Mariners trail behind Salford in League Two play-off semi-final
Grimsby Town face uphill battle in second leg after 2-1 defeat
Last updated 11th May 2026
Grimsby Town will need to overturn a one-goal deficit when they face Salford City in the second leg of the League Two play-offs.
The Mariners fell 2-1 at Blundell Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Cleethorpes, despite a promising start.
Reece Staunton opened the scoring with a stunning volley in the first 30 seconds.
Salford responded swiftly, leveling the score at 1-1 through Kallum Cesay within four minutes.
Ademola Olowu's header in the 40th minute gave Salford the edge before half-time.
Throughout the second half, neither side could find the net again, leaving the tie perfectly poised for the return leg at the Peninsula Stadium in Greater Manchester.
Head coach David Artell made four changes to Grimsby's starting XI, reverting to the team that earned a play-off spot by beating Swindon Town.
Harvey Rodgers, Reece Staunton, Clarke Oduor, and Jaze Kabia returned, while Tyrell Warren, Jayden Sweeney, Jamie Walker, and Charles Vernam moved to the bench.
In the second half, substitutions and attacking attempts continued, but scoring opportunities remained scarce for both teams.
The stage is set for Friday's decisive clash, with a play-off final place at Wembley up for grabs.