Goals from Kallum Cesay and Adebola Oluwo saw Salford come from behind to clinch a 2-1 first-leg victory at Grimsby in the opening League Two Play-Off Semi-Final tie.
Oluwo nodded a 40th-minute winner on the bounce from a controversially alleged offside position as he met Luke Garbutt’s corner.
Reece Staunton initially volleyed Grimsby ahead after 26 seconds with a top-left corner strike, which was cancelled out by Cesay’s fourth-minute equalising low strike into the far-bottom right corner.
Salford now hold a 2-1 aggregate lead heading into their home leg at Peninsula Stadium on Friday 15 May at 19:15pm BST.
Unlike the first four matches of the EFL Play-Offs this season, Blundell Park saw an explosive start as Grimsby broke forward but Rodgers’ cross was headed clear toward Staunton who blasted his volley into the top-left corner to put the Mariners in front after 26 seconds.
Salford however quickly regrouped and equalised late in the fourth minute after Cesay picked up Dan Udoh’s pass and slotted into his far-bottom right corner past Jackson Smith.
The first half subsequently became scrappy as both defences dug in whilst Salford’s Kelly N’Mai saw a 11th-minute penalty appeal denied by referee – Matt Corlett, after he was fouled by Geza Turi.
Jaze Kabia missed a 26th-minute chance to restore the Mariners’ lead after he turned Turi’s low cross wide of his near-bottom right corner.
Salford soon began to step up their intensity as Matt Butcher’s shot was saved by Smith in the 33rd minute, before Ryan Graydon fired wide of the bottom-left corner a minute later.
Karl Robinson’s Ammies eventually got their reward for their improved intensity from a 40th-minute corner, which Oluwo nodded in on the bounce from Garbutt’s delivery despite having appeared to be in an offside position.
Corlett however allowed the defender’s sixth goal of the season to stand in spite of protests from Grimsby players and manager, David Artell, as Salford subsequently managed to protect their lead until half time.
The offside goal controversy however fired Grimsby up in the second half as Harvey Rodgers saw a shot blocked, whilst Kabia blasted a shot over the bar and Staunton curled a 64th-minute free-kick into Matty Young’s arms.
Salford eventually weathered the Mariners’ pressure and settled for their slender aggregate lead as the first leg fizzled out in the closing 20 minutes.
Teams
Grimsby: Jackson Smith, Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet, Reece Staunton, Geza Turi, Justin Amaluzor (Burns 68′), Clarke Oduor (Walker 79′), Jaze Kabia (Vernam 68′), Kieran Green, Andy Cook
Substitutes: Darragh Burns, Christy Pym, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Jayden Sweeney, Charles Vernam, Jamie Walker, Tyrell Warren
Salford: Matty Young, Haji Mnoga, Adebola Oluwo, Brandon Cooper, Luke Garbutt, Kelly N’Mai (Longelo 67′), Josh Austerfield (Woodburn 72′), Matt Butcher, Kallum Cesay, Ryan Graydon (Borini 89′), Daniel Udoh (Stockton 89′)
Substitutes: Fabio Borini, Alfie Dorrington, Mark Howard, Rosaire Longelo, Cole Stockton, Ollie Turton, Ben Woodburn
Referee – Matt Corlett
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