Football May 13, 2026

Grimsby Town 1-2 Salford City: Karl Robinson's side hit back to win first leg of League Two play-off semi-final

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Grimsby Town 1-2 Salford City: Karl Robinson's side hit back to win first leg of League Two play-off semi-final

Salford City hit back to win 2-1 at Grimsby in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.

Reece Staunton scored a stunning opener after just 26 seconds for the Mariners, but Salford turned it around. Kallum Cesay levelled a few minutes later, while Adebola Oluwo nodded in a somewhat controversial winner just before the break.

It means Karl Robinson's Salford - who missed the chance to seal automatic promotion on final day - take the advantage into their home second leg at the Peninsula Stadium on Friday night.

It was an electric start as Grimsby took just 26 seconds to find the lead. a goal on just 26 seconds. A ball into the box was only half cleared to Staunton on the edge, and he lofted a superb volley into the top corner.

The advantage was short-lived. Three minutes later Salford were level as a long ball was worked into Cesay, who finished coolly into the bottom corner.

And they completed the turnaround before the break as Oluwo headed home from a corner. There was, however, an element of controversy about it as Grimsby goalkeeper Jackson Smith appeared to have his line of sight impeded by a Salford player in an offside position.

To say that Grimsby boss David Artell wasn't enamoured with the goal not being ruled out was an understatement.

"I'm not going to talk about the referee," he told Your Site. "I'll let others decide [if it shouldn't have stood]. We've all seen the second goal.

"If I tell you exactly what I think, I'll be at [an FA hearing at] Wembley tomorrow morning."

Your Site EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:

It is easy to forget that this has been Oluwo's first season in the EFL.

The 26-year-old centre-back has been on a nomadic adventure through non-league before being picked up by Salford City last summer, and was at University a few years ago, not even contemplating a professional career in football.

But he showed how worthy he is of being at this level, at the very least, with an imperious display.

He scored the crucial goal that put Salford ahead in the tie at the end of the first half, but at the back he was immense on the ground and in the air, barely giving Grimsby's forwards a kick.

Salford boss Karl Robinson on Your Site:

"I nearly clapped their goal, what a strike that was. But the way our players responded was brilliant because the atmosphere here was electric.

"To get the goals we did, and then to show great work in defence and in our structure. There was a level of control in our performance, and then in our celebrations.

"We respect Grimsby immensely and it was a difficult game."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Real Madrid: Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde fined for training ground fight following investigation

Real Madrid: Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde fined for training ground fight following investigation

Real Madrid team-mates Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde have been fined €500,000 (£432,000) after an investigation into a training ground alt...

Kirsty Hanson: The Aston Villa striker who is scoring more than Vivianne Miedema, Alessia Russo and Sam Kerr this season

Kirsty Hanson: The Aston Villa striker who is scoring more than Vivianne Miedema, Alessia Russo and Sam Kerr this season

As the season draws to a close, attention turns to individual accolades. Scanning down the list of WSL top scorers, there is one name that stands out...

Middlesbrough vs Southampton: Boro accuse member of Saints coaching staff of spying on training ahead of Championship play-off clash

Middlesbrough vs Southampton: Boro accuse member of Saints coaching staff of spying on training ahead of Championship play-off clash

Middlesbrough have made a formal complaint to the EFL alleging a man they believe to be a Southampton member of staff was spying on their training ses...

Danny Röhl: Rangers head coach insists 'full focus' is on Ibrox club and rebuild amid Bundesliga links

Danny Röhl: Rangers head coach insists 'full focus' is on Ibrox club and rebuild amid Bundesliga links

Danny Röhl insists his "full focus" is on Rangers and "winning titles in the future" amid speculation linking him with a move to the Bundesliga. The I...

Arsenal: Gunners' players set to pocket over £1m in bonuses if they win Champions League - Paper Talk

Arsenal: Gunners' players set to pocket over £1m in bonuses if they win Champions League - Paper Talk

The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...Arsenal's stars would pocket a total of £1,175,000 if they beat PSG in the Champions L...

Aston Villa: John McGinn wants team to become 'legends' by ending 30-year trophy drought with Europa League triumph

Aston Villa: John McGinn wants team to become 'legends' by ending 30-year trophy drought with Europa League triumph

Aston Villa captain John McGinn says his side must shed the "nearly men" tag and become legends by ending the club's 30-year wait for silverware with...