Lucky Thirteen

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 30/12/2023

IT was lucky 13 for Grimsby at Salford on Friday evening as they recorded their first away win of the season in their 13th game. It was also their first clean sheet for 19 sides and probably the most comfortable win of the season.

It was all the more surprising given how badly beaten Town were in the previous two games, although managerless Salford were in a bad run of form themselves going into the game. Harry Clifton opened the scoring in the first half and then Tony Mullarkey contributed a second after the break, then Rose added a third to make sure, and send the large away contingent home happy.

David Artell rang in the changes across the side after the bad loss to Mansfield. Mullarkey, Waterfall, Andrews, Holohan and Eisa came in for Efete, Rodgers, Conteh, Gnahoua and Pyke.

Salford's Lund went close in the first minute with a long-range effort which skimmed the top of the crossbar, but after that Town began to settle, with the Glennon/Eisa combination on the left very prominent in most of Grimsby's attacks.

The Mariners were next to hit the bar. A great turn and run by Eisa led to a ball into the box, which Rose flicked onto the bar from close range.

The first goal sprang from an Eisa cross, but Clifton made the chance with a great turn, allowing him space to drag the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Town were good value for the lead but needed Cartwright to make a good close-range save from Watson to keep them in front at the start of the second half.

A brilliant turn by Mullarkey created space for him to fire a shot which Cairns did well to tip away for a corner. Soon after though Mullarkey again was allowed space to run into the box, and vault a challenge. This time his shot beat the keeper for his first goal as a Grimsby player.

The points were secured when Danny Rose curled an effort into the top corner.

Town were immense. The quality of the opposition did help but they were a shadow of the side of the last 2 games. Waterfall was superb in central defence, Mullarkey added an attacking threat on the right and Eisa/Glennon are a great combination on the left. Danny Rose worked tirelessly up front and Clifton was back near his best. Nobody had a bad game. The next match cannot come soon enough and thankfully it is soon when Walsall visit Blundell Park on New Year's Day.

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