The Professionals

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 11/10/2025

WE'VE been doing very nicely indeed. Leaving aside Tuesday's non-entity event in the uninspiring Vertu Trophy where we were at least giving a few of our squad a game, our league form has picked up, and we can't be accused of being distracted by our success so far in the Carabao Cup.

Today's opponents Colchester after their strong finish last season should be doing better. With the Cowleys as their management team, I'd have expected resilience from them at the very least. Until last Saturday their league results were patchy at best but then they beat Chesterfield 6 - 2. Although we won at Colchester last season, our last three home games against them have resulted in defeats. With a decent crowd, a confident team and a striker in Kabia with an xG ratio of 7.4 - oh these modern times - this shouldn't matter as we seek to build further on our good start.

The team appointed to bring us victory today was: Pym - Rodgers, Warren, McJannet, Sweeney - McEachren - Burns, Green, Khouri, Vernam - Kabia. Colchester wore yellow and blue on this bright and fresh afternoon as Town kicked off, facing the Pontoon end. 6,931 were here today to watch the game.

Pym was forced into a save after 30 seconds following slack work by McEachren. Payne passed to Mbick who with just Pym to beat struck his shot against the Town keeper's legs. This was a lucky escape for Town. Good work by Rodgers to gain possession led to a through ball by Green which resulted in a Town corner. The delivery was poor but Town continued to press with purpose, Vernam in particular looking dangerous. Both teams looked to move the ball quickly. Colchester won a corner on 9 minutes after a foul by Green. Khouri did outstandingly well to dispossess the advancing Read, and started a Town attack. Vernam's shot was deflected before the game was stopped fog an earlier injury to Colchester's Bishop. Khouri was close with a shot on 16 minutes after good initial work by Kabia in controlling the ball. Sweeney earned a corner which Vernam took from the left. Green advanced and met the cross with his head at the near post, firing home. Town 1, Colchester 0. Town continued to apply pressure, with Khouri doing good work before McEachren gained possession, allowing Burns to cross. Pym then caused a scare, driving his clearance from a short goal kick against Mbick on the 6 yard line but the ball bounced away from goal. McEachren received a yellow card on 24 minutes for a tackle on Bishop. Moments later as Town pushed forwards, Khouri then received a card for a foul on Lisbie. There were some physical challenges as both sides looked to gain possession and set up moves but this wasn't a dirty game. Iandolo won a corner on 29 minutes after good initial work by Mbick. Lisbie's header was on target but Pym had it covered. It was then Payne's turn to receive a yellow card after an outrageous dive to pretend that McJannet had tripped him. In a game of yellow cards, Iandolo was the latest recipient for hacking down Burns on the right in Colchester's half. Vernam's cross was headed clear but Khouri won a corner on the left, which again was cleared. Warren was forced to concede a corner to stop Lisburn. Read's corner was headed into the 6 yard box by Tucker. There was a huge scramble. Mbick shot, then Payne, then Lisbie as Town defended desperately. As Lisbie shot Mbick flung his foot at it and bundled the ball into the net. Town 1, Colchester 1. In an act of inevitability, Colchester manager Danny Cowley was yellow-carded, presumably for arguing. Colchester looked to be through on 43 minutes but Lisburn was offside after being sent through by Mbick. 4 minutes were added. Araujo went in a run but couldn't control his shot. Town had an attack as the half ended, but not for the first time Burns overhit his cross. A poor clearance by Macey allowed a Town attack but Vernam was penalised for a foul. It remained 1 - 1 at the half. Both sides were seeking to score and Colchester looked a threat but Town were on top before losing momentum as the game was disrupted with a string of yellow cards. Colchester picked up and showed their determination when equalising before getting more in the game for the remainder of the half. All was to play for.

Good combative play started a Town attack. McEachren was fouled 25 yards out but the referee played advantage but Burns lost the ball. Read now received a yellow card for a tackle in midfield on Khouri. Sweeney's free kick floated in the wind and Macey came out to claim it. Warren was then forced to hear as Colchester worked forward. McEachren then committed a foul, surprisingly not earning a second yellow card with this card-happy referee. This didn't stop either team from flying in with tackles in their bid to gain possession. During an injury stop on 55 minutes Svanthorsson replaced Burns, who hadn't had the best of games. Read has a shot for Colchester before Town countered. Svanthorsson sonehow managed to retain possession in spite of falling over twice. 60 minutes had gone, and there was no obvious winner here. Colchester attacked after Araujo cleared. Mbick beat Warren to the ball, flick it over his head, and turned. Pym raced out. Mbick saw him coming and expertly lobbed the ball over Pym from 25 yards and into the net. Town 1, Colchester 2. The physical battle had worked in Colchester's favour and with players like Read and Mbick, they were proving capable of working this to their advantage. Svanthorsson then got into a tussle with Iandolo and the game stopped again. Iandolo took his time as was now to be expected. Town had lost their fluidity. Svanthorsson jumped away from a scything tackle before Vernam and Warren were flattened with challenges by a Colchester team who could clearly see that Town could be bullied. As Colchester won a free kick on 72 minutes, Amaluzor and Soonsup-Bell replaced xG man Kabia and Vernam. It was surprising that Rose wasn't brought on with his experience. A nice duo between Svanthorsson and Green earned Town a corner, which wasn't a good one from Soonsup-Bell. Colchester held firm, but weren't frightened to go forward to use up time. Former Mariner Edwards crossed to Anderson who went close with a header. A scrap followed between Sweeney and the Colchester bench who wouldn't release the ball - another yellow card. On 80 minutes Read fell in the box after Soonsup-Bell allowed the Colchester player in. Mbick was just unable to reach the ensuing cross, or Town would have gone further behind. After McEachren conceded a free kick in Town's half on 82 minutes, he was replaced by Walker. Rose now came on for Sweeney. Soonsup-Bell wasted a cross but Walker retrieved possession on 84 minutes to cross and earn a corner. Soonsup-Bell's corner evaded everyone, allowing Colchester to break. Edwards ran on, and in his bid to stop him, was fouled by Green who was the latest to be awarded a yellow card. Such was Colchester's control that Town's first shot of the half didn't come until the 88th minute when Amaluzor had an accurate but weak attempt. Colchester sought to manage the remaining time as the 90th minute loomed. But with all the stoppages 7 minutes were added. With 92 minutes gone a Sweeney cross was headed on by Amaluzor. Green was on hand to challenge Macey who did well. His teammates urged him to stay down but Macey got up. Both sides were up for the battle. On 95 minutes, Rodgers passed back to Green whose swinging cross was met by Soonsup-Bell. His header bounced down off the edge of the crossbar and post. With 97 minutes gone, the largely unimpressive Soonsup-Bell lost possession and that was it. Final score: Grimsby Town 1, Colchester United 2.

Colchester were cynical and clinical but showed that they can play football. Danny Cowley and his team did a professional job on us. After Town had the early initiative, Colchester were well prepared for the physical battle which seemed to put Town off their stride for the rest of the game. Colchester took advantage of our disarray. Town and David Artell in particular need to learn how to deal with this sort of team. This was a victory to the Professionals whether we like the way they did it or not.

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