Harambee Stars Abroad: Clarke Oduor On Target as He Inspires English Club to Cup Final

‎Harambee Stars defender Clarke Oduor was on target for English side Grimsby Town as they made it to a cup final for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday.

‎Oduor was among the scorers when Grimsby Town beat Cleethorpes Town 2-0 at the HBS Plant Hire Stadium to book their first Lincolnshire Senior Cup final spot in 12 years.

The Kenyan star, who can play at left-back and central midfield, played alongside Henry Brown, Justin Amaluzor and Charlie Hatton in midfield and he had an inspired performance.

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Grimsby's goals were scored in the first half with Oduor breaking the deadlock early on before Andy Cook doubled their advantage through a penalty seven minutes to the break.

‎Grimsby Town, who reached the semis after a penalty shoot-out victory over Scunthorpe United following a 1-1 draw, were keen to avoid another tense match and Oduor settled the nerves with his early goal.

‎An early Oduor cross proved too far ahead of Cook and was turned behind for a corner, before a foul on Henry Brown brought a free kick wide on the left. Oduor found Cook from it but his header was deflected wide for another corner.

‎And this time, the Mariners took the lead from the corner, as the ball was played to Oduor and he worked an opening inside the box to fire a low strike past the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.

‎ Oduor almost created another goal when he sent a free kick into the box from the right but Justin Amaluzor could not connect with a header.

Grimsby Town kept asking the questions and Cook thought he had scored the second when he had the ball in the net after 32 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.

‎He had his moment minutes later when Amaluzor was brought down by Joey Phuthi in the box, leading to a penalty that Cook stepped up and scored to make it 2-0.

Chances were few and far between in the second half but Grimsby Town held firm to claim the win and will now wait to know who they will face in the final between Lincoln United and Boston United, who play the other semi-final on February 18.

Grimsby Town will be looking to lift the county cup trophy for the first time since a 2-1 victory over Lincoln City in October 2014.

‎Oduor, who joined Grimsby Town last August and made his debut when they shocked Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, has played 13 matches in all competitions for the club.

‎He will hope to continue impressing and catch the eye of Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations given he is yet to receive a national team call-up since September 2023, having made his debut as a late substitute against Zambia in October 2020.

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