Amaluzor Rescues a Point

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 13/09/2025

GRIMSBY scored a late goal deep into injury time to rescue a point against Cambridge at Blundell Park, thanks to Amaluzor smashing in a rebound from a Kabia penalty save. The Mariners struggled all game to break down a well-organised Cambridge side who had taken an early lead.

An unchanged Town side struggled from the off against Neil Harris's side, one of the four teams relegated from League One last season. Town struggled to get their passing game going, and Cambridge had much of the early possession, doubling up on Vernam and McEachran to break down Grimsby's game, as well as pressing Grimsby into mistakes.

Cambridge were presented with a chance in the 17th minute when a Burns's back pass was intercepted by Appere, but Pym managed to palm away the effort. Cambridge striker Appere then went off shortly after with a hamstring injury, and he was replaced by Kouassi, who proved a real handful.

Town's first attempt of note was after half an hour when Burns forced a save. Cambridge, though, took the lead from a cross which bounded out to Mayor, who volleyed an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner to give the away side a deserved lead. Town's only other effort of note in the first half was a Sweeney shot, which went wide.

The second half was a very scrappy affair with lots of stoppages for free kicks, long throw-ins and time-wasting by Cambridge. It was also an ill-tempered game with both sets of players trying to get their opponents booked or red-carded.

But Cambridge looked more likely to score, and Brophy forced a save from Pym early in the second half, and McJannet managed to clear a cross just the right side of the post from a Cambridge attack with Kouassi poised to tap it in. Town then had a similar effort from a brilliant cross by Staunton, but could only hit in wide, sliding in at the far post.

Just as it looked like Town were going to lose, the Mariners won a free kick on the left with two minutes to go. The ball was played into a crowded box, and Kouassi obligingly stuck out a leg, which McJannet fell over. It was a needless penalty to give away, but Kabia gracefully accepted the opportunity despite his multiple penalty misses this season. Maybe those misses helped because his teammates were quickest to the ball when it rebounded from the 'keeper's save, and Amaluzor was first to reach, smashing it into the net to send those who had left early regretting their decision.

Cambridge looked like they had done their homework on Grimsby and were well organised and drilled on how to stop Town's game. That's something David Artell's side are going to have to deal with, and they can be satisfied to have emerged with a point, despite not having played well.

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