Salford City won 2-1 at Grimsby in the first leg of the League Two semi-final.
Reece Staunton scored a stunning opener after 26 seconds for the Mariners, but Salford turned it around. Callum Cesay scored a few minutes later, while Adebola Oluwo nodded in a controversial goal just before the break.
It means Karl Robinson’s Salford – who missed out on automatic promotion on the final day – take advantage of their second leg at the Peninsula Stadium on Friday night.
Grimsby start quickly but Salford get a controversial winner
It was an electric start as Grimsby took just 26 seconds to take the lead. goal in 26 seconds. The ball in the box was half left to Staunton on the edge, and he lifted a volley into the top corner.
The gain was short-lived. Three minutes later Salford equalized as a long ball was played to Cesay, who coolly finished into the bottom corner.
They ended the game before the break as Oluwo headed home from a corner. However, there was controversy over it as Grimsby goalkeeper Jackson Smith appeared to have his line of sight blocked by a Salford player in the offside area.
To say that Grimsby manager David Artell was unhappy that the goal was ruled out would be an understatement.
“I will not talk about the referee,” he said Sky Sports. “I’ll let others decide [if it shouldn’t have stood]. We all saw the second goal.
“If I tell you exactly what I think, I will be there [an FA hearing at] At Wembley tomorrow morning.”
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Salford wasted little time in finding an equalizer as Kallum Cesay collected the ball just three minutes after Grimsby had taken the lead.
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Salford fought back to take the lead at Blundell Park after Adebola Oluwo headed home from a corner.
Great Oluwo back at Salford
Editor of Sky Sports EFL Simeon Gholam:
It is easy to forget that this was Oluwo’s first season in the EFL.
The 26-year-old defender had been on the loose before being snapped up by Salford City last summer, and had been at University for the past few years, not even thinking about a professional career in football.
But he showed how much he deserves to be at this level, at least, with an amazing display.
He scored the crucial goal that put Salford ahead in the tie at the end of the first half, but at the back he was too long on the ground and in the air, unable to kick the Grimsby players forward.
Robinson: I almost applauded their goal… but we responded well
Manager of Salford Karl Robinson to Sky Sports:
“I almost applauded their goal, what a strike it was. But the way our players responded is outstanding because the atmosphere here was electric.
“Getting the goals we got, then we showed a great job in defense and our structure. There was a level of control in our performance, then there were our celebrations.
“We have a lot of respect for Grimsby and it was a tough game.”
