SO GRIM FOR DRAGONS OF HOLLYWOOD
National League Play-off semi-final
5 (AET; 4-4 FT)
Wrexham 4 Grimsby
BY JOHN RICHARDSON
WEMBLEY heartbreak had a sequel of Tinseltown tears for Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who saw their EFL dream shattered.
Six days after Wrexham lost the FA Trophy Final to Bromley at Wembley, they served up a blockbuster of a game at the Racecourse Ground – but it was unfancied Grimsby who took star billing and could now be 90 minutes off leaving the non-League behind.
Angry Dragons boss Phil Parkinson said: “The referee’s performance was so far below the level which is accepted for a game of this magnitude it’s incredible.
“We had this referee two weeks ago and how he has been put in charge of this game, I’m absolutely gobsmacked. His performance was beyond belief.
“We’ve scored a goal that didn’t stand. We have a player fouled before their first goal and we’ve had Bryce Hosannah clattered – that should have been a penalty. Myself, the staff and the players are hurting.”
Grimsby’s hero was former Wrexham defender Luke Waterfall, who struck twice, including the 119th-minute winner.
Mariners boss Paul Hurst said: “It was a fantastic effort to pull through.”
Wrexham came to life after Grimsby’s John McAtee had a goal disallowed. Paul Mullin was bundled over in the box by Waterfall – and he slammed in the spot-kick himself off the underside of the bar for 1-0.
Grimsby took just 82 seconds to hit back through McAtee’s looping effort.
The Mariners then took the lead with a close-range header from Waterfall.
But within two breathless minutes the home side were 3-2 up, Ben Tozer heading in a Luke Young corner and goal-machine Mullin following suit.
Grimsby’s Ryan Taylor and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe struck back with a header each for 4-3, before a Jordan Davies header forced extra-time.
But Waterfall pounced late on with a header from Jordan Cropper’s throw to book Grimsby’s place in next Sunday’s final at West Ham’s London Stadium – where they will meet Solihull Moors or Chesterfield, who contest the other semi-final today (12.30pm). WREXHAM: Dibble 7; Young 8, French 7 (Jarvis 119), Cleworth 7 (O’Connor 91); Jones 7, McFadzean 7, Tozer 7, Hosannah 7 (McAlinden 72, 7); Davies 7; Palmer 7 (Hyde 106), Mullin 8.
Subs not used: Camp.
GRIMSBY: Crocombe 7; Cropper 7, Waterfall 8, Clifton 7, Amos 7 (Pearson 91); Smith 7, Fox 7, Sousa 7, Holohan 7 (Raikhy 103); McAtee 8 (Abrahams 87), Taylor 8 (Dieseruvwe 75, 7).
Subs not used: Maguire-Drew.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Luke Waterfall. Came back to leave his old club heartbroken with two killer goals.
REFEREE: Adam Herczeg 7.