Unexpected Goals

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 12/04/2025

GRIMSBY threw away a two-goal lead and what looked like a certain victory after conceding two late goals at Harrogate. The Mariners had gone into a 2-goal lead after brilliant strikes by Green and Svanthorsson in the first half.

However, Town sat back and allowed Harrogate to build up a lot of pressure in the second half. With 85 minutes left, Town looked to have won, but two late goals from the hosts turned the game around, and Grimsby were hanging on for a point by the closing stages.

Svanthorsson and McEachran returned for Burns and Turi, with Artell reverting to his more familiar players.

After a slow start, Josh March had a shot cleared off the line by Rodgers, but Town took the lead with a brilliant goal by Green from inside his own half, 5 minutes before half time. Harrogate gave the ball away, and Green spotted the 'keeper off his line, and launched the ball with a perfect trajectory to go over the helpless 'keeper's head and drop into the net.

Harrogate had a chance shortly after the kick-off when Taylor hit the post. But just before half-time, following a Tharme throw-in and a header down to him, Svanthorsson received the ball on the edge of the box and lashed it on the half volley for another brilliant goal.

Grimsby had chances early in the second half, and Barrington had a shot saved, but as the half progressed, Grimsby became more defensive, and when the subs came on, Harrogate began to have most of the possession. Taylor pulled one back for Harrogate with a good strike with 5 minutes to go, and then Wright made a good save to deny Morris.

Harrogate broke Town's hearts when they levelled the game from a corner in the 90th minute, thanks to a massive deflection off Rose from a Sims's shot.

Town hung on for a point, and they remain in a play-off spot. However, the next two games over Easter are against form sides Swindon and Port Vale and getting maximum points will be difficult. Town will be hoping for a repeat of the Christmas period when they won the last two games of 2024.

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