Grimsby Town 1 Stockport County 3 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 10 February 2024

Life at the top of League 2 continues to be pretty satisfactory for Dave Challinor`s Stockport County team who added another impressive victory to a season full of them with a 3-1 win away to Grimsby at Blundell Park today.

In truth, the game was looking to be over after half an hour with County 3 goals up and cruising thanks to goals from Sarcevic, Tanto and Lewis Cass on debut!

The blues looked different class - Nick Powell`s free kick for the second goal something to savour for all who saw it, and much of County`s play leaving David Artell`s side trailing helplessly in their wake!

Then, 3 -0 up at half time, County were put under more pressure in the next 45 minutes than they might reasonably have expected to be as the Mariners took the game to County with previously absent application.

In this regard Artell`s substitutions at the break were crucial to the course that the game took in the second 45 minutes- Abo Elsa nicking a goal back on 52 minutes, the Grimsby team lifting their game significantly testing the blues defensive resilience to the full at times.

Thankfully they stood the test well, restricting their opponents to just the one second half goal, their effort maintaining the blues lead at the top at 4 points over second placed Mansfield Town.

Perhaps even more significant is the fact that we stand 8 points ahead of Barrow in fourth place- who amongst us will not drink to that situation ?

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County`s record against Grimsby since the noughties has been ok. Since 2002 County have won 9 to Grimsby`s 7 games from 20, but still some perceive the existence of a curse especially when County perform at Blundell Park.

In today`s `Scarf My Father Wore` I argued against that suggestion but pointed curse believers in the direction of Danielle Blinka, BA, MPA who offered remedies should curses be an issue.

These included `Taking a Salt Bath `soaking yourself for 30 or 40 minutes whilst saying a prayer`, or `Smudging yourself` that involves waving a `selenite wand ` over your person, lighting a `Sage Bundle` then blowing it out allowing the smoke to waft over your body.

As you would expect Amazon stock such an item and just in case, I ordered a couple but sadly they hadn`t arrived before I left for the Flyer this morning, thus my bold contention disregarding the existence of a curse would be put fully to the test at an unusually balmy Blundell Park!

No matter, refreshed after a 2 hour stop off in the Lincolnshire market town of Brigg with Flyer regulars it was great to join a confident County following as they welcomed their team onto the Blundell Park grass circa 3 o`clock.

There were 3 changes in County`s line up with Lewis Cass in for the injured Macauley Southam- Hales, and Sarcevic and Croasdale back in place of Madden and Bailey who were both on the bench.

The first action was at County`s end where Ghanouha by-passed Bristow only to be policed by a brilliant tackle from Powell.

Ghanouha tried again shortly after, and it took excellent work by Akil Wright to spoil the home sides early ambitions.

A Grimsby corner kept the pressure on County – Rose aghast to see his shot kept out by a terrific save by Hinchliffe.

Five minutes had passed and Town were shaping far better than we needed them to, but that was as good as it got for the Mariners and they were a goal down within another 5!

County were attacking and slowly exerting greater and greater pressure on the men in black and white and this pressure looked to have told on home keeper Harvey Cartwright who made a total wakes of things teeing the returning Antoni Sarcevic up with the sort of gift he must have dreamt of prior to his recall.

Ball at his feet, County`s number ten took his time before rolling the ball gently home to ruin Cartwrights` day and give the blues a welcome early 1-0 lead.

County looked very good at this point and the home side`s discipline slipped just 5 minutes later via a foul on Sarcevic. The free kick was anything but in a scoreable position, until Nick Powell took a hand that is, and the quickest of legally taken free kicks was caressed lovingly to the edge of the box where Connor Evans lurked menacingly. I thought his shot on the turn was going in but maybe not and Tanto made sure firing home from close in in trademark style!

It was 2-0 to County and the cue for a burst of ` Tanto`s on Fire` from the large / loud County following behind Hinchliffe`s goal!

It looked to be one way traffic as County pushed on relentlessly netting again just 3 minutes after the second goal, but celebrations were cut short as the far side liner had his flag up for offside cancelling the effort out!

Any angst from that action however was largely assuaged by the next few minutes of play that ended with Grimsby tasting similar disappointment as a cross from the left was turned in by Rose only for the liner to my left to flag the effort offside!

Slowly, County began to get back on top getting their reward on 28 minutes in the shape of a third goal.

It had Cass`s imprint on it for sure as first off, having forced a corner, he was positioned nicely beyond the back post to test Cartwright with a header. The keeper parried this, the ball finding its way to Sarcevic who promptly leathered it back goalward where Cass was still stationed and able to find the net with admirable precision.

It was 3-0 and possibly match over in some eyes, but there was not far short of an hour left and time for much to go awry!

Not immediately, as Horsfall and Croasdale (who I thought had an excellent game ) did good work under pressure , but I think the game`s balance took a seed change very close to half time as one of the game`s many poor challenges from Grimsby laid Akil Wright out.

Akil had played an immaculate game but could not continue, being replaced by Neil Byrne . I have no criticism to make of Byrne at all he played a good game, but Wright`s added power was missed in my view.

We got a wee glimpse of what might be in store as added time neared .as free kicks and corners from Grimsby pushed us back – they were trying, none more than Elsa but his shot on the turn cleared the bar.

Tanto got in behind the home back line, and Cass almost reached the eager Powell with a late free kick in added time, but it stayed 3-0 as the teams went in at the break!

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Half Time Entertainment comes from one of my all time favourite bands Fairport Convention……

https://youtu.be/DuryMt75o7g?si=0t_6SwoVGdrzuNpp

https://youtu.be/1it7BP5PckI?si=U5eZ480cOrYi6vPO

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The re-start saw David Artell make some decisive personnel changes bringing Andrews, Vernon and Green on for Holdman, Ghanouha and Thompson- the impact on proceedings of these fresh legs was immediate as Grimsby surged forward with the ball looking more confident than at any stage previously in the game.

The upshot was that County started leaking free kicks.

We had 5 minutes of this changed pattern of play.

It stayed 3-0, and County had their opportunity to add to that scoreline, but when Evans won possession from nothing and fed Tanto the ball flew over the bar from the striker`s boot.

I was just convincing myself that `both sides were having a go now` when Grimsby made as positive a statement as they could have.

Hinchliffe looked to have stemmed the tide with a diving save to deny Town, but the home side would not go away especially Elsa who planted his shot beyond the County keeper into the net, reducing the blue`s lead to 3-1!

Grimsby looked a different team now and the first 15 minutes of the second half were their`s for sure, but crucially it remained 3-1, and I was reassured by Croasdale`s play and that of Powell- both instrumental in setting chances up for Tanto around this juncture that came to nothing!

DC began some changes of his own next- first off swapping Bailey and Hippolyte for Sarcevic and Camps then Madden and Touray for Tanto and Powell.

The changes seemed to momentarily unsettle the blues who almost leaked a second goal with 20 minutes to go.

They needed to double down on the concentration and no one in blue epitomised how to go about this more than Croasdale. He was splendid- running the ball out of deep defence time after time before sending passes up the park to relieve the pressure and maybe throw in a half chance or two!

A word also for Cass- as debut games go this one was right up there with the best, and he was still giving it some into the final minutes!

I`ve hardly mentioned Evans have I and there`s nothing to not like about this players wholehearted play- wow I hope we can persuade him to stay with us!

He was the narrowest whisker away from turning one of many Hippolyte crosses into the net – he well deserved to net that one!

Added time came and went with Grimsby creditably still trying to put pressure on County. For their part, with Madden adding his silky smooth four pennyworth , County continued , under Croasdale`s guidance, to play their way out of some tricky defensive positions.

Mr Parsons eventually blew for time ending the game.

So, County had answered the `curse` question I think, if indeed an answer was in fact needed at all, and this latest win again marks them out as worthy league leaders.

Much to do starting on Tuesday at Edgeley Park against Crewe Alexandra.

Crewe are in decent form so another good game should be on the cards.

I am sure you will be at the game if you are able, so keep up the excellent support- it does help the team!

Grimsby Town line up :-

Cartwright , Smith , Rodgers ( Green 46) , Maher , Hume , Clifton , Thompson , Holdman (Andrews 46) , Ghanouha ( Vernan 46) , Elsa ( Okinwu 86), Rose .

Subs not used: Eastwood ,Mallarkey .

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe, Wright ( Byrne 44 ) , Horsfall , Cass , Bristow , Camps (Bailey 65) , Sarcevic ( Hippolyte 65) , Croasdale , Powell ( Touray 73) , Olaofe ( Madden 73) , Evans.

Subs not used; Smith , Richards.

Attendance: 6732

hedgegrower

Before the Additional Gallery , this from Lou Spalding taken of the County team coach post game.....

Today`s Additional Gallery via hedgegrower`s phone camera -the early images giving a glimpse of Flyer regulars in Brigg……