Wolves' Premiership dream was dealt a serious blow by a teenage goalkeeper who
was called upon to make his debut on the morning of the game.
With Grimsby's number one keeper Aidan Davison banished from the club and
second choice Andy Love injured the responsibility fell to 19-year-old Steve
Croudson.
And the debutant almost single-handedly defied the West Midlands side with a
string of top drawer saves.
Within 60 seconds he had punched clear under pressure from the Wolves front
line and during the opening encounters he went on to make key saves from
Norwegian Havard Flo and Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane.
Wolves needed six points from their last two games to be sure of a place in
the play-offs but could have gone in 2-0 down at the break if referee Graham
Frankland had spotted Keith Curle's tug on Jack Lester in the box and Kevin
Donovan's shot moments later had not been well saved by Mike Stowell.
Flo saw a shot well saved by Croudson and a free kick come off the wall and
strike the angle of post and bar in the first period.
Town's young right-back Danny Butterfield had a cross shot go inches over the
bar and then Flo headed over while unmarked in the home box.
Keane must have thought he had scored when he fired in a venomous shot from
within the area but Croudson was equal to it.
The teenager was beaten by a Flo header from a Muscat cross but the ball
drifted just wide with Neil Emblen steaming in at the post.
Lester had an opportunity to seal the game for Mariners in the 80th minute
after a good ball from Kingsley Black. But, electing to lob Stowell, he put his
attempt from 25 yards well over the bar.
Wolves substitute Paul Simpson had a low drive shave the post after a good
one-two with fellow substitute Steve Bull and with just seconds to go Croudson
denied Wolves again, finger-tipping an Emblen header over from close range.
Teams
Grimsby: Croudson, Butterfield, Gallimore, Handyside, Burnett,
Coldicott, Donovan, Black, Clare, Lester, Groves.
Subs Not Used: Bloomer, Buckley, Chapman.
Booked: Coldicott.
Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Gilkes (Bull 58), Sedgley,
Richards, Curle, Robinson (Simpson 70), Emblen, Flo,Keane (Corica 80), Osborn.
Booked: Gilkes.
Att: 7,009
Ref: G Frankland (Middlesbrough).
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