Grimsby Town will take on playoff candidates Stockport County at Blundell Park in the first set of League Two matches in 2023.

The Mariners sit in 16th position, while Dave Challinor's side are only two points outside of the increasingly competitive playoff picture.

Match preview

Grimsby Town re-entered The Football League pyramid following a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Solihull Moors in last season's National League playoff final on June 5.

However, Paul Hurst's side have experienced a recent purple patch of late following an encouraging return to the fourth tier of English football.

After witnessing the postponement of their match against Mansfield Town on December 17 following the discovery of a frozen pitch at the One Call Stadium, courtesy of the arctic-esque temperatures that have plagued the country throughout this month, Grimsby Town returned to action on Boxing Day against Harrogate Town.

Nonetheless, things did not go to plan for The Mariners after a 91st-minute own goal from goalkeeper Max Crocombe resulted in relegation-threatened Harrogate taking three points away from a highly-entertaining five-goal encounter at Wetherby Road.

Grimsby suffered another blow in their pursuit of a first appearance in the third tier of English football since 2003 as a first-half hat-trick from Ammies' top scorer Matt Smith helped Salford City to a comfortable 4-1 win on Thursday.

With only two victories in front of their increasingly frustrated fanbase this season, The Mariners will likely start the New Year in a better fashion than the concluding stages of 2022.

Stockport County joined Grimsby Town in the fourth tier of English football following the accolade of winning the 2021-22 National League trophy.

Unlike their New Year's Day hosts, Challinor's side have been in a prosperous vein of form after only one defeat in their last eight league matches.

Following the postponement of their match against bottom-of-the-table Gillingham on December 17, goals from Paddy Madden and Will Collar saw Stockport register a 2-0 success over Crewe Alexandra.

Stockport continued their ongoing momentum as a brace from Kyle Wootton saw The Hatters emerge victorious over Walsall at the Bescot Stadium on Thursday.

After eight victories in their last 10 matches, Challinor's side head to North-East Lincolnshire over the weekend to face Grimsby Town as one of the in-form sides in the division.

Team News

After scoring a combined 16 league goals this season, the in-form strike pair of Paddy Madden (9) and Kyle Wootton (7) should once again lead the line for Stockport County, barring any unforeseen injury setbacks between now and the weekend.

After scoring against Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day, Will Collar will again provide an extra line of support in the final third for Madden and Wootton.

In the wake of making his debut in the victory over Walsall, Phil Bardsley could again start on the right side of midfield if the former Scotland international can prove his fitness after coming off 67 minutes at the Bescott Stadium.

Currently leading Grimsby Town's League Two goalscoring charts with six goals in 21 matches this season, Paul Hurst will hope Welsh midfielder Harry Clifton is fit enough to start against Stockport after coming off after in the defeat against Salford.

After handing Danilo Orsi-Dadomo a place in his starting XI on Thursday, Hurst could give the striker another opportunity as The Mariners' lone striker on Sunday.

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Efete, Waterfall, Maher, Amos; Wright, Holohan, Clifton, Khan; McAtee, Orsi-Dadomo

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Wright, Horsfall, Johnson; Bardsley, Collar, Croasdale, Hippolyte, Rydel; Wootton, Madden

We say: Grimsby Town 1-2 Stockport County

Despite only emerging victorious in one of the last five head-to-head encounters across all competitions, we expect Stockport County to further enhance their reputation as playoff contenders in a tightly-contested affair at Blundell Park.

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