It was late heartbreak for Port Vale as a last-minute equaliser from James Berrett ended Vale’s hopes of putting their run of games without a win to an end. Vale went majority of the game in the lead after David Worrall’s stunning volley opened the score for Vale, until the final minute where The Mariners ended all faith.
It couldn’t have been a better start for The Valiants as Worrall put Neil Aspin’s side ahead on ten minutes. A miraculous run and cross from Marcus Harness found the 27-year old at the back post who buried home into the bottom corner.
Harness continued to look lively within the first quarter of the half. He got on the end of a scuffed pass to Danny Collins as he raced clear of the goal, cut inside only to shoot over.
Worrall also caused a nuisance for a nervous Grimsby backline. Again, running off the back of Collins on the 19th minute, saw his outside of the boot shot go narrowly wide.
The two sides saw minimal efforts on from here, with Vale’s supporters rocking Blundell Park. A few chances for both went missing with either failing to win position throughout the game.
Luke Hannant nearly saw his first goal in a Vale shirt after picking up the ball on the halfway line as he sprinted forward. Coming to the 18-yard box, he let fly allowing James McKeown to deliver a fine stop on 38 minutes.
McKeown was yet again called into action for The Mariners, pulling off a world class save to deny Anton Forrester from close-range. His fingertip save impressed the whole of Blundell Park after pushing the ball onto the crossbar.
Three minutes were added on at the end of the half, with Port Vale looking very much the better side.
Grimsby’s star man in Sikiri Dembele saw the second-half’s first chance. His effort stormed across the floor as Ryan Boot was there to save.
50 minutes in, Kyle Howkins could have got his first goal in a Vale shirt as his deflected volley went narrowly wide of the ‘keepers near post.
Vale saw a brilliant chance to double their lead as Forrester was brought down in the box by Reece Hall-Johnson. A penalty was awarded on 62 minutes as Michael Tonge stepped up, only to be saved by McKeown.
A double substitution for Neil Aspin’s men as both James Gibbons and Tyrone Barnett came on to replace Forrester and Cristian Montano.
Blundell Park began to come to life once again as Harry Clifton’s volley on the edge of the area flew well over the bar.
Boot produced another fine save for The Valiants denying Clifton from 18-yards. The ball dropped to the midfielder following a Tonge’s clearance as Boot got down low to deny him once again.
Ben Whitfield was the final substiuton for Vale as he replaced Luke Hannany who impressed throughout the game.
Tyrone Barnett then saw an excellent chance once again for Vale, as he tried to volley his effort into the bottom corner – forcing McKeown to another fine save. In the rare occurance of a pass back, Worrall’s effort hit a Town defender before dropping to Harness who fired over.
Finally, it came to Berrett’s late goal where he volleyed into the bottom corner to deny all hope of three points.
Grimsby Town: McKeown, Davies, Clarke ©, Collins, Berrett, Rose (Cardwell 65), Clifton, Suliman (Hall-Johnson 53), Fox, Dembele (Kelly 77), Matt.
Unused Subs: Killip, Mills, Hooper, Jaiyesimi.
Port Vale: Boot, Davis, Smith, Howkins, Montano (Gibbons 67), Pugh ©, Tonge, Hannant (Whitfield 78), Harness, Worrall, Forrester (Barnett 67).
Unused Subs: Hornby, Howe, Raglan, Wilson.
Attendance: 5198 (316 away supporters).