Cod Almighty | Match Report

by Mike Worden

2 May 2016

Tranmere Rovers 1 Grimsby Town 0

Twelve years on from the dark afternoon of relegation to the fourth division, the Cowshed at Prenton Park was once again filling up with Town fans in good number and voice. The second half collapse under Nicky Law's stewardship in 2004 was as low as watching the Mariners could go. The last 45 mins of the the 2003-04 season was a horror show on the field, while off it, the Tranmere fans rubbed it in our faces with chants of "going down, going down". Grimbarians don't have short memories.

Both teams have fallen further since then and are now competing to get back to the Football League, although Tranmere only had an outside chance of sneaking in to the play-offs. With Town already there, Paul Hurst made eight changes to the starting line-up, including bringing in goalkeeping coach Andy Warrington to replace James McKeown. This prompted social media and terrace debates as to whether at 39, Warrington would be the oldest player to turn out for the Mariners. He wouldn't be: Peter Beagrie at 40, still holds that honour.

A minutes applause was held before kick-off to recognise the Hillsborough families' fight for justice and was well supported by both sets of fans.

On a sunny Birkenhead afternoon, the odd-looking Town side took up their positions, kicking towards the sparsely populated Kop. In front of Warrington in orange was a central defensive partnership of Pearson and usual full-back Robertson, with Tait and East at full-back. In midfield, Clay and Henderson played in the centre with Arnold and Jennings wide, while Pittman and Hoban played up front.

For the first 20 minutes or so, Town were easily the better team. Nice little passing moves were strung together – although none of them remotely threatened the home side. Warrington looked comfortable although noticeably quiet. Pearson looked in control at the back, Robertson slightly less so. Tranmere weren't really threatening either. Adam Mekki looked the most tricky player to handle, but he's one of those who can skip round three defenders and then fall over his own bootlace or realise he's run off the pitch.

Just when everything seemed to be under control, a calamitous piece of defending from Warrington and Pearson gifted Steve Jennings the opportunity to give the home side the lead. Jay Harris floated a high ball from the right towards the far post. It should have been Warrington's to catch, but he stayed on his line and there was no shout. Pearson, caught out by Warrington's Evo-stik boots, mis-hit the ball back across the goal and Jennings could do nothing but tap it in. If he hadn't, it would have probably drifted over the line anyway, such was the spin on the ball.

The goal didn't deter the 500-plus Town fans from the constant singing of a new Amond song, borrowed from West Ham. Pittman and Hoban looked completely ineffective together up front and on his own Amond would have created and finished many more chances than the reserve pair. Tranmere, buoyed by the goal, were on top but were overall ineffective in shooting. Warrington made a fine save from a low, narrow-angled shot from the left and had seemed to have put his earlier mistake behind him.

A Town fan berated a member of the Humberside constabulary, saying he shouldn't be on a day out over here but fighting crime in Grimsby instead. The copper took offence, saying his wages were being paid by Merseyside police, but it made no difference to the angry fan. The officer decided he couldn't win the argument and left.

Tranmere fans would have mistaken Venney for a first-teamer being rested for the game, such was the difference he made

With news coming through that Braintree were leading at Altrincham, meaning that even a win for Tranmere wouldn't be enough to get them in to the play-offs, the game took the air of a pre-season friendly. Toto, warming up, chatted at length to ex-Mariner Jack Mackreth, one of the Tranmere subs. In midfield Town couldn't do enough to get killer balls forward. Too many hopeful punts. Jennings, lightweight at the best of times, kept running into defenders, while Henderson and Clay seemed to be frequently passing the ball to a white, instead of a blue shirt. Hoban and Pittman were far too static up front.

The second half was a torrid affair. The result would make no difference to the season's outcome for either team, and it showed. No shots on target for Town. Warrington made a fine low save, putting a shot out for a corner. Henderson and Clay would do well to win the ball and then give it away again.

The Town fans' singing got louder and louder but it didn't inspire the players. Hurst decided to make changes. Marshall came on for Arnold, but the most effective change was the introduction of Josh Venney for Pittman, who'd had a poor game. Venney took up a holding midfield role and was energetic and precise with his passing. He outshone all others on the pitch and was probably the only fringe player who showed any interest in impressing the manager. The Tranmere fans would have mistaken Venney for a first-teamer being rested for the game, such was the difference he made.

It was Venney's drive that led Town to at least look like they could get an equaliser – and they came very close near the end, when a scramble in the box just needed a Town player's touch on the ball to poke it home. With the Town fans chanting his name, Bogle came on for the closing minutes. As the clocked ticked down to full time, Jennings had a shot blocked. In the final seconds Town got a free kick on the edge of the box, but it was blocked and from the rebound, Clay's shot flew inches wide.

With the final whistle came a half-hearted pitch invasion from the home fans. The Town players, but not Paul Hurst, came over to applaud the excellent away support. News had come through that it would be the form team Braintree who Town would meet in the play-offs. In 2004 Town fans trudged out of this ground knowing that they would be in the fourth division the following season. In 2016, they left hoping they would be.