Patience Required

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 10/05/2026

IT'S all been said, really. Two games against Salford may lead to a final. The fact that they finished fourth, we finished seventh, and we beat them twice has no meaning.

While Middlesbrough and Southampton deal with training ground spying allegations, we monitor the number of supporters coaches coming from Salford today. Whatever their number, Blundell Park was packed with people, sold out and full of expectation on this Sunday afternoon. The attendance figure this afternoon was 8,115 with 707 Salford supporters present.

Town returned to the starting line-up which saw us into the play-offs: Smith – Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Staunton – Turi – Amaluzor, Green, Oduor, Kabia – Cook. Changes had been made for the final league game at Tranmere. They didn't really work, and the substitutions made no difference. Having returned to our hitherto successful formula, we now had to get it right over the next 180 minutes against Salford and then we could start to think about the final step.

Town kicked off. Amaluzor received on the right and passed back to Rodgers who crossed. The ball was headed out to Staunton who volleyed the ball into the net past the helpless Salford keeper Young. Town 1, Salford 0 after 26 seconds. With just under 4 minutes gone, Salford won a throw on the left. Udoh headed onto N'Mai who in spite of being surrounded by three players picked out Cesay. With Town's defence running all over the place, Cesay found space and slotted the ball past Smith. Town 1, Salford 1. Both sides were playing with energy. There was a momentary scare when Turi looked to hand off N'Mai in the box after 9 minutes but the referee waved play on. Salford had an attacking spell but Town came back when Amaluzor was pulled down when running forward and Green won a corner. Staunton's delivery to the back post was good but Salford scrambled the ball clear. Salford were looking the more enterprising of the two teams but on 24 minutes Town won a free kick when Amaluzor was fouled. Town showed their battling qualities when Green fought off the Salford defender after a long cross from Staunton. Cook received. His shot was deflected for a corner. Town moved up the right. Turi spotted and passed to Kabia who turned and blasted his shot wide when he had more time to set himself. Town were fortunate on 33 minutes when Graydon struck wide after Udoh harassed Kacurri into conceding possession. Turi made a good interception on 35 minutes and earned a corner when his pass was put out by a defender. Amaluzor's header from the corner went over the bar. Salford's N'Mai did well on 38 minutes first when beating Rodgers to the ball and then fighting to win a corner. Garbutt delivered the corner to Oluwo's head, with Rodgers nearby but making no challenge. The header went down and through the crowd past Smith. Town 1, Salford 2. It was a controversial goal as Mnoga was standing directly in front of Smith and in an offside position. But the referee saw no infringement and the goal stood. Town had an attack in added time but Rodgers found himself offside. Salford controlled most of the play in the half and had showed greater composure as the score remained 2 -1 in their favour at half time.

Salford started the second half by kicking the ball and long into to touch. Such are the tactics these days. Town launched a promising attack with Kabia and Green involved but Salford sprung the proverbial offside trap. Kabia showed good intent on 50 minutes, cutting inside but failing to get traction on his shot. Cook used his physicality well on 50 minutes, shaking off Oluwo and crashing into Mnoga. Town pressed. Rodgers shot but Kabia was in the way. Kabia then had a chance himself but did poorly. Town were withstanding the constant pressure from Salford and getting forward, but were going to have to get over first half grievances and opposition attempts to slow down play, and be patient. Salford were taking their time and showed signs of frustrating everyone in the Town camp. From jubilation at the start, Town's fans were on edge. Turi received a silly yellow card for trying to influence the referee. A lovely flick by the same player then started an attack but his pass was poor. On 62 minutes more physical work by Cook led to Kabia being tripped outside the Salford box. Staunton free kick curled but lacked power. At the other end Kacurri shielded the ball from Udoh, as Salford gave regular reminders of their threat capability. Cook did well to shake off the defender on 65 minutes but the defender shrugged off the inexperienced Kabia. Town won a free kick on 67 minutes when Amaluzor was fouled. At this point Vernam and Burns replaced Kabia and Amaluzor. The game stopped a minute later after Cook whacked Cooper on the head. On restart Staunton passed the ball out of play. A poor Turi pass gave Salford the chance to attack. Udoh shook off Rodgers. Town's defence held firm. Town struggled to put together moves as Salford were forcing Town to play quickly and mistakes were being made. Turi did well to win a challenge on 77 minutes. Vernam managed a shot but it was weak. Walker replaced Oduor on 79 minutes. Town were in Salford's half but Salford's defence looked solid. Kacurri didn't help the cause with a poor pass to Rodgers on 81 minutes. Salford attacked on 83 minutes. Graydon won a corner. Blundell Park went quiet as Town seemed to have run out of ideas while Salford seemed happy to amble on and run the clock down. Town won a corner on 88 minutes after a dangerous cross ball from Green. Olowu headed clear. Salford broke out. Woodburn played the ball across from the right. Kacurri did well to cut out the threat. 7 minutes were added. Smith cleared long. For the umpteenth time Cook shook off the defender. Burns pushed the ball into the path of the advancing Green but Green's effort as many before it lacked any sort of power. Salford responded by winning a corner. Town attacked but Salford's defence secured another offside decision. The game stopped after an injury to Borini but in spite of regaining possession Burns wasted the opportunity by sending his cross directly to Young. That was the end of a disappointing performance from Town. Final score: Grimsby Town 1 Salford City 2.

It's not over yet. Town tried but lacked quality, other than Staunton's goal strike. Salford were guilty of gamesmanship and their second goal was questionable, but man for man they performed better than Town and put us off our stride. We got stuck in a rut and didn't create enough chances. These are things we will have to deal with in the second leg on Friday. Whatever happens, we will have to be prepared to shake off the pressure that Salford apply, and step up our game. We will need greater skill and invention, but we also need to be patient.

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