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Belting goals, hilarious chants and a plane with banner at National League playoff semi final

Belting goals, hilarious chants and a plane with a banner was seen and heard at Saturday’s National League playoff semi final.

Going into the game, Wrexham and Grimsby knew one of them would be two wins away from returning to the Football League, facing either Solihull or Chesterfield in the final at the London Stadium next week.

The Hollywood script of Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney didn’t go to plan for the FA Trophy Final after losing that last week to Bromley, so there was more pressure to get things right or suffer more embarrassment to a Grimsby side hoping to upset the Dragons like they did Notts County on Monday.

The bookies are firmly in the Welsh side’s favour, the hosts heavy favourites at a best-priced 13/20, with Wrexham finishing second, four places and 11 points above the Mariners, and have been imperious at home – a record of W15 D6 L1 the National League’s second best, worth noting Grimsby have been average away.

Right then, time to take a look at how the game played out, see for yourself below via in-game commentary from Wrexham and Grimsby…

2′ Early corner for the Mariners as McAtee is intercepted running onto the through ball

3′ Cropper’s long throw causes issues in the Wrexham box and forces another throw in line with the penalty box

4′ OHHHH! What a finish from McAtee but the flag is raised for offside

11′ Town playing well down the right, resulting in Holohan’s cross being put behind for a corner to the Mariners

11′ CHANCE! Taylor gets his head to the corner, but is off balance and sends it over the bar. Good start to the game from Town

12′ Penalty to Wrexham following a foul from Waterfall. The referee looks at the linesman, neither know what to do but a penalty is awarded.

13′ Goal. Mullin smashes it in off the underside of the bar. πŸ”΄ 1-0 πŸ”΅

15′ Goal. After finding a bit of space, @johnmcatee161 smashes it in from 25 yards πŸ”΄ 1-1 πŸ”΅

16′ Fantastic save from Crocombe denies Hosannah. Corner to the hosts. “Sheep shagging bastards, you know what you are” can be heard from the stands.

21′ After a brief stoppage following a head injury to French, we’re back underway. Wrexham fans sing β€œyou stink of fish” to the away end.

24′ Mullin has the ball in the net but the referee blows for a foul in the build up

24′ Amos is booked for a foul on Hosannah. Wrexham starting to take some control

29′ What a save from Crocombe from Smith’s header to divert it behind for a corner.

29′ Off the line from Amos and another corner for Wrexham

33′ Throw-in to Town. The referee has words with Sousa and McFadzean at the back post before play resumes.

36′ Booking for Taylor for a flailing arm on French when going up for a header

41′ McAtee is afforded space and tries his luck from over 30 yards but sends it high over the bar and into the crowd

43′ Taylor flicks the ball on towards McAtee, who takes a deft touch, turns and hits it wide of the target. Almost catches the keeper off guard in the process!

45′ Cropper gets back to block McFadzean’s cross. Corner for Wrexham.

45′ Free-kick to Town after Palmer climbs all over Smith

HT: πŸ”΄ 1-1 πŸ”΅ @johnmcatee161 ‘s screamer and 15th of the season ensures the Mariners head in level at the break.

47′ Goal. Luke Waterfall with a header at the back post. πŸ”΄ 1-2 πŸ”΅

49′ Cropper stands his ground, blocks the cross and concedes a corner. Lightning start to the second half

52′ CHANCE! Sousa with a great ball into the box which is met by Clifton, deflected and well saved. Corner to Town.

56′ Sousa and Cropper combine down the right and win a corner for the Mariners

57′ DOUBLE CHANCE! First Clifton from the corner and then Fox with the follow up but the final effort is sent well wide

60′ Free-kick to Town as Davies leaves a foot in on Fox

62′ CHANCE! Town play it well on the edge of the ball, with it eventually falling to Amos who cuts across it but sends it just wide of the far post

62′ Jones’ strike is well blocked and behind for a Wrexham corner

63′ Goal. Tozer equalises at the back post. πŸ”΄ 2-2 πŸ”΅

65′ Goal. Mullin gives the hosts the lead. πŸ”΄ 3-2 πŸ”΅

72′ Goal. Grimsby back on level terms thanks to a low close range header from Ryan Taylor. πŸ”΄ 3-3 πŸ”΅

Today’s official attendance is 9,734 with an incredible 1,214 making the journey from North East Lincolnshire.

78′ Goal. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe with a header. What a truly astonishing game. A classic. πŸ”΄ 3-4 πŸ”΅

79′ What a save from Crocombe to his left from Mullin’s effort

80′ Goal. Davies’ header equalises. πŸ”΄ 4-4 πŸ”΅

84′ Quick feet from Sousa wins Town a corner

90′ CLOSE. Clifton gets space and looks for the back post, Dieseruvwe is there sliding in to tap it in but is inches away

90′ Crocombe tips the effort over the bar. Corner to Wrexham.

FT – No other way to describe that second half other than absolute carnage! Extra time we go.

113′ CHANCE! Town find themselves 3 on 2 and the ball falls to Abrahams but he smashes the side netting. Players out on their feet out there

119′ Luke Waterfall heads in a very late winner to send Grimsby to the final, utter scenes in the away end

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