The Bubble Bursts

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 23/12/2023

GRIMSBY put in their worst performance under the new regime with a 2-1 defeat at home to Harrogate Town. After a bright start by Grimsby, the visitors came into the game and it looked only a matter of time before they scored. A goal before the break and another 20 minutes from time looked to have the game won.

Town managed to score on the stroke of 90 minutes and pushed for a second, without success, in the 5 minutes of injury time. In reality, the 2-1 defeat doesn't tell the true story of how big the gulf was between the sides. Harrogate could easily have scored 4 or 5, and Grimsby's best moment was the goal they did score.

An unchanged Town side started well without threatening the goal but with some good approach play. Harrogate restricted Town's time on the ball, and Grimsby couldn't get their passing game together and were being forced into mistakes. On the 30-minute mark, Cartwright denied Odoh with a double save, and from that point, they were in the ascendancy. 2 minutes later they should have scored again when Thompson was left unmarked at the far post from a free kick and volleyed a good chance wide.

Just before halftime, Odoh picked out Thomson with a chipped ball into the box which was deflected by Cartwright for a corner. From the spot kick a slight neat post flick by Gibson saw the ball steered into the bottom corner to give the away side the lead at the break.

Town had a half chance early in the second half when Eisa's shot was blocked after a good run by Clifton had created a chance for him, but Grimsby were getting little more than crumbs.

A double change in midfield saw Green and Holohan replace Hunt and Conteh in the centre of the park. But Harrogate continued to look the more threatening and it was no surprise when Daley shrugged off two challenges in a surging run into the box and blasting a shot past Cartwright.

The game looked over and many people had left when a late corner saw the ball break to Green who fired a low shot through a crowded penalty box into the goal for an unexpected consolation. With 5 minutes left to play a few people lingered at the exits hoping for an unlikely point, but it was not to be.

Grimsby have an early kick-off on Boxing Day when they travel to Mansfield. They will have to improve to bring anything back with them.

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