Town Claim Point at Salford

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 01/10/2022

GRIMSBY continued their fine away form with a welcome point at big-spending Salford and bounced back from two home defeats. Town got off to a terrible start after conceding from an early corner, but gradually played their way into the game, equalised through Richardson, and could have gone on to win it.

In the end, almost every Town fan would have settled for a point at the start of the game, and there were plenty of positives in the way the players fought back from an early setback at a big-spending club.

Town boss Paul Hurst was forced into a lot of late changes through players' unavailability and Town started with a makeshift back 3. Smith, Glennon, Holohan, Richardson and Pepple all came in, with Efete, Amos, Maguire-Drew, Simmonds and Taylor dropping out.

A goalkeeping mistake from the game's first corner allowed Vassell to head into an unguarded net, and for the first 20 minutes Town struggled to find their shape. The Mariners levelled the game from one of their own corners when Hunt’s delivery swung in and bounced off the bar. Burnley on-loan striker Richardson was on hand from close range to score his first senior goal from the rebound.

The goal encouraged Grimsby and they created a number of chances in the first half, with Khan drawing a fingertip save from Chapman in the best of them.

In the second half Clifton, Richardson and Waterfall all had attempts blocked by a strong Salford defence, with the home side looking dangerous when they broke. Substitute Orsi, who had replaced Pepple, had a golden chance to put Town in front when Kiernan played him through with a deft flick. Orsi's first shot was not well struck and was saved but he had a second chance with the rebound which should have been on target but he managed to send it wide.

Crocombe made a late save to deny substitute Smith, and both sides had to settle for a point.

Town did not start well, a common problem this season, but conceding so early actually gave them more time to turn things around. The key period was not conceding a second when their backs were to the wall, which left them needing only to score once when they eventually got their game together.

Grimsby next play on Saturday against Crawley at Blundell Park. Town have not won at home and Crawley have not won away, so both sides will be looking for a first victory.

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