GARETH: DON’T BE SNEAKING OUT EARLY
GARETH AINSWORTH believes his Wycombe side still have more to offer after Anthony Stewart’s lastgasp tap-in gave them their first win since March – but some missed the moment!
Sido Jombati had placed a delicate freekick beyond James McKeown on 55 minutes to open the scoring after a largely chanceless first half.
Andrew Boyce deservedly levelled ten minutes from time to send the Mariners’ vocal travelling support into raptures.
But Stewart snatched victory in injury time for Wanderers’ first points of the season.
“Don’t leave the ground before the final whistle, that’s the moral today,” said Ainsworth.
“I saw a few sneaking out and I hope they heard the cheers because it was a fantastic end for us today.
“I thought we dominated the first half. There were a couple of breakaway chances for Grimsby, but I thought we were the better team and at half-time, the same as at Crawley, I’ve come in and said ‘more of the same, please’.
“We’ll be building on this. It’s a nice feeling, but we’ll bring ourselves back down to earth for Accrington on Tuesday because that’ll be a tough game.”
Ainsworth singled out substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa for praise after his flick-on hit both posts before Stewart slotted home the winner.
“I said to everyone when we signed Akinfenwa there’ll be a Plan B when we need him. I think Plan B worked today,” he added.
“I don’t know how he’s hit both posts without it going in. That seemed to be slow-motion for everyone.”
Grimsby boss Paul Hurst was left to rue his side’s inability to close out the game after they appeared to have salvaged a point late on.
“To concede so late in the game and in that manner, from a long throw, we know it’s difficult to defend, but we had a chance to clear the line. We just stood and watched,” Hurst said.
“I guarantee on a training ground players won’t stand and watch the ball, but that’s what they did.
“I think we deserved something from the game. I don’t think they were better than us, but ultimately it’s a defeat and we have to move on very quickly for the game against Colchester.
“We went a goal down to probably the first bit of quality in the game and then started to play. It often happens when a team gets in front the other team has a response. But it shouldn’t take that, from my point of view.”
Hurst also admitted he’d identified areas to strengthen before the transfer window closes.
“I think today only emphasised what I’ve got in my mind about what we need.
“We make no secret that I’d like to bring a couple more in. If we’re going to compete week in, week out, that’s something I’ve got to try and bring into the squad.”
WYCOMBE WANDERS (4-4-2): Dawson 7; Jombati 6, Jacobson 7, Stewart 6, Pierre 7; Bloomfield 6 (Freeman 88 N/A), Wood 6, McGinn 6 (Rowe 74 6), Harriman 6; Thompson 6, Southwell 5 (Akinfenwa 64 7) Subs not used: Richardson, Bean, De Havilland
GRIMSBY TOWN (4-4-2): McKeown 7; Davies 6, Gowling 7, Boyce 6, Andrew 6; Jackson 7, McAllister 6 (Chambers 74 6), Berrett 6, Summerfield 7; Vernon 6 (Bogle 70 7), Bolarinwa 7 (Browne 89 N/A) Subs not used: Warrington, Pearson, Vose, Jones