Alex Academy Grad Scores Against First Club

Goals from former Alex youngster Toby Mullarkey, Curtis Thompson and substitute Denver Hume saw Grimsby Town defeat Crewe Alexandra at the Alexandra Stadium yesterday.

Manager Lee Bell made 3 changes from Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Morecambe with Max Stryjek starting in goal after signing on an emergency loan deal with Aaron Rowe and Charlie Kirk also starting as Tom Booth missed out through injury, Lewis Leigh missing out through suspension and Shilow Tracey the three players to drop out. Mullarkey would start for the visitors while Callum Ainley was named among their substitutes.

The game’s opening chance came in the 4th minute as Rowe had an effort from distance that was saved by Jake Eastwood before Elliott Nevitt would have his shot deflected for a corner 8 minutes later. Rowe would have another effort that would be deflected wide before the visitors took the lead in the 39th minute as a long throw from Doug Tharme was headed in by Mullarkey from 8 yards out.

After a double change that saw Joel Tabiner and Charlie Finney get minutes into their legs ahead of the play-offs (Josh Austerfield and Kirk made way), the visitors doubled their lead just before the hour as Charles Vernam’s corner was headed out for Thompson to volley into the bottom corner of Stryjek’s goal. Finney would produce a good save out of Eastwood with 5 minutes to play before a couple of Mariners substitutes as Donovan Wilson’s mazy run was converted by Denver Hume at the back post.

The next couple of games see the Alex hosting Wrexham next Saturday before finishing the regular season with a trip to Colchester United the following Saturday.

Final Thoughts:

This game was one that saw a few of the players completely run out of steam after playing with such a small available playing squad over the past few weeks in particular, it was good to see Tabiner and Finney get a run out following their injuries as well as Agius seeing the field again for his second longest league appearance to date (after the 45 mins he got against Barrow just before Xmas).