way out of the tunnel; both sides forming a guard of honour for Mariners' long-serving defender John McDermott in his final game at Blundell Park.

After a minutes' applause in memory of the late Alan Ball, the game got underway with the Imps quickly on the attack with a Jamie Forrester lob floating a foot over the bar after the striker tried his luck from the edge of the box.

Mark Stallard then forced Grimsby 'keeper Phil Barnes to make a good save after he flicked a Nicky Eaden free-kick goalwards before Forrester dragged a shot wide after being set free by Lee Beevers.

At the other end ex-Imp Ciaran Toner headed well wide after Peter Till swung a cross in from the right whilst on the eight minute mark the hosts won the first corner of the game. Alan Marriott easily claimed the delivery when it came in though.

The next 10 minutes or so were evenly matched until good work from Jeff HUghes saw him draw foul on the left hand side. Mariners' stopper Barnes punched Scott Kerr's delivery clear though and when Grimsby responded Toner blazed well over.

Good work from Paul Green in the 21st minute saw him win the Imps' first corner of the game but Hughes' ball in clipped Paul Mayo's head before going out for a throw-in on the opposite side of the field.

Grimsby replied by winning a corner of the own, this too coming to nothing, whilst another flag-kick just after the half-hour mark ended up being cleared to safety by Hughes.

A great saving block by Paul Green then saw him deny centre-back Nick Fenton who had stayed up following the corner but a number of free-kicks awarded by referee Anthony Taylor ensured the opening period remained very much a stop-start affair.

Junior Mendes then saw his shot on the turn palmed away well by Barnes whilst at the other end Mayo got in the way of a Toner drive, conceding a corner in the process.

Toner then sent an effort wide, inches past the outstretched leg of Gary Jones whils City's response, a couple of minutes before the break, saw Stallard win a corner on the left.

Clever play from Forrester then saw him draw a foul from Ryan Bennett and from the free-kick, taken towards the end of the one added minute, ended up with Jeff Hughes driving inches over the bar.

HT: GRIMSBY 0 IMPS 0

There were no changes at the break so it was as you were as the second half got underway with the sun still shining brightly on proceedings.

The first shot on target following the restart went Grimsby's way with Danny North testing Alan Marriott from the edge of the box whilst a mis-hit effort from Junior Mendes at the other end saw Barnes gather with ease.

Just nine minutes into the second period, Junior Mendes was replaced by Lee Frecklington as John Schofield switched things around. Shortly after this change Scott Kerr had a shot saved by Barnes.

Grimsby forced their fifth corner of the game shortly after the hour mark but before it could be taken Tom Newey required treatment after going down under a double challenge from Frecklington and Eaden.

City replied with Green going on a great break down the right before he pulled the ball back to Forrester but an untimely bobble ensured his effort at goal flew over rather than in.

Ex-Imp Matt Bloomer replaced right-back John McDermott in the 66th minute, the latter receiving a standing ovation from the Mariners' fans as he left the pitch.

Bloomer was straight into the action, conceding a corner, but Barnes commanded is box well to claim Hughes' outswinger. He then released the ball quickly to North who tested Marriott at the other end.

Grimsby boss Alan Buckley then brought on Andy Taylor for Gary Harkins in midfield and with a quarter of an hour on the clock Bloomer had a low drive easily held by Marriott between the City sticks.

In the 81st minute, Gary Jones made way for Nick Hegarty in a third substitution by the home side whilst a second City change saw Ollie Ryan come on for Jamie Forrester a couple of minutes later.

With five minutes on the clock, Alan Marriott tipped a dipping Danny North drive behind for a corner and when the flag-kick was floated in Nick Fenton saw his header claimed by the City custodian.

The home fans were on their feet in the final minute when North went down under Mayo's sliding challenge but referee Taylor was on the spot and calmly indicated a goal kick.

Fourth Official Mark Hutchinson then indicated that a minimum of two additional minutes were to be added at the end of the 90 and these came and went without incident with the point keeping the Imps in fifth place going into the final game of the season.

FT: GRIMSBY 0 IMPS 0

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
12 Nicky EADEN
2 Lee BEEVERS
5 Paul MORGAN
3 Paul MAYO
6 Paul GREEN
11 Scott KERR
24 Jeff HUGHES
9 Mark STALLARD
10 Junior MENDES
22 Jamie FORRESTER

subs
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON (for MENDES 54)
18 Ollie RYAN (for FORRESTER 84)
17 Peter HOLMES
23 Nat BROWN
21 Robert OLEJNIK

GRIMSBY TOWN
1 Phil BARNES
16 Danny BOSHELL
3 Tom NEWEY
19 Gary JONES
5 Nick FENTON
4 Gary HARKINS
2 John McDERMOTT
17 Peter TILL
28 Ryan BENNETT
22 Danny NORTH
10 Ciaran TONER

subs
29 Matt BLOOMER (for McDERMOTT 66)
26 Andy TAYLOR (for HARKINS 70)
23 Nick HEGARTY (for JONES 81)
13 Robert MURRAY
6 Justin WHITTLE

REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
ASSISTANTS: Paul Curry & Michael Naylor
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Mark Hutchinson

ATTENDANCE: 6,137 (1,257 City supporters)