By Grimsby fall to defeat at relegation-threatened Shots
Grimsby Town slumped to another disappointing defeat away to relegation-threatened Aldershot Town.
Coming into the game, the hosts had not picked up a single point at home all season and had lost their last six competitive games.
Tommy Willard set the tone of the game in the 12th minute when he stabbed in from a flick-on header at the back post to give the hosts an unlikely lead.
The Mariners weren’t behind for long however, when Harry Clifton headed home his fourth goal of the season, latching on from a Ben Fox fluffed shot to restore parity almost immediately.
Aldershot continued to push and looked dangerous from set-pieces, something that Grimsby struggled with containing all game.
James McKeown made a spectacular fingertip save from a Ryan Glover header pushing the effort onto the bar to keep the score level.
Michee Efete then spared Seb Revan’s blushes as he cleared a looping header off his own line.
There was clear improvement for Town to make at the break but the same patterns appeared and it took just 15 minutes into the half for the hosts to restore their lead.
Much like the first goal, it came from a cross with a man at the back post left unmarked to smash in.
This time it was Alfy Whittingham who capitalised from the poor defending and sent the home fans into raptures.
Ten minutes later, Aldershot almost doubled their advantage when Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain – brother of Liverpool and England midfielder Alex – hit the bar from a volley.
Clifton came close just after with an audatious strike from distance missing the target.
Ryan Taylor almost stole a point at the death but his close effort was blocked off the line by one of the many defending players.
It was a case of deju-vu for many of the 687 travelling fans as Grimsby were sloppy at the starts of the halves and created few clear-cut chances to put the sword to a seemingly lesser side.
The third consecutive league defeat dropped Paul Hurst’s side down to third in the table with three points either side of the promotion places.
A return to Blundell Park is on the cards for the next game as Town host Southend United on Friday night.
