HATTS THE WAY TO DO IT, TOWN!
GRIMSBY Town came from a goal behind against ten-man Stockport County to end the National League leaders’ 18-match unbeaten run in front of Blundell Park’s biggest crowd of the season.
The Hatters looked to be taking another big step towards a return to League Two as they opened the scoring though Scott Quigley and went on to dominate a feisty first half.
But Antoni Sarcevic’s straight red card ten minutes before the break proved to be the turning point and the visitors came out for the second half with a more defensive shape as striker Quigley was replaced by left-back Mark Kitching.
That move invited pressure and the Mariners took full advantage as John McAtee’s equaliser gave them the momentum, before Gavan Holohan volleyed home to complete the turnaround.
Grimsby boss Paul Hurst said: “It was tough going early on as they showed exactly what they are – a very good side who are top of the league.
“I was going to change our shape but the sending-off changed that thought and suddenly in the second half there was a bit more belief. We got on the ball and looked a threat.”
Table-topping County, whose last league defeat came against Torquay United back in December, were first to settle and they went ahead on 14 minutes when Quigley was on hand to finish after a ball into the box from Myles Hippolyte was back-heeled into his path by Paddy Madden.
The hosts created very little in attack over the first 45 minutes, although the away side were left a man short when Sarcevic was given his marching orders after a late challenge on right-back Michee Efete.
Grimsby had defended well to keep the deficit at one goal and after they grew into the game following the interval, their talisman McAtee came to life on 64 minutes. A clever flick by Ryan Taylor released him through the middle and after working an opening, he kept his composure to beat keeper Ben Hinchliffe.
The winner then came 13 minutes later when a corner from the left was headed back across goal by Luke Waterfall and Holohan found the net from close range to spark wild celebrations and send out a big message to the rival play-off contenders.
Stockport boss Dave Challinor said: “Do I think we would have won the game with 11 men? I do because we were totally in control and the red card is always going to affect how things go.
“But I won’t use it as an excuse. We still need to do our jobs and if we go through the goals, we can see they are avoidable. But it was always going to be potentially game-changing in terms of the decision that was made.” Michee Efete (Grimsby) 7,818
★★★★★