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First team to qualify for National League playoff semi finals via quarter finals confirmed

The first team to qualify for this year’s National League playoff semi finals via the quarter finals has been confirmed this Monday night.

Notts County and Grimsby Town faced off, the latter finished sixth in the regular National League campaign, with 77 points from their 44 matches, while the Magpies were fifth, five points above their opponents in this encounter.

Notts County have spent the last three seasons in the top tier of English non league football following their relegation from League Two at the end of 2018-19; they were a League One outfit as recent as 2015, but it has been a tough few years for the club, who will be desperate to secure a return to the EFL.

The Magpies enjoyed a solid 2021-22 campaign in the National League, winning 24, drawing 10 and losing 10 of their 44 matches to collect 82 points, which was enough for fifth spot in the table.

Ian Burchnall’s side go into this match in impressive form, having won six of their last seven matches, suffering just one defeat in the process, including their last three of the regular season against Dover Athletic, Altrincham and Maidenhead United.

Notts County are in the quarter-finals of the playoffs alongside Grimsby, Halifax Town and Chesterfield, with the four teams bidding to advance to the semi-finals, where Wrexham and Solihull Moors are waiting.

The Nottinghamshire outfit beat Grimsby 1-0 in North East Lincolnshire earlier this season but suffered a 2-1 defeat when the pair locked horns at Meadow Lane in February.

 

Grimsby dropped out of the Football League last season courtesy of finishing 24th in League Two, but they are in a position to challenge for promotion back to the fourth tier of English football.

The Mariners won 23, drew eight and lost 13 of their 44 National League games in 2021-22 to collect 77 points, which left them in sixth spot in the table, one point ahead of seventh-place Chesterfield and four clear of Dagenham & Redbridge in eighth.

Paul Hurst’s side played out a pulsating 4-4 draw with Eastleigh in their last match on May 15, but they have only won one of their last four games, so Notts County will enter this game in the stronger form.

Grimsby had a mixed record on their travels during the National League campaign, meanwhile, winning eight, drawing six and losing eight of their 22 matches to collect 30 points.

Notts County, though, had the third-best home record in the league in 2021-22, winning 15, drawing five and losing just two of their 22 games to collect 50 points.

HOW DID THE GAME PLAY OUT?

3′ Match got off to a fast start just like the last time to two sides met at Meadow Lane back in February. Grimsby pressed the host’s backline and got control of possession.

8′ Grimsby had started the brighter with two shots from around 20 yards, however couldn’t get one in the net.

13 – Sousa heads the ball narrowly wide of Slocombe’s post.

22 – Roberts is forced off with an injury. Sam replaces him.

24 – Sam claims our first shot on goal, side-footing an effort straight at Crocombe while surrounded by defenders 25 yards out.

31 – Huge chance for Rodrigues following excellent work by Richardson, but he sends his diving header wide!

38 – O’Brien is adjudged to have fouled Sousa and is booked.

43 – Clifton is booked after lunging in on Brindley.

HT: Rodrigues went close towards the end of the first half before the whistle blew with the scoreline goalless.

49 – Wootton does well to head Chicksen’s cross into the danger area but there’s no-one there to turn it home.

50 – Clifton whistles a long-range effort narrowly wide.

59 – Important block from Brindley to divert a shot wide.

59 – Holohan sends one just wide from the subsequent corner.

60 – Francis and Chicksen with important blocks this time as the visitors enjoy a good spell of pressure.

64 – Sam crosses for Wootton but it’s too far behind him and his he can’t get his header on target.

71 – PENALTY! Rodrigues’ goalbound shot is handballed!

73 – GOAL! Notts County 1-0 Grimsby – Rodrigues cool as you like from the spot!


78′ CHANCE. Holohan makes some space on the edge of the box and looks for the far corner but sends it wide.

79 – Rodrigues works a shooting opportunity on his left foot but can’t beat the keeper. Moments later, Wootton’s header is diverted just wide!

85′ Waterfall receives a booking for a foul on Wootton

87′ Clifton is slipped through into the County box, brought down but the penalty appeals are waved away.

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Grimsby fans at Notts County

Today’s official attendance is 12,023 with a fantastic 2,013 making the journey from North East Lincolnshire.

90′ Amos’ cross is deflected behind for a Town corner in front of the travelling Mariners support

90′ Free kick to Town on the edge of the penalty area at a tight angle. Up comes Crocombe.

90+6′ Scenes right when Notts County thought they won it! Holohan put the ball into the net after a scramble in the box! Literally the last kick of the game.

92′ [ET] – A misplaced header nearly gifts Sam a golden opportunity but the keeper saves!

92′ [ET] – Cameron’s goalbound header is hacked away by a defender.

97′ [ET] What a block. Waterfall gets back at the perfect time and puts in an inch perfect challenge to block Sam’s effort.

100′ [ET] Brunt is booked for a leading elbow on Sousa

102′ [ET] Fantastic work from Sousa to drive into the box, beating two men in the process and forcing a strong save from Slocombe. Corner to Town

102′ [ET] The corner is headed away at the back post, behind for another Town corner.

103′ [ET] Great footwork from Fox leads to another corner for the Mariners

HT – Town the stronger of the sides after the first period of extra time.

108′ What a block from Smith to deny Rodrigues.

110′ Sousa jinks in and out, left and right and makes space for an effort but sends it over the bar

114′ Smith and Waterfall combine well to deny Wootton.

116′ Fox with two perfectly timed tackles to deny County attacks. What a game he has had this evening.

117′ Shaun Pearson is booked following a conversation with the fourth official and referee

119′ – ABSOLUTE LIMBS IN THAT AWAY END! Andy Smith bundles the ball in at the back post to seal the win and a semi final place where they face Wrexham

Paul Hurst said when talking to the media post-match that he wasn’t planning to put Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in the Grimsby squad until Sunday after the striker scored the winning goal against Notts County.

“In terms of the starting line-up, it wasn’t much of a decision,” Hurst said, per Grimsby Telegraph. “In terms of being on the bench, that was a big decision for me.

“Maybe in the end, chatting to the staff, yesterday I probably wouldn’t have had him on the bench. I thought we might need two midfielders tonight and then I was 100% convinced that Arj (Raikhy) was quite right.

“Something was nagging at me that we have gone with two strikers (on the bench) for some time. If we need a goal, we have one on the bench.

“Thankfully, that nag… chatting with Chris (Doig) and Ben (Davies), he got the nod. He did well.

“If you look at his physique, he should cause people problem but I think sometimes he doesn’t know how to use his attributes. Sometimes, he’s past the near post for a cross and he needs to be in the middle of the goal or the back post.

“Look where he scored his goal and at Eastleigh, in between the goal posts. In the heat of the game, it isn’t as easy but he held it up and laid it off quite well for us.

“I am delighted for him, he is a good guy, as they all are. I’m sure he’s disappointed and probably might be after hearing this but I will always be honest.”

“If you look at his physique, he should cause people problem but I think sometimes he doesn’t know how to use his attributes. Sometimes, he’s past the near post for a cross and he needs to be in the middle of the goal or the back post.

“Look where he scored his goal and at Eastleigh, in between the goal posts. In the heat of the game, it isn’t as easy but he held it up and laid it off quite well for us.

“I am delighted for him, he is a good guy, as they all are. I’m sure he’s disappointed and probably might be after hearing this but I will always be honest.”

Grimsby Town: Crocombe; Cropper (Dieseruvwe, 88′), Waterfall, Smith, Amos; Holohan (Coke, 110′), Fox; Sousa, McAtee (Maguire-Drew, 81′), Clifton; Taylor. (Abrahams, 81′).

Notts County: Slocombe; Brindley, Cameron, Lacey; Richardson (Kelly-Evans, 113′) Palmer, O’Brien (Francis, 59′), Chicken; Roberts (Sam, 22′), Rodrigues (Brunt, 81′), Wootton.

With the first team to qualify for National League playoff semi finals via quarter finals confirmed, fans reacted…

ON GRIMSBY’S TWEET:

@alfiemtfc: What a club. Up the grimsby xxxx

@traceyconnolly6: Woohoo well done lads UTM

@Hayden_PFC: Fair play chaps 👏

@joehill39255412: Hope u smash wrexham x

@PaulTay88091684: Andy Smith looks like some player, congrats tonight.

@marykate_dunbar: fucking UNREAL from town

@mattjarvis11_: Get Ben Fox a statue

@ryanlarsen_: Will never get bored of this club😍⚫️⚪️

@WafcHugh: Fair fucking play lads 👏

@thomasutr_: imagine that away end 😂😂

@FRA7ER: Well done @officialgtfc I’d love to see you guys back in the football league. You were my Dad’s team and I always keep up to date with you. All the best 🤞

@karlbardsley79: Good luck. Really hoping you can beat Wrexham and get back into the league…decent club and missed from league football. From a Shrewsbury fan.

@BrownlowJr: Enjoyed that as a neutral and the best team won tonight, hopefully you can beat Wrexham and don’t forget on Saturday to remind their fans that they get battered everywhere they go!!

@lalpj100: Fair play to you! Our inability to defend set pieces has come back to haunt us 😭 good luck in the next round

@SactownMariner: I literally couldn’t love you more. It’s impossible

@chris_eaton_: Fair play, you guys really deserved that 👏

@dazzlecleanwxm: Congrats…. what a great game. Best team won tonight for sure and makes for a great semi final against us this Saturday. Safe journey to North Wales & may the best team win 🏆 👍

@MightyClee: Against bad decisions by the ref, you prevailed and never gave up. It was excellent. I doubt a Championship side could have done better. Onto Wrexham, we believe…m

ON NOTTS COUNTY’S TWEET

@NFleming75: Inevitable. This game sums up our season in a nutshell. Late goal bottlers! Poor refereeing yet again with the second hand ball not given. Now get Burchnall out and we go again next season. Coyp! 💪💪

@pilch73: The second handball was the only thing he got wrong all night, blame the players/manager not the ref

@alfiemtfc: Ahhahahahaha. sEe YoU nEXT yEar 😹😹😹😹

@TomPike21: That’s Roberts,Rodrigues and Wooton gone aswell as the manager…anyway probably see you next season 👋🏻 🫣

@stanley_jon: Pathetic display, fully deserved to lose. Sorry to say it, but – Burchnall out.

@samwatto2008: I’d love to see how many goals we’ve scored from open play this season. So many poor last minute choices by players. Ahhh we’ll we were never gonna win them anyway. Great season considering how many goals we’ve conceded 👏🏼🖤🤍 You Pies!

@Coops138: We will never EVER football our way out this league FFS. CLEAR AS DAY! 🤷‍♂️

@SamGuideDogTra1: Ironically lost the same way we chucked points away to end up in this position anyway. Another terrible Notts moment to add to the list.

@tallsam: We were pretty poor tonight. Imagine what Wrexham would do to us if we’d got through.

@adamjamesred: If you can’t defend set pieces then you’ve no right to be promoted out of any division, not least the National League where they’re so much more important.

@CountyRoadPie: 1 nil up with 10 seconds to go, it doesn’t get more Notts County than that!!!

@Ryannn_NCFC: You really had to break my heart like that. All 11 can go apart from Chicksen

@NCFCadam: Wootton can get to fuck. Burchnall can get to forest green and richardson can bore off back over the Trent. Liabilities.

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