Time for Reflection

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 15/05/2026

WHEN politicians do badly in elections, they tell us that they are going to spend time reflecting. Last Sunday wasn't awful, but Town were undone by a good Salford side who were stronger and more skillful.

Although we didn't look like scoring after Staunton's wonder goal, the deficit is only one, so after a bit of analysis and reflection then we just had to hope that Head Coach Artell had refocused our group in the meantime. We've put in a number of good away performances this season so there was reason to be hopeful in advance of this evening's play-off second leg.

With a ground capacity of 5,100 at Salford's Moor Lane ground and a correspondingly low allocation which was never going to satisfy the number of Town fans who wanted to attend, it was unfortunate that in spite of fans being understanding of this limitation there was controversy in the choice and method of allocation. Mercifully Head Coach Artell wittingly or unwittingly read the room and did not, as he often does, urge our fans to make noise, as most were spending the evening shouting at televisions. In the meantime Salford's stewards were going round confiscating inflatable haddocks as if this was going to improve ground safety. On the pitch Town's starting line-up tonight was: Smith - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Staunton - Turi - Burns, Green, Walker, Vernam - Cook. The three changes were testimony to Town's squad depth as well as bringing in different skills. Town were in traditional black and white this evening.

Salford started by kicking the ball long and into touch. Cook had an early chance when Cook side-footed a shot wide after Salford keeper Young was forced into a rushed clearance. Cook was then unable to find support as Turi slipped the ball in on 6 minutes. As on Sunday both sides were expending plenty on energy in the early stages. Cooper pushed Cook to earn Town a free kick on 9 minutes. Following Staunton's free kick and retrieval by Walker, McJannet won a corner. Salford's defence stood firm. On 11 minutes it was Cook's turn to commit a foul on Oluwe. On 14 minutes Salford's tricky N'Mai weaved his way through several Town players in spite of being off balance, and supplied Graydon who in spite of being clear fired his shot straight at Smith. Salford won a corner on 17 minutes after Turi gave the ball away. Town were pressing well but were making mistakes. McJannet was too slow on the ball on 19 minutes, and Graydon took advantage. After being denied up to now Vernam got the ball on 23 minutes but his cross-field punt sailed over Green's head. A minute later Garbutt fouled the advancing Burns in the Salford half. With Kacurri off with a bloodied nose, Town probed on the left. Cook alertness almost led to him nicking the ball off Young on 29 minutes. Town made plenty of effort and were well in this game which was akin to a pitched battle. Vernam wasted an opportunity when he crossed to Young as Town sought to make inroads. But Town's play was lacking in goal scoring opportunities. On 34 minutes Town made an utter mess of clearing the ball but the move ended with an offside in Town's favour. On 36 minutes Udoh sent N'Mai away. Rodgers did well to cut out the threat before Kacurri headed clear. Mnoga robbed Vernam to start a Salford move, which Town defended well. Town were launching attacks but Salford's defence had skill, concentration and discipline. Vernam struggled to find space on 43 minutes but managed to Staunton who crossed straight to Young. The half ended at 0 - 0. It was a messy game, deliberately so with Salford's press which we had seen in the first leg. Once again Town seemed unable to handle it. There was a lack of fluidity, the overall quality was poor and Town hadn't created a clear- cut chance. We were lacking invention and ideas on how to unlock Salford's defence. This half must have generated the shortest highlights reel in history. At this rate our season was going to end with a whimper.

Off we went again. Town attacked but Burns was guilty of pulling Oluwo on the edge of Salford's box. The first 5 minutes were devoid of action save balls being punted from one end to the other. On 51 minutes Kacurri hesitation led to a Salford corner. The corner came in from Garbutt. Oluwo grappled with Rodgers and won the battle. The ball fell to Udoh who from 10 yards slammed the ball home through the legs of Cook and past Smith. Salford 1, Town 0. Town responded by attacking but once again were let down by poor control. Staunton got into an altercation with Cesay as the tension mounted. On 58 minutes Rodgers headed out for a corner following a cross. Another corner followed. Garbutt crossed. Oluwo won the header which crashed off the inside of the post. 61 minutes had passed. Amaluzor and Kabia came on for Burns and Turi. Amaluzor had an opportunity 2 minutes later but lost control and Oluwo mopped up. Salford were having the greater number of chances in a game of few chances. Cesay went close on 65 minutes. Salford were now controlling the game, and won a free kick on 67 minutes. Garbutt's curling effort was decent, but Smith managed to pluck it out of the air. Town won a free kick on 68 minutes after Udoh fouled McJannet. Salford broke out after the free kick was cleared. Vernam received a yellow card for pulling down Cesay as he charged towards the box. Town won a free kick on 71 minutes. Before it was taken, McEachren replaced Walker. Green did well to win the ball and find Staunton whose first time cross had to be put out by Garbutt. Staunton swung in his cross. Green met it at the near post and flicked it into the net. Salford 2, Town 1. There was a question over whether the ball had struck Kabia's arm on the way in but the goal stood. On 76 minutes Amaluzor lost possession, resulting in a Cesay shot which went wide. Town attacked on 78 minutes. Vernam ran across the pitch from the left, finding Amaluzor who back-flicked the ball to Green, who sent it across the face of the goal. Kabia was there to meet the pass and slammed it in from close range. Salford 1, Town 2. With the tie level, Salford attacked in order to regain the advantage. First Butcher and then Harris shot. Salford won a corner in 83 minutes. Town cleared. Salford were frenetic in their attacking. Town had an attack on 86 minutes. Vernam found Kabia who lost the ball and regained it. Vernam found space but the defence was solid. Vernam seemed to have had a new lease of life and burst forward on 89 minutes. Salford won a free kick but were unable to capitalise. 6 minutes were added. McEachren did well to stop Udoh but the ball came out to Garbutt. His shot was accurate but Smith was able to gather it with ease. Salford attacked. Green headed clear. Harris had a chance to shoot but sent it out of the ground. At the end of regulation play it finished: Salford 1, Town 2. 3 - 3 on aggregate. Extra time beckoned. Salford had strangled us for over 70 minutes before Town broke free of the shackles with a great set piece goal and an excellent attacking move which was full of the fluidity that we'd been lacking. This game could now go either way.

Town kicked off again. A minute in, Green tripped Mnoga and was booked. Green headed Garbutt's cross clear. Harris lost the ball to Amaluzor. Kabia received Amaluzor's pass. His shot was dragged wide. On 97 minutes a big clearance from Smith was headed on by Cook to Green whose volley went wide. The players were getting more tired as the game got scrappier. As Udoh tussled with McJannet, the ball fell to Borini who attempted to chip Smith from just inside Town's half. But Smith was in position. Nice work by Cook started a move ending with Cook himself having a shot but it went wide. The first half ended with the aggregate score still 3 - 3 with neither side having had any real chances.

Warren came on for Rodgers. Town had a good move on 108 minutes. Vernam's cross found Amaluzor who under pressure got a shot in but without power and straight at Young. Oduor replaced Green, who had run himself into the ground. Warren made an outstanding interception to deny Borini following a Woodburn cross. Kabia did well to avert an attack but a long ball from the back was this was not something that was going to be chased at this late stage. Town looked the more tired of the two teams. With 117 minutes gone, Salford had a throw on their own half. Stockton shook off McJannet who battled with Udoh but only succeeded in placing the ball into the path of Cesay. In spite of Warren challenging, Cesay drove the ball past Smith. Salford 4, Town 3. Tharme replaced Kacurri and was immediately in action with a long throw. It was desperation from Town now and too late as the game and tie finished: Salford City 4, Grimsby Town 3.

So it's league 2 and trips to Newport and Crewe again next season. Salford strangled us for much of the game but we did well to get back into it. In the end we were undone by our own tiredness with Green struggling and McJannet's fatigue limiting his ability to challenge Udoh which led to the decisive goal. But the season is not about that one goal. It would have been extremely disappointing if we'd continued as he had in the first half but we fought back well and showed great character before running out of steam.

Looking at the season as a whole, we can claim that progress has been made. Tonight was disappointing but the season can't be defined by a play-off defeat in spite of our clear objective being to gain promotion. We can reflect on good recruitment and managerial expertise in recognising players' strengths and in developing them. We didn't gain promotion because over the season we powered down too much and there were some poor performances amid some very good ones. There were times when the team seemed to get stuck in a rut, and I would question Head Coach David Artell's in-game management ability and over-hyped analysis of performances. He seems to prefer to concentrate on process. That's for him to reflect on. For the 2026/7 season, as some of the personnel changes, we will need to have a squad capable of adapting quickly to the Artell philosophy, if we are to continue the undoubted progress that we've made this season.

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