Relegation staring Town in the face as Vale pile on even more misery
MFINAATCLHWDHAIYS:TMLEa:riPnoerrtsVvasleXvXsXMXaXriXneXrsXX EARLY GOALS SET THE TONE AS MARINERS FALL AGAIN
GRIMSBY Town slumped to a 3-0 defeat at managerless Port Vale as relegation fears continue to grow among supporters.
First half goals from Shaun Brisley and Devante Rodney put the hosts firmly in control, before Luke Waterfall’s own goal after the break piled on the misery as the Mariners missed the chance to pull themselves out of the bottom two.
As expected, skipper James McKeown returned to the line-up following his spell in self-isolation, while new signing Sam Habergham was named on the bench as he eyed up his first EFL game since 2018. Meanwhile, Harry Clifton returned to the starting XI, with James Tilley dropping out of the squad, while Max Wright and Luke Spokes returned from injury to take their places among the substitutes.
Town almost made the perfect start as they looked to pull themselves out of the relegation zone, with Mattie Pollock’s header striking the post from Kyle Bennett’s free-kick – although the assistant’s flag would have denied him in any case.
Moments later, the visitors would find themselves behind, with Brisley’s header at the far post squirming underneath the returning McKeown as the Mariners’ defending left a lot to be desired once again.
Luke Waterfall was denied an equaliser shortly after as the offside flag once again went up from another Bennett free-kick, and yet again Town were made to pay just minutes later.
Yet another cross and yet another player managing to beat the visitors’ defenders to the header saw Rodney double the hosts lead, and there was a feeling of déjà vu as the Mariners were left with another mountain to climb. Town were fortunate not to find themselves further behind at the break as McKeown was forced into an excellent save to tip away Cristian Montano’s strike just before half-time. Much like against Cambridge United, the Mariners saw plenty of the ball after the break, but couldn’t make any inroads and, on the hour-mark, the misery was piled on for the visitors.
Port Vale broke with Tom Conlon bearing down on goal before looking to slide the ball square for the simplest of tap-ins for Pope, but Waterfall’s desperate attempt to cut it out saw him turn into his own net and the game was all-but decided with half-an-hour of the clash still to play.
Even with the game seemingly done and dusted, Town still couldn’t find a consolation as Scott Brown produced a superb save to tip away Bennett’s deflected shot from the edge of the box.
The result saw the Mariners miss the opportunity to pull themselves out of the bottom two, and with crucial games against Southend, Scunthorpe, Barrow and Stevenage all to come before the end of the month, fans’ fears are growing.
Players react during Grimsby Town’s 3-0 defeat at Port Vale on Saturday.