GRIMSBY Town's promotion dream is finely poised as the Mariners go into tomorrow's second leg with it all to play for.
Thursday's 1-1 draw at home to Gateshead showed the Mariners can rattle the side that finished one place above them in the Conference Premier.
For me it was among Town's best performances of the season. I feared the worst after the opening ten minutes when the Mariners showed the visitors far too much respect. The midfield sat too deep giving the Heed too much time and space and a lovely through ball and a great bit of skill from Colin Larkin put Gateshead in front.
I sometimes think Paul Hurst shows the opposition too much respect – his recent comments that Woking were 'favourites' to beat Town were certainly odd – but full credit to the management and players for the way in which they turned the tie around.
The big match atmosphere cried out for leadership and Scott Kerr and Craig Disley both had their best games for a long time. They pressed and harried Gateshead, who are clearly not used to teams coming at them and pressurising them.
Disley's fine headed goal deservedly brought the Mariners level, but in truth it could – and perhaps should – have been more. Gateshead's goal was their only shot on target in the entire 90 minutes and if it wasn't for excellent saves by keeper Bartlett, the Mariners could have scored three or four goals.
Instead the tie is finely poised. I read that members of the Gateshead press now think Wembley is theirs for the taking as their home form is so good. But I remember Town beating the Heed at the International Stadium earlier in the season. I have every faith, if we play that well again, that we can do the same tomorrow.
There was good news off the pitch this week too as the Mariners Trust and football club jointly announced a campaign for support of a new community stadium off Peaks Parkway.
Almost 2,000 Mariners fans have signed the petition since it went live on Wednesday morning. We all have fantastic memories of matches at Blundell Park – the promotions, the cup runs, the Play-Off games – but as John Fenty has said, it's now past its best. To grow, Town need to move to a new stadium.
There are lots of hurdles still to overcome, but as supporters we must urge local politicians to back the plan for a new community facility, not just for the benefit of the football club and the fans, but to attract fresh investment into Grimsby and to create much needed new jobs.
You only have to look at the likes of Brighton, Doncaster, Swansea and Hull – all teams struggling with old grounds in the lower leagues – to look at what a new stadium might be able to do for Grimsby Town.
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