Chester subtly took to mock Wrexham, while Grimsby boss Paul Hurst got emotional and Phil Parkinson seethes at the referee on Saturday.
Grimsby Town secured another dramatic extra time win to cause a huge blow to Wrexham’s hopes of finally getting promoted from the National League.
Paul Mullin’s penalty gave Wrexham the lead but John McAtee levelled, only for Luke Waterfall to put Grimsby ahead.
Ben Tozer and Mullin made it 3-2, before Ryan Taylor and Mani Dieseruvwe restored Grimsby’s advantage, but Jordan Davies equalised to make it 4-4 and take it into extra time.
Waterfall netted a 119th-winner for Grimsby, who had beaten Notts County in extra-time in the play-off eliminator in midweek.
Grimsby now take on either Solihull Moors or Chesterfield in the final at West Ham’s London Stadium on Sunday, the 5th of June.
The Mariners are now 90 minutes away from a return to League Two, while Wrexham’s absence from the EFL will now extend to a 15th season.
Utterly mad game of football! 🤯
Luke Waterfall heads in a 119th-minute winner to send @officialgtfc to @TheVanaramaNL play-off final! 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/mNVTZIUHV9
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022
Phil Parkinson criticised the referee’s performance and the authorities for appointing him for their big game in the semi-finals of the National League playoffs.
Wrexham lost by 5-4 after extra time, but Parky took aim at many of the decisions of inexperienced referee Adam Herczeg.
He said the referee was “not good enough for a game of this scale”, he hadn’t spoken to him after the game because he “didn’t want to talk to him” and he our “gunfire”.
“First of all, congratulations to Grimsby on going through, and good luck in the final,” he said.
“There are really good managers in this section this year, great football too, good players, great crowds.
“But how the authorities can put an umpire in charge of a match on this scale like that is beyond my comprehension.
“It’s not all his fault, we should have defended better.
“Everyone in the field could see that the referee was out of his depth.
“We had a goal that should have counted, we got a second kick that should have been the spot kick, an unearned free kick leading to their first goal …
“If we can all see that he is out of his depth … we had him two weeks ago in Dagenham. How have they put him in charge of a game that means so much to two great football clubs?
“I’m absolutely furious.
“I had to calm the lads half-time so that we could focus on the game, and it’s no excuse, because we have surrendered goals today which we don’t usually give up.
“But his [referee’s] performance today was completely unacceptable.
“I don’t want to talk to him, because he’s not good enough to judge a game of this scale.
“You’re looking at the big second chance games in the league, and they’re going to have a world-class referee because they know there’s so much at stake.
“It was nowhere near good enough.”

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Grimsby boss Paul Hurst said: “I can’t speak highly enough of them and the people behind the scenes that help with recovery and getting them out there.
“It felt like we were (the better team). They were so dangerous from set-plays and you never felt comfortable. At 2-1, we had some chances and you felt we needed that third goal.
“It seemed to drag on, I was almost pleading with the fourth official, my eyes were fixed intently on the referee. It was relief when that final whistle went.
“They always looked a threat and so did we, at the same time. The amount of time they got their head to things, it was incredible.
“I did genuinely feel drained, I stood there at the final whistle and there was an outpour of emotion,” Hurst said. “I wanted to shake the Wrexham players’ hands because it was the right thing to do.
“They have had a fantastic season and they will be heartbroken. Everyone will be gutted that they haven’t won because they will be in the division next season.
“After that, I felt extremely emotional which isn’t me. I acknowledged the fans but I wanted it to be about the players, the fans have been fantastic.
“They sold out both games and would have brought more people. We’ll see now how many are there next weekend.”
Meanwhile, Chester have subtly decided to take a dig at rivals Wrexham, tweeting just after the final whistle.
@ChesterFC wrote: “Here’s to next season in @TheVanaramaNL. 🍻
“🎫 Be a part of it. #ChesterFC Season Tickets 2022/23. On sale now.
“#OurClub 🔵⚪️”
Here’s to next season in @TheVanaramaNL. 🍻
🎫 Be a part of it. #ChesterFC Season Tickets 2022/23. On sale now.#OurClub 🔵⚪️
— Chester FC (@ChesterFC) May 28, 2022
Wrexham (5-3-2): Dibble; Hosannah (McAlinden 72), French (Jarvis 120), Tozer, Cleworth (O’Connor 91), McFadzean; James Jones, Young, Davies; Mullin, Palmer (Hyde 106). Sub not used: Camp.
Grimsby Town (4-2-3-1): Crocombe; Cropper, Waterfall, Smith, Amos (Pearson 91); Holohan (Raikhy 102), Fox; Sousa, McAtee (Abrahams 87) Clifton; Taylor (Dieseruvwe 76). Sub not used: Maguire-Drew.
Attendance: 9,734 (1,214 from Grimsby).
Fans reacted as Chester mock Wrexham, Paul Hurst gets emotional and Phil Parkinson seethes at the referee…
@judgeroybean66: Phil Parkinson are you for real?? Jeez your guy punched the ball in to the net 😡😡😡
@goalkeeperdoyle: Why can’t Phil Parkinson take defeat graciously? The ref allowed a goal that your lad has punched in? Bully
@andyh2602: Think Phil Parkinson is going to regret this interview 😳 #WrexhamAFC
@EricTheKing93: Phil Parkinson going on about the Ref and didn’t mention the handball 🤣🤣 salty bastard
@AmyandAdamsDad: Phil parkinson absolutely scathing about the “out of his depth” referee. Mentioned a few of the abysmal decisions, forgot his team getting a goal that was punched into the net! 🤡 🤡 🤡 #WRXGRI
@SiiPuck: Phil Parkinson isnt bitter is he!? Not talking about the one Mullin punched in is he? Weird.
@LeeCarman7: Phil Parkinson blaming the ref for Wrexham’s shambolic defending conceding 5 goals, missing their dive for the penalty and missing their handball goal 😂😂 #WRXGRI
@gbitj: Phil Parkinson needs to watch the penalty that the ref handed to them, and the goal that was a blatant punch… not good… the ref wasn’t great for both teams, but to use that as an excuse is embarrassing really
@giltbrookpie: Phil Parkinson post match interview. Jaw dropping level of mardiness. Ends by talking about next season for Wrexham. For him, there won’t be a next season.
@danielboyle10: Bell end Phil Parkinson blaming Wrexham defeat on the referee. The same referee that missed Mullin punching one in. Enjoy non league until you get you P45 😂😂
@chaz_spen15: Hahahahah Phil Parkinson is a right salty twat. Moaning about the ref after scoring a hand ball and diving for a pen
@CaptainChubbie: Phil Parkinson moaning about the ref, did he not see Mullin’s goal? Did he argue when they got the cheap free-kick? @TheVanaramaNL think he needs a fine, slagging the league and the ref, he got beat fair on the day and still complaining 🤣🤣
@D_S_Schofield: Phil Parkinson blasting the Referee is utterly contemptible. You’re not good enough mate
@JeremyArnold31: Oh fuck off Phil Parkinson (the wrong one), you’ve had the benefit of two bad decisions for two goals. Focus on your terrible defence that you coach with players that cost ££ #WrexhamAFC #NationalLeague
@ConnorSwales69: You bitter prick Phil Parkinson 🤣🤣🤣 you’ve punched a ball into a net and had a penalty gifted to you that wasnt 100 times out of 100
@AlexLaker10: Phil Parkinson absolutely cock on. BUT WHO GIVES A FUCK AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAH #GTFC
@J_England93: Phil Parkinson killing the ref 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@BantamPete: Wow! Top game Phil Parkinson, very bitter after that loss today. Complaining about the referee not giving #Wrexham decisions when Mulllin scores with his hand! Thought PP was bigger than that. Needs to learn how to lose gracefully! Well done #GTFC though & good luck in the final
@sbray1989: Phil Parkinson showing how NOT to be magnanimous in defeat. What an absolutely brilliant advert for lower league football though #GTFC #WxmAFC
@JMorley7: I sound like a proper Paul Hurst fan boy at this point but credit to the fucking guy, bringing Shaun Pearson on to deal with them long throws and corners was crucial in extra time, he’s got it spot on today 👏🏼 UTM
@StockportDiesel: Class interview from Paul Hurst, Parkinson on now bleating about a referee who started the ball rolling by giving his team a dodgy penalty.
@MattSmith08: Paul Hurst has taken some stick and I believe rightly so at times but also deserves all the credit for how he and this team have turned things around and how they have performed during these last two games #GTFC #UTM
@gtfcdan147: Paul Hurst can cup his ears, his knob and my missus tits if he likes. No bullshit of bravado. Just a bloody good manager and a better bloke. I keep saying it but criminally underappreciated and undervalued by ‘some’ . What a man #gtfc
ON CHESTER’S TWEET:
@cestrian85: I love my club 😍
@ollie__cfc: what a club 🤣😍💙
@ChrisLukeJones: Was waiting for that one
@CorinCFC2: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Aidanwhite201: Never felt more like singing the blues…
@morgan_5556: CHESTER FOOTBALL CLUB I LOVE YOU
@alex_bullions: 💉
— James (@FussballJames) May 28, 2022

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