Grimsby reach play-off final in thriller with Wrexham

Grimsby Town won a sensational play-off semi-final away to Wrexham with a 119th-minute winner in a 5-4 victory. 

It was the home side who took the lead at the Racecourse from the penalty spot after just 13 minutes. Paul Mullin was pulled down in the area and absolutely hammered his spot-kick directly down the middle where it bounced in under the crossbar at about 100mph. 

Wrexham’s lead lasted just two minutes. An effort from outside the box by John McActee wrong-footed the goalkeeper to quickly restore parity.

Grimsby took the lead just after the start of the second half when Danny Amos’ cross found Luke Waterfall to head in from close range. 

Ben Tozer rose the highest from a Wrexham corner in the 67th minute to bring the Dragons level – it was the start of a mad 20 minutes of football. 

The Mariners clearly hadn’t learned their lesson from Tozer’s header because Mullin scored again from a Wrexham corner to put Phil Parkinson’s team ahead for the second time and make it 3-2.

Another header made it 3-3 minutes after that goal. This time it was Grimsby’s turn with Ryan Taylor on target. 

Grimsby turned things around soon after. Yet another corner, yet another headed goal. This time, with the Wrexham goalkeeper in no man’s land, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe put the visitors ahead.

Two minutes later, Wrexham had a corner. It was almost a carbon copy of the Grimsby’s fourth goal but this time it was a Wrexham player – Jordan Davies – who buried his header to make it 4-4 with 80 minutes gone. 

So it went to extra time with each team still giving it everything they had. Grimsby had a superb chance to grab a fifth goal 112th minute from a quick counter-attack but Tristan Abrahams fluffed his lines. 

With penalty shoot-outs and cliches about ‘Hollywood scripts’ looming ever larger, Grimsby grabbed a 119th-minute winner. It didn’t come from a corner, though. Instead, it came from a bullet long throw that was as good a corner. Waterfall found space in the area and buried his header to make it 5-4 and bring to an entertaining, chaotic National League semi-final.

Either Solihull Moors of Chesterfield will meet Grimsby Town at the London Stadium for the final next week.

It’s Grimsby’s day in north Wales

They win 5-4 - see you at the London Stadium next weekend pic.twitter.com/6gaOIT1GcP

— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 28, 2022