Town promotion charge still on track thanks to hard-fought win
HARRY Clifton netted a late winner for Grimsby Town to extend their winning run to three National League matches as they beat Woking 1-0.
The Mariners had to defend well in the opening half an hour before growing into the match.
Ryley Towler cleared Inih Effiong’s goal-bound strike off the line after the Woking striker had rounded James McKeown before the ball was scrambled to safety.
Clifton had Town’s best chance of the match in the first half as he failed to convert Erico Sousa’s back-post cross after a lovely ball from Ryan Sears.
However, as the game looked to be coming to a draw, Clifton provided the 800-plus away supporters with a moment to remember as he slammed them ahead.
In a frantic, open start to the match, both sides had chances to land the first blow. It was Woking that missed the most glaring chance, as Moussa Diarra headed wide from 12 yards after being left unmarked from a corner.
Back came Town and Erico Sousa, recalled to the side in place of the suspended Will Bapaga, flashed a cross across the face of goal which Ryan Taylor was inches away from tapping home.
The best chance of the first half then came the way of the hosts as both sides traded punches. The Mariners were indebted to Ryley Towler who produced a goal-saving block as the lively Inih Effiong rounded James McKeown and struck goalwards.
In a pulsating opening 45 minutes, Town’s best opportunity followed as Harry Clifton somehow failed to convert Sousa’s cross to the back post, with supporters waiting for the net to ripple. The chance was created by Ryan Sears who produced a defence-splitting pass to release Sousa.
Town started the second half the better of the two sides and nearly cut their way through as Ben Fox lashed a shot at goal from the edge of the area but his left-footed drive was tipped away by Craig Ross.
With both sides pushing for the winner, it was the Mariners that struck gold as Clifton buried his chance from the edge of the area after nice work from substitute Max Wright.
Results elsewhere in the division ensured Paul Hurst’s side remain top, with Boreham Wood, Halifax and Chesterfield breathing down their necks.
Woking: Ross; Lofthouse, Champion, McNerney, Diarra, Casey; Nwabuokei, Ince, Allarakhia (Thompson-Sommer, 70); Effiong, Campbell.
Unused substitutes: Smith, Loza, Johnson, Block.
Grimsby Town: McKeown; Sears, Waterfall, Rowley, Crookes; Hunt (Wright, 85), Fox; Sousa, McAtee (Pearson, 90), Clifton; Taylor (John-Lewis, 72).
Unused substitutes: Coke, Revan.