SLADE’S MEN GO OFF THE BOYLE
UNDER-FIRE Grimsby Town boss Russell Slade admits his side are in a battle for EFL survival.
The Mariners extended their woeful run without a win to 11 matches after they squandered a first-half lead at Blundell Park. The disappointing result followed a fans’ protest outside the ground before kick-off.
On-loan Simeon Jackson netted on his debut for the hosts before young Will Boyle snatched a late equaliser for fellow strugglers Cheltenham.
“We know how tight it is at the bottom and we know we’re in a battle now,” said Slade. “We have to fight but also we want to look up the table rather than down.
“I’m disappointed not just because of the long run where we haven’t won but also the goal we conceded. I thought their player was offside but we still should have kicked on and seen the game out before that.
“We wanted to kick on after the break and put the game beyond Cheltenham but we couldn't quite do it. We've had the better chances.”
Grimsby took the lead in just the third minute. Luke Summerfield’s wicked freekick caused chaos in the Cheltenham defence and Jackson netted from close range.
The hosts failed to push on from that great start and the Robins almost equalised in the 20th minute when Joe Morrell’s 20-yard effort was edged past the post by home goalkeeper Ben Killip. The lack of genuine quality continued after the break before Harry Pell’s inswinging free-kick was cleared, almost off his own goal line, by Jamille Matt.
Cheltenham opted for all-outattack late on and deservedly pulled level in the 77th minute. Morrell floated over a free-kick and Boyle stooped low to nod the ball home in front of the travelling support.
Matt had a glorious chance to win it at the death for Grimsby but he blazed the ball horribly off target with the goal at his mercy.
Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson said: “Both teams decided to go long and it was one of those games on a difficult pitch.
“But I thought we both wanted to win even if there wasn't much quality in the game.
“I was just happy we had that little bit of quality to get the equalising goal in the second half.
“They were desperate to get their first win in 11 and we’ve come away from home and stopped them from doing that. We played well in stages.
“I thought our back three played extremely well - they didn’t make many mistakes at all. And Boyle really deserved his goal.
“Overall though we have to be happy with a point away from home. We made some positive changes late on and it brought energy to the game.
“Both teams went for it at the end.”
GRIMSBY TOWN: (4-4-2): Killip 7, Mills 6, Clarke 7, Collins 7 (HallJohnson 31 6), Dixon 5, Vernam 6 (Dembele 66 6), Berrett 6, Summerfield 7, Wilks 8 (Jaiyesimi 89), Jackson 7, Matt 6 Subs not used: Warrington, Hooper, Woolford, Vernon CHELTENHAM TOWN: (3-5-2): Flinders 6, Rodon 7, Grimes 6, Boyle 7, Winchester 6, Pell 6, Morrell 7, Dawson 7, Chatzitheodoridis 6 (Sellars 61 5), Eisa 5 (Odelusi 61 6), Graham 5 (Adebayo 61 6) Subs not used: Lovett, Atangana, Bower, Onariase