Salford City football Club

A late Ibou Touray strike ended Salford’s barren run in front of goal, as well as rescuing what yet could turn out to be a vital point. The Ammies had struggled after going behind to relegation threatened Grimsby Town and the stalwart left-back’s fine finish was only their second their shot on target. Another largely frustrating afternoon then, yet on the plus side the play-off places are a point nearer due to Newport’s defeat at Barrow.

There was a single change to the eleven that started last week’s defeat at Exeter, with striker Mani Dieseruvwe replacing James Wilson – his first league start for the club since September 2019.

A fine Good Friday in Salford, but it would start unpleasantly for the Ammies as they went behind in the 2nd minute. Grimsby’s Julien Lamy hooked a pass back from the line on the left and HARRY CLIFTON drove in a powerfully struck effort from the edge of the box that beat Václav Hladký low at his right-hand post.

Not the start anyone connected with the home side had in mind, and Grimsby would set the attacking pace of the game during its opening stages.

On 7 minutes a Lenell John-Lewis ball up the left sent Lamy off on a run that took him almost to the line. When the cross came it appeared to strike Tom Clarke’s hand – under the new rules that could well have been a penalty, but here the referee let it go.

The Mariners looked determined to build on that early lead and in the 10th minute Jay Matete left fly with a rising shot from outside the box. Hladký was equal to this one, diving to the right to push the ball over his crossbar. Within another minute Clifton’s cross from the right was headed down for John-Lewis to hit a low 12-yard effort that was goalbound until Hladký got down to push the ball away to his right.

A very decent start for Paul Hurst’s side but the Ammies were settling a little, exerting a bit of pressure on James McKeown’s erstwhile unthreatened goal. With 19 minutes played Rollin Menayese did well to clear Ash Hunter’s dangerous low cross from the right. The ball fell temptingly for Brandon Thomas-Asante but the striker’s volleyed effort from 20 yards drifted well wide of the keeper’s left-hand upright.

Some pressure from Salford, but the visitors were getting men behind the ball and defending well. In the 25th minute a Touray corner from the right dropped beyond the far post, with Jordan Turnbull rising to get in a close-range header that dropped wide of the target.

A familiar pattern ensued for the rest of the half as the Ammies moved the ball into Grimsby territory often enough without being able to produce a real threat. A Hunter free-kick crashed into the defensive wall 3 minutes before the break, and that was the only real effort of note.

There was a hold up just before half-time as Grimsby’s Giles Coke required treatment for a head injury, and fortunately he was able to resume.

A very satisfactory half for Grimsby who took their early chance and might well have added to the lead during a productive opening 15 minutes.

HALF-TIME: SALFORD CITY 0 GRIMSBY TOWN 1

The Mariners had an effort disallowed early in the second half as a James Hanson header fell for Stefan Payne whose clever overhead kick beat Hladký. Celebrations were more hopeful than sincere as the referee had already blown for an earlier infringement.

Payne was booked a minute or so later following a clash with Oscar Threlkeld and was a little bit fortunate not to collect an immediate second as he sarcastically applauded the referee.

Thomas-Asante’s attempt to get into the box resulted in the Salford man hitting the turf, with the referee’s decision not to award a penalty probably correct.

A spell of concerted Salford pressure might have been expected early in the second half, but if failed to appear. In fact, Grimsby were the next to go close as John-Lewis controlled a long ball that dropped over his right shoulder. From a central position and 16 yards out the Mariners’ skipper didn’t get great connection on a low shot that Hladký gathered comfortably.

There was a change for the home side on 59 minutes after Threlkeld’s diagonal low ball to the right-hand side of the box played Ian Henderson into space. Salford’s leading scorer was closed down and off balance by the time he hit an angled 12-yarder that cleared the bar without worrying McKeown.

Gary Bowyer made a couple of changes for the final 25 minutes, introducing Robbie Gotts and Richie Towell for Hunter and Dieseruvwe respectively. Soon afterwards the Ammies were awarded a free-kick in a deep position wide on the right. Touray’s left-footed delivery was a teaser, but despite a number of red shirts gathered inside the area the ball bounced harmlessly through to McKeown.

Towell almost produced an equaliser in the 68th minute as he hit an angled drive from distance on the right. The low effort beat McKeown only to fizz just outside the far upright.

There was a degree of controversy in the 73rd minute as the referee stopped play following a spat between Touray and Matete that lead to a booking for both. Clifton had carried on playing, advancing on the right before slotting past Hladký, although by then the Salford keeper was aware that play had been stopped.

Grimsby weren’t too impressed with that decision and it may well have kept their hosts in the game.

Paul Coutts replaced Clarke for the final 15 and Salford almost snatched a leveller with two minutes of that change. Coutts was fouled wide on the left and Touray’s curling free-kick skimmed off the top of Turnbull’s head right in front of goal.

A chance or two for Salford but their efforts were more huff & puff than craft and guile, and time was running short. Grimsby had defended in no-nonsense fashion, but in truth the Ammies had struggled to find anything like fluent attacking form.

With 5 minutes to play former Salford striker Matt Green replaced Hanson, yet it was the home side who found some attacking impetus during the final minutes. A long ball into the box was met by McKeown but the Grimsby keeper only managed to punch high into the air. The ball dropped outside his left-hand post, with Henderson rising to get in a downwards header that McKeown did well to push behind for a corner.

The Ammies had taken 86 minutes to get a shot on target, but there would be another one within a couple more. A frantic end to the game had seen some space open up, and a ball from Salford’s right looked as if it would fall for Henderson in the middle. He couldn’t get the ball under control and as it rolled on to TOURAY the left-back hit a 17 yard first-timer from left of centre that rose to find McKeown’s top right-hand corner.

A remarkable finish from the Gambian international and his first goal of the season couldn’t have been much better timed.

As welcome as that first goal in 6 games was for Salford, the draw wouldn’t suit either side particularly well and both spent the time that remained looking for a winner.

During the 1st of 4 added minutes Clifton slid a pass out to Green on the right, and he played a low ball into the centre. John-Lewis was looking to get onto the end of it, but the ball seemed to spin off the heels of the pursuing Coutts. It could have ended up anywhere, but Hladký was able to stretch to his right and pluck the ball out of the air.

During the last of the 4, Touray delivered another decent free-kick from the left with the retreating John-Lewis forced to head over his own bar. Touray’s corner from the right was played to the near post and a foul from Salford effectively brought the game to its conclusion.

FULL-TIME: SALFORD CITY 1 GRIMSBY TOWN

Grimsby Town are in real danger of a return to National League football and have been scrapping over recent games. Before today they’d been unbeaten in 6 league games, winning 1, drawing 5 and conceding just 4 goals in the process.

This was never going to be easy for Salford City, and after going behind very early on they could have conceded a couple more during a torrid opening quarter-hour or so.

To be fair, the Mariners may well feel that they deserved all 3 points from this one, and with some justification. Salford’s attempts to break down the visiting defence proved largely ineffective until those dramatic final minutes and it took a special finish to secure a share of the spoils.

A point gained, perhaps but 3 were needed today. Wins for Leyton Orient and Bradford City leave the Ammies in 11th position, with 5 points separating them from 7th placed Newport County.

At half-time Newport led at Barrow and had the scores remained unchanged Grimsby would have narrowed the gap that separates them from the Cumbrians to 3 points. Instead, it’s 8, and the Mariners will have to shift now to preserve their EFL status.

A fickle game, football, and things can change quickly. Salford City go to Forest Green Rovers on Monday needing a win against opposition that have suffered a real wobble of late. After that, we have two games at the Peninsula Stadium where the unbeaten season’s run remains just about intact.

Goals win points and points move you up the table – simple stuff, and the Ammies may just rise to the challenge.