Pilgrim's Progress

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 18/10/2025

AFTER our second half struggle earlier this season against 10 man Milton Keynes, Head Coach David Artell took action, announcing that our players would practice playing against 10 men as part of our improvement process.

Having struggled against disruptive teams, including Colchester last Saturday, when we were well and truly cowleyed, then I would hope that Mr Artell has introduced this scenario into our training programme. My concern is that Mr Artell didn't see this as such a problem, but from what I see we could learn useful lessons from Colchester, who in between the X-rated flying tackles and stoppages, proved capable themselves of positive interplay on the restart. Town on the other hand lost all rhythm or ability to pass the ball. Today's opponents Gillingham promised to be another difficult side. Although their recent form hasn't been good, they sit third. Their manager is Gareth Ainsworth who when in charge of Wycombe Wanderers oversaw cowleyesque dark arts. So while Town have good players, with elements of inexperience, we had to be prepared to avoid the continuation of suffering against these physical teams. Mr Artell described today's game in his pre-match interview as "a battle of styles", so at least recognised the challenge.

Returning to North East Lincolnshire for home games from my home in South Wales is like a pilgrimage. Today's pre-match tour covered iconic Grimsby streets - Ainslie Street, Wintringham Road, Heneage Road, Convamore Road, Hainton Avenue - before haddock and chips at Freeman Street market and then on to Mecca itself, Blundell Park. Now I've been going for long enough not to expect the icing on the cake in the form of a stellar home performance. The team assigned to providing the icing today was: Pym - Rodgers, Lavelle, McJannet, Sweeney - McEachren - Amaluzor, Green, Walker, Vernam - Kabia. 6,659 were here today including 489 Gillingham supporters.

A couple of good touches by Lavelle marked the start but Amaluzor wasted possession. On 5 minutes Vernam showed his speed and drew a save from keeper Morris. The ball was cleared up to the Town half. Sweeney and the advancing Pym had an epic misunderstanding, with Sweeney standing aside to allow Palmer-Houlden to take control. Pym made up for his error by saving with his legs. This was a major let-off. Amaluzor then made a good interception but Town's players were unable to sort their feet out. The game was even. Gillingham looked to use the width of the pitch. Kabia had a turn and snap shot on 13 minutes, then a move up the right saw Amaluzor find Rodgers who crossed. Vernam's header was blocked. Walker sent Amaluzor away but Coleman stopped the move with a good tackle. A sharp cross from Vernam after a good run caused havoc in the middle but Green was penalised for a foul on Morris. Town had had a good spell and were showing their capability to launch attacks but were meeting a resilient Gillingham defence which included former Town hero Andy Smith. Gillingham for their part looked capable of putting moves together. Kabia received a yellow card for flooring Gale in what seemed an innocuous exchange. On 28 minutes Gillingham won a throw in Town's half. Hutton delivered the throw, which Town cleared. Kabia ran up the left with Green in the middle but Kabia's pass was poor and struck the defender. On 31 minutes Gillingham won a free kick. The game was becoming niggly. Coleman and Kabia resumed their tussle. Dack sent in a free kick. Rodgers headed the ball out for a corner. The ball was cleared out long to be Kabia who fought with Hutton, winning the battle and forcing Hutton to pull Kabia down in the Gillingham half. The referee awarded a foul but also gave Hutton a straight red card. It seemed harsh. Gillingham's keeper Morris immediately went down with an "injury", allowing Gillingham to regroup and work out their tactics. On the restart Vernam played wide to Walker who shot. Morris made a good save. Walker found Vernam on the left on 39 minutes, but Vernam's cross was cleared. Town continued to probe but couldn't get through Gillingham's obdurate defence. Rodgers had a shot blocked. Vernam curled one over. McEachren lost possession but Coleman immediately lost it as Town closed in on every ball. Vernam took advantage and fired a low shot which Morris saved at his right post. Three minutes were added. Walker found space and stabbed a shot from outside the box. Amaluzor had a run and won a corner after being tackled. Town finished the half on top, but were unable to pierce the resilient Gillingham defence.

Town resumed the second half on the offensive. A cross came in from the right. Vernam headed towards goal. It was a good header. Morris fell backward, and Kabia appeared to bundle the ball into the net. The referee disallowed the goal for offside. Town followed up with a corner. On 50 minutes Andrews overran the ball and fouled Green, who mysteriously received a yellow card. On 51 minutes good interplay between McEachren and Vernam led to a good chance for Kabia who appeared to knee the ball wide. Good work by Amaluzor led to a cross from the right. The ball fell to Walker who found Vernam in the way and struck the ball wide of the left post. Rodgers was then booked for a challenge. Town showed commitment in their endeavours to win possession but this was a referee who didn't like tackles. On 56 minutes, Sweeney picked up the ball in his own half and burst forward, beating several players and passing forward to Kabia in the box. Kabia appeared to be bundled over by Gale. The referee agreed and awarded a penalty. Who was going to take it after recent misses? The answer was Vernam who struck his shot low and confidently into the left corner of the net. Town 1, Gillingham 0. On 60 minutes good work by Amaluzor on the right resulted in a Walker shot. Town now played the ball around. Amaluzor, Vernam and McEachren put together an intricate passing move. The ball finally fell to Sweeney's who supplied Walker whose attempted chip was too high. On 63 minutes the excellent Amaluzor played to Rodgers on the edge of the Gillngham box. Rodgers was tripped by Williams who received his second yellow card, reducing Gillingham to 9 men. Town made a mess of the free kick before Green had a speculative shot. McJannet was then subject to the latest dubious tackle by a Gillingham player, earning Coleman a yellow card, followed by another one for Little. Town's tactic seemed to be to play the ball around, waste time and keep possession. This seemed potentially dangerous as we were only one goal ahead still, admittedly with numerical advantage. It certainly wasn't the much vaunted Grimsby Way.. The game stopped for an injury to Gillingham's Clark. Town did win a corner and after a well-worked move Green was put clear but Morris did well to save with his legs. Rodgers then played a ball through to McEachren but neither Green nor Vernam was able to finish. Town looked to be going off the boil. On 75 minutes, Gillingham had a rare attack. Smith headed on but Vokes slipped. This was a warning. On 78 minutes Green found Rodgers who took a touch too many. The ball came out to McEachren who swung his left foot at it. His shot went wide. Soonsup-Bell and Khouri came in for Vernam and Walker. Town looked to slow the game down and use the time with possession. Green had the opportunity of a volley but fired over spectacularly from 15 yards. It was as if Town were losing interest and concentration. Gale was booked for a lunge at McJannet. Rodgers had a dig from the right which went wide. With 88 minutes gone, Amaluzor bombed up the right. Nevitt pulled him back and guess what, he received a yellow card. Town played the ball around aimlessly. Nevitt lurked ominously up front for Gillingham, waiting for an opportunity. Amaluzor hit a curled straight at Morris before Gillingham won a free kick around the half way line. Smith threatened but Town cleared. Kabia then fouled Cirino. Smith headed on. Town looked uncertain. Rose replaced Kabia who was one foul away from being sent off. 87 minutes had gone. McJannet pulled over Vokes. Town seemed to be determined to shoot themselves in the foot by giving Gillingham a lifeline. Seven nervous minutes were added. Amaluzor broke away and teed up Rose who joined the ineptitude party and ballooned his hit over the Pontoon stand. Town were being repeatedly complacent and wasteful. Green failed to spot a man outside and had a shot blocked. McEachren then seemed to lose concentration, allowing Nevitt in but Town closed ranks. With 96 minutes gone Sweeney fouled Little on the left in Town's half. Keeper Morris came up to take the free kick. McKenzie got his head on the cross but Pym took the ball comfortably and the game was over, Grimsby Town 1, Gillingham 0. There was much relief after the needlessly nervy last few minutes.

My pilgrimage today was complete and ultimately successful. It wasn't plain sailing, however. Once we were ahead and particularly when Gillingham were down to 10 and then 9 men, we slowed down and didn't do what we usually do and press forward with purpose. This game made a mockery of Mr Artell's assertion of our new-found ability to play against 10 men after the Milton Keynes game. For the last 30 minutes we put ourselves under pressure needlessly, making poor decisions, losing concentration, being guilty of poor play and an overall lack of clarity as we were slow and wasteful. Showboating and uncertainty were accompanied by poor mistakes from McEachren and Green of all people. Mr Artell, who will doubtless point to our 77 percent possession statistic, needs to look further as we looked highly vulnerable at the end. Our Head Coach should be instilling in the team the need to focus on purposeful play and clear thinking when the game circumstances change like this. The last few minutes were nail-biting but at least we won. And that is not the only positive. We're third in the table, and there were some great moments from many of our players which put us in the dominant position. Amaluzor I thought was outstanding, as was McJannet. Sweeney's run which led to the goal was superb. Vernam looked dangerous, and Kabia caused trouble while Walker and Lavelle were solid. So while there are things to review and improve, we continued to make progress today.

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