Hatters’ grip at
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
GRIMSBY TOWN ............. 1 COUNTY ............................ 3
LEAGUE Two leaders Stockport County eased to a second away win on the bounce in a comfortable 1-3 victory at Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon, as the picture at the top of the division became even clearer still.
First-half goals from Antoni Sarcevic, Tanto Olaofe and debutant Lewis Cass put County well in charge of proceedings – and although The Mariners pulled one back shortly after half-time, Abo Eisa’s close-range finish proved no more than a consolation as Dave Challinor’s men rolled on.
Elsewhere, defeats for promotion rivals Wrexham and Barrow saw The Hatters tighten their grip on the all-important top three positions of the division, with Challinor’s side moving eight points clear of fourth spot with a fixture in hand.
After being held to a 1-1 draw by surprise package Harrogate Town last weekend at Edgeley Park, Challinor made three changes to the starting line-up at perennial bogey side Grimsby for this one.
Full-back Lewis Cass, on loan from Port Vale, was handed his debut in place of Macauley Southam-Hales, who had cruelly been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a ruptured patellar tendon injury in midweek.
Ryan Croasdale and the crucial Sarcevic both returned, replacing Odin Bailey and skipper Paddy Madden – both of whom were named among the substitutes.
Trips to Blundell Park over the past two years have proven to be miserable outings for The Hatters, with Antoni Sarcevic shown a straight red card back in 2022 as thenNational League leaders County fell from a 0-1 lead to fall to a 2-1 defeat late in the title run-in.
Then came a sickness bug which hit the County camp on the eve of last season’s trip to Cleethorpes, with a heavily depleted squad losing 1-0 on New Year’s Day 2023.
This time around, however, there were no problems for an increasingly confident County group of any hiccups on the road.
Less than ten minutes in here, an error by Mariners stopper Harvey Cartwright’s as seized upon by Sarcevic, who slotted home to give County an early lead.
Five minutes later, the advantage was doubled.
A stunning quicklytaken free-kick by Nick Powell, from deep in the Hatters’ half, was pinged upfield to Connor Lemonheigh Evans, who unselfishly squared for Olaofe to convert his 17th goal of the season in all competitions.
Olaofe had the ball in Grimsby’s net again within another three minutes, but saw his effort disallowed for offside.
And the hosts also had a goal ruled out on the same grounds, with Holohan the culprit, just ahead of the 20-minute mark.
As the half-hour approached, Powell grazed the crossbar with a trademark delightful chip, following an Ethan Bristow corner from the right – but, moments later, County had a third goal, with Cass latching on to a looping Sarcevic cross from the right and heading in on his inaugural appearance as a Hatter.
The Hatters’ joy was tempered somewhat four minutes before the break, when Akil Wright picked up an injury and limped off – to be replaced in the back four by Neill Byrne.
Either side of that substitution, Abo Eisa fired shots wide of the right post and over the bar.
Similarly to Doncaster
Rovers in a 1-5 thrashing by the title favourites a fortnight ago, Grimsby boss David Artell reacted to a woeful first-half by making a triple substitution immediately prior to the restart.
Within seven minutes, one of the home replacements made his presence felt – as Charles Vernam unleashed a venomous low shot that Hinchliffe dived to parry, but only as far as Eisa, who thundered home to reduce the arrears.
Grimsby’s greater press following the interval earned five corners before or around the hour-mark – before the Hatters made changes of their own, by bringing on Bailey and Myles Hippolyte.
County’s first chance of note in the new half saw Olaofe played through by Powell – but the striker’s eventual shot was deflected beyond the right post off Harvey Rodgers.
Both Hatters involved in the move were subsequently given a wellearned rest courtesy of a second double-substitution, as Madden and Ibby Touray were introduced with 18 minutes to go.
The scorers were not troubled further – although Lemonheigh Evans, in the closing stages, had an effort deflected behind, before sliding into the goalmouth in anticipation of Bristow’s low cross from the left but just failing to apply a final, decisive touch.
Another satisfying day at the office, en route to what looks to be a likely return to the third tier for this swashbuckling side, would perfectly tee up a mouthwatering Cheshire derby against promotion rivals Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday evening at Edgeley Park, as the Express went to print. COUNTY LINE-UP (4-2-3-1):