Grimsby Town 2 Stockport County 1 ( Vanarama National League) Saturday 15 April 2022

( All words by hedgegrower, images by hedgegrower & Andrew Machin )

County`s long unbeaten run in the National League came to an end at sun-drenched Blundell Park this afternoon where our hosts Grimsby Town took the game 2-1 with 2 goals in the second half in which the blues had the major handicap of playing with 10 men- Sarcevic having been sent off on 35 minutes ( more on that later!).


Just 35 minutes of Sarcevic today !

Before that County, with Quigley again running our opponents ragged, led 1-0 – a neat goal put away with aplomb by the County centre forward, and looked likely to secure another decent result on the road.


Quigley - always a threat !

Essentially the sending off changed the course of, and ultimately decided a game in which Grimsby had not had a single shot of any note in the first half.

My feeling is that we should appeal this most contentious decision by Referee Lewis Smith.

………………………….

The first five minutes saw Grimsby doing their best to capitalise on a most vibrant atmosphere that prevailed with the sun beating down on two sets of supporters giving it their best!


Back header by Palmer as County do some early defending.

It`s true that our hosts enjoyed possession in this period but the best of it was a run by Efete that neither Mc Atee or Clifton could make anything of. A free kick and a corner followed but these were dealt with comfortably by the blues.


Collar presses( Andrew Machin )

That ended that, as far as serious attacking by Town who were thereafter pressed into urgent defensive action Andy Smith cutting a Collar cross out. Croasdale forced a corner from the loose ball -Hogan heading over from what followed.


Hogan header over ( Andrew Machin )

That was 11 minutes gone, another 60 seconds and County had the lead. It started with Hippolyte pinging one in at pace from the left, to where Quigley seized on the ball and slotted it home to give County the lead.

It`s Quigley......it`s 1-0 !

The pressure continued from County, and it increased as Amos fouled Minihan. It was a free kick on the edge of the box and this brought Johnson and Palmer centre stage – they wanted it….but the ball flew out over the bar!


Close but wide by Johnson ( Andrew Machin )

It became a bit of a procession next…Hippolyte seeing a shot drift wide, and another saved by Max Crocombe the home keeper.


Hippolyte on the ball !


Hippolyte delivers ( Andrew Machin )

It continued with Hippolyte cutting inside.Quigley won a corner from this only for Sarcevic to send his volley over the bar.


Quigley draws defender to him !


.......but Sarcevic misses out ( Andrew Machin )

A routine foul got Hippolyte booked 28 minutes in, but there was no quality with Scannell`s free kick and Madden was able to clear the County lines with ease.


Quigley - good work from him !

This set County on the attack again – Crocombe saving well from Collar, and Madden inches away with a half-hit shot after good work by Quigley.


Close from County !


Madden up for it ( Andrew Machin )

Quigley was in fine form, but we needed others to capitalise on his good work instead no one could take advantage as Quiggers won another flag kick.

The 34^th minute saw Johnson booked, and I saw not what constituted a foul in the action he was involved in.

But worse was coming our way just a minute later…..

County were attacking and Sarcevic went for a ball down the left- a move that precisely coincided with Michee Efete doing exactly the same- the pair coming together with the inevitable untidy dispersal of bodies.

Let me tell you what I wrote which was ` 2 clatters Sarce`and it genuinely looked that way to me.

The notes ( relevant entry at foot of page)

Others have said it looked a 50 /50 ball and situation, and I can see the merit in that, but none in the supine capitulation by Mr Smith to the improvised baying hostility of the home specs in that corner of the stadium- in short… red card….never !


County protest in vain !


The red card moment ( Andrew Machin )

My annoyance multiplied many fold when just 4 minutes later Minihan`s run down the right took him clear only for Amos to take him out with the most reckless of assaults.


Minihan recovering ...........( Andrew Machin )

....and of course it`s a yellow !*@( Andrew Machin )

There was clear intent on Amos`s part and there wasn`t a scintilla of doubt in my mind that, based on the `standards` set by Mr Smith just minutes before-he should walk, but…hey ho….he got a yellow!

The home keeper emerged with the ball from the post free kick melee…………..emerging again to make a vital late save to keep Palmer out in the half`s dying moments.


Crocombe foils Palmer !

The teams went in with County leading 1-0 , but they would have their work cut out to maintain that lead in the following 45 minutes.

…………………………………………..

When play resumed after the break Quigley had been replaced by Kitching.


Kitching on for Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

It took Grimsby 5 minutes or so to start to make a go of making their numerical advantage count – Hinchliffe making a decent save for County with his legs to prevent McAtee grabbing the equaliser.

Clifton seemed to have worked another opening for Town 2 minutes later but again the County keeper`s reactions were perfect as he nullified a somewhat underwhelming effort from the forward.

With Crankshaw on for Hippolyte County looked to mount a reply, but instead had defending to do- helped again by another lack lustre effort from Clifton who sent his shot limply wide!

Crankshaw for Hippolyte ( Andrew Machin )

County, cheered on magnificently by over 1400 excellent County supporters, still held the lead beyond the hour mark.

Collar not cowed !

Could we hope that they could keep it like that- certainly Minihan and Collar were doing their best to respond to the rallying cries from their supporters, but the Town defence were now finding that space that had oft times eluded them before…… and as their time in possession increased so did the chances of them nicking one, and on 64 minutes that`s just what they did- Mc Atee getting behind the stretched County back line to slot the equaliser home.

Magnificently, County`s supporters kept up a wall of supportive noise… I choose to think that it inspired Minihan and Collar who continued to probe for an opening that seemed ever more remote now- the product of the duo`s efforts just eluded Crankshaw at the back post.


Minihan- consistently on the ball, setting the pace !

For their part however Grimsby were seriously looking for a winner now, and it was not long coming. A shot by McAtee had just seen Town awarded a corner and when County failed to clear this, allowing Holohan to make the home specs day firing home from close in to give Grimsby a 2-1 lead with less the 15 minutes left.


Over the top from Madden .

Creditably County kept at it, mirroring the efforts of their supporters- but without any reward as Madden saw a shot clear the bar, and Crankshaw had a `goal` ruled out for offside- it was beautifully executed but he was briefly offside in the build-up , so fair do`s.

Both sides had their moments in what remained of the game….

Grimsby`s captain Luke Waterfall headed over on 84- Hinchliffe saved bravely for County as McAtee found himself clear on 85.

County continued to look for scraps- Crankshaw winning a corner from which I and a few others felt a spot kick to be in order as Hogan was brought down in the box- Mr Smith disagreed!

There was a `handball` cry in the mix as well not long after but I cannot say whether justified on County`s part or not- no penalty resulted, just a disappointing moment from Town who replying had a decent break on. But instead of heading for goal and look to put the game out of County`s reach- substitute Maguire-Drew headed off for some time wasting near the corner flag.

It mattered not in the big reckon up of stuff- it`s just me…an old man getting overly uptight ( `again` I hear you cry unkindly in response).

County had lost and we knew for sure that that would happen before the seasons end.

It is how we respond now that matters and given the way both the team and supporters have conducted themselves, I have little doubt that we will shrug this off and come back stronger starting with Solihull Moors visit to Edgeley Park on Monday!

Oh, and Moors came away with a draw today in Wales- so not all the news was bad!

See you Monday then!

IO County!

Grimsby Town line up:-

Crocombe, McAtee ( Fox 86), Smith, Efete, Amos, Holohan, Clifton ( Maguire- Drew 59), Scannell, Taylor ( Dieseruvwe 89), Waterfall, Jones.

Subs not used: Pearson, Abrahams.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Minihan ,Hogan, Palmer, Johnson ( Cannon 78), Hippolyte ( Crankshaw 56), Collar, Croasdale, Sarcevic,Madden, Quigley( Kitching 45).

Attendance :7818 ( 1450)

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