Spokes stunner gets the wheels turning for Town in survival fight
MARINERS ARE STILL ALIVE AND KICKING AFTER WIN
LUKE Spokes’ spectacular goal breathed new life into Grimsby Town’s survival hopes as the Mariners claimed a vital 1-0 win at relegation rivals Barrow.
The midfielder struck with 20 minutes to go to give Town hope as they narrowed the gap to their rivals to seven points, with 10 huge games still to come this season.
Having been touted as a major doubt for the clash, it was a surprise to see James Hanson’s name on the team sheet – but perhaps even more surprising was to see him alongside both Lenell John-Lewis and Stefan Payne. Elsewhere, Luke Spokes got the nod in midfield after impressing off the bench at the weekend, while Danny Rose and Rollin Menayese returned to the starting line-up as Kyle Bennett was back in the squad as he returned from injury.
There was a distinct lack of defenders in the side, with Luke Waterfall not making the Matchday 18 at all, perhaps identifying the mystery injury Paul Hurst had referred to his in his pre-match press conference.
The Mariners were first to ask questions of their hosts during a fairly even opening 20 minutes, with Elliott Hewitt hooking the ball over the bar from a free-kick, before Menayese volleyed over moments later.
The best chance of the half fell to John-Lewis as he battled with his defender, with the ball sitting up nicely for him to take it on the volley, which he did with some power but unfortunately not the direction as he fired over.
The game remained scrappy for the remainder of the half, with Menayese doing well to get a touch on a cross fired in from the right before Scott Quigley could nip in and turn home.
The hosts came out of the blocks well after the break, with Scott Quigley just firing over from the edge of the box with James McKeown just back-pedalling with a degree of concern.
Barrow looked to be asserting themselves firmly, and the calls from supporters for a change were growing – but then came a huge moment in Town’s season.
Spokes picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and, without a moment’s hesitation, thundered the ball goalwards, leaving Joel Dixon no chance in the hosts’ goal as the effort flew into the top corner of the net to give Town a precious lead.
Barrow immediately went in search of an equaliser and had the Mariners pinned back with a succession of corners, with Taylor’s delivery causing all sorts of bother for McKeown, although the long-serving keeper just did enough to get the ball behind.
The nerves were jangling as the game reached its final five minutes, with Quigley almost breaking clear as McKeown tipped the ball over from a tight angle – although, thankfully for Town, the referee didn’t spot the touch.
As the clock ticked down, the nerves were growing, not least for Harry Clifton, whose missed header almost presented Quigley with the perfect opportunity to equalise, but a scuffed shot was gratefully pounced upon by McKeown.
Town hung on for their lives as the minutes ticked down before the sheer relief of the referee’s whistle arrived, with Town’s hopes of survival receiving the boost it’s so desperately needed.