Another loss piles pressure on Jolley

GRIMSBY TOWN manager Michael Jolley conceded that his position is ‘vulnerable’ after suffering a sixth straight league defeat against Morecambe.

The result sees Grimsby drop into the relegation zone in League Two, while Morecambe pulled four points clear of the bottom two.

Fans made their feelings clear upon the full-time whistle in Cleethorpes – and for Jolley, there was no hiding away from the situation.

“I’m not naïve about it, I think I’m realistic enough to know that any manager who’s in that position is vulnerable by definition,” Jolley said.

On the game, Jolley added: “I thought we were fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time, I thought Morecambe were the better team in the first half.

“In the second half we conceded two really poor goals, and we had an injury which disrupted us, so that didn’t help. We’re desperately disappointed to lose.”

Second-half goals from Rhys Oates and Liam Mandeville saw Morecambe claim a second consecutive win, and their third of the season so far.

After Ajay LeitchSmith spurned a great opportunity to put Morecambe ahead when he volleyed straight at James McKeown, the hosts took the lead with a clever opener.

Jordan Cook turned well to lose his man out on the right before playing the ball on to Elliot Embleton, who drove at the visitors’ defence before curling his effort home.

Wes Thomas almost doubled Grimsby’s lead just after the break as he cracked the ball against the crossbar from Embleton’s cross.

Morecambe responded to that warning shot and, just after the hour mark, drew level when Oates drifted through the Grimsby defence to score against his former side.

And just moments later, they found themselves ahead when the hosts failed to deal with a cross, enabling Mandeville to turn home.

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley was full of praise for his team after the game.

“Their first shot on target went in, so we’re disappointed with it, but after that I thought we played some fantastic stuff.

“We spoke about being focused and determined – we had a little bit of luck, but luck plays a big part in football, and the harder you work, the luckier you are.”