They’re going up... Marvellous Mariners seal promotion with extra-time victory
MAGUIRE-DREW FIRES TOWN INTO LEAGUE TWO
GRIMSBY Town secured an immediate return to the Football League as goals from John McAtee and Jordan Maguire-Drew secured promotion and a 2-1 comeback victory against Solihull Moors. Kyle Hudlin rose above Danny Amos to head Neal Ardley’s side ahead on the stroke of half-time.
The six-foot-eight forward scored twice as a substitute at Blundell Park in March and was again the architect for the Moors.
Hudlin’s opener added to Town’s frustrations after they saw two penalty appeals waved away.
The second of which, a foul on McAtee in the penalty area, was a clear spot-kick but referee Martin Woods didn’t point to the spot.
Town’s Player of the Season wouldn’t be silenced and he dragged the Mariners level mid-way through the second half, sprinting beyond the Solihull defence to calmly slot into the net.
Extra-time brought weary legs and a drop in tempo but the Mariners produced one more moment of magic.
Jordan Cropper’s long throw caused chaos in the area, flicked off a Solihull head and was turned in by substitute Maguire-Drew at the back post.
That completed a turnaround befitting of a club that has enjoyed the most dramatic of transformations.
Even the most optimistic Town fan would have predicted promotion at the first time of asking.
Manager Paul Hurst kept faith with the same matchday squad that triumphed in Wrexham eight days ago.
With no fresh injuries, the players were offered the opportunity to make themselves heroes after surpassing expectations to make the final.
Solihull started the better of the two sides and dominated the opening 15 minutes. Town were twice let off from set-pieces with Callum Howe heading just wide inside the area.
The Mariners established control of the match shortly after that early scare, though.
The imperious Ben Fox continued his rich vein of form, hustling and dominating the centre of midfield.
The first of two major penalty shouts followed when Cropper latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and was tripped by Boyes.
Referee Woods judged that the tangle of legs was innocent enough despite replays showing Cropper clearly getting to the ball first.
That was just a warm-up for what was to come.
At the other end, a loose ball from Fox allowed Andrew Dallas a clear run at goal and after checking inside on his right foot, his shot deflected off Cropper and forced Max Crocombe into a sensational one-handed reflex save.
Despite that warning on the counter-attack, the Mariners continued to dominate. Wave after wave of attack brought another strong penalty appeal with McAtee challenged late by Kyle Storer after releasing the ball inside the box.
The Solihull defender caught Town’s topscorer late on the top of the ankle for a certain penalty but referee Woods once again waved appeals away.
Hurst had every right to feel aggrieved that both decisions went against his side.
Harry Clifton then turned the ball over the bar from close range to further add to the frustrations.
The homegrown Mariner was picked out by Erico Sousa at the back p post but couldn’t keep p
his shot down. Those missed chances and unheard penalty shouts were compounded when Solihull took the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Sbarra’s cross found Hudlin at the back post and he rose above Danny Amos to put them ahead at the break.
In typical Mariners fashion, this team does not know when it’s beaten.
Andy Smith won the ball high up the field and played the ball into the feet of substitute Maguire-Drew.
His beautiful dummy sent McAtee racing clear and Town’s man for the big occasion slotted in for his 16th goal of the season.
That sent 13,000 supporters into pandemonium and lifted the atmosphere up a notch.
That equaliser actually buoyed Solihull and they had their best spell of the second half.
Howe again found himself free from a setpiece but headed over when well placed.
After riding the wave of pressure, Town replied and could have won the match with minutes remaining.
Maguire-Drew’s lovely ball across the box was met by the studs of McAtee but he couldn’t get enough on the ball and it went inches wide of the post.
So, as they did at Meadow Lane and the Racecourse Ground, Town would need extra time to try and find the winning goal.
After two successful attempts, could they do it again?
The 30 minutes came and went in a flash with both sides struggling to maintain the tempo of another epic contest. As the minutes counted down, penalty kicks beckoned.
But Town don’t know the meaning of the words.
As we entered the final 10 minutes of extratime, Cropper’s long throw was flicked on by a Solihull head and Maguire-Drew pounced at the back post to put the Mariners ahead.
The following 10 minutes felt like a lifetime for Town fans, who have been put through the wringer during these play-offs.
At full-time, an outpouring of jubilation and emotion on the pitch and from the stands as promotion was secured.
Twelve months ago, the club was on its knee, finishing rock-bottom in the Football League.
The new owners, Hurst and the players have brought the club back to life, reconnected a disillusioned fan base and given everyone a team to be proud of.
Town will play League Two football again next season.