Uncovered FC stuttered back into action with a 3-2 defeat to Grimsby's InToNet Mariners on Saturday.

The fixture put an end to a 2 month lay-off for UFC, who last played away at Forever Bury on Boxing Day.

Boss Dave Aiken had 19 to choose from, Gary Mann being the most notable inclusion, set to make his first appearance since his horrific injury at WorldNet in July.

Among the absentees was pretend-cockney Nick Cawood, who scored from the half way line in the reverse fixture.

Lining up in a 4-4-2 and using rolling subs every ten minutes, Uncovered squandered an early chance. The ball fell at Nick Richardson's feet in the box, but his pathetic effort floated wide of the post.

It wasn't long before they had the ball in the net, however. Richardson and Dan King linked up tidily down the left, before the ball found its way to Dave Kimmons who notched his fourth of the season.

Grimsby responded well and began to pile on the pressure. Uncovered were understandably rusty and were struggling to keep posession. Grimsby's equaliser was met with an air of inevitability.

And before the half was out, the home side found themselves behind. A Grimsby attacker squirmed his way through UFC's back line to latch on to a through ball, before rounding Nick Woodward, whose appeals for offside were unfounded, and slotting home.

Calamity ensued when Uncovered/War veteran David Robinson threw his handbag at Woodward, who consequently ran home, leaving Robinson to substitute him between the sticks.

UFC started the second half with renewed vigour but were powerless to prevent Grimsby from making it three.

But it was not all to be doom and gloom. Gary Mann capped an emotional return with a placed effort after a goalmouth scramble, taking his tally to two goals in as many games against the Mariners.

3-2 was how it stayed and, although no doubt disappointed to lose, Uncovered were surely pleased to have got a game under their belts.

Their next fixture comes away at A1 on Saturday. (12.15pm K.O, Conyers School, Yarm).

by Nick Richardson