The Invincibles

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 28/01/2026

THE Mariners produced one of the performances of the season to record a fifth successive victory in League Two and maintain their 100% start to 2026. Town have also gone six successive league games with a clean sheet.

The win and clean sheet were all the more remarkable as they had to play for over half an hour with 10 men after Kieran Green received his second yellow card in the 66th minute, just five minutes after his first booking. Town held on despite a tremendous siege from the home side, including 13 minutes of injury time during which plenty of bums squeaked.

Staunton replaced Sweeney in the only change by David Artell, who understandably wanted to otherwise stick with the team that won at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Cheltenham started strongly and had the better of the early stages. Lavelle had to make a good clearance to deny a chance for Goodwin. Tovide then blasted a sliding cross from Goodwin against the post from a narrow angle to deny Colchester. At the other end, Town gained a foothold, but nobody was on hand to make the most of a goalkeeping mistake.

Grimsby started to dominate the match and were unlucky not to score when Green found space just outside the box and blasted a shot against the post. The opening goal came from a similar position, and Green started the move, passing to Vernam, who picked out Rodgers on the edge of the box. The defender picked his spot, placing the ball past the 'keeper to give the Mariners a one-goal lead. Rodgers could have scored a second from a similar position on the edge of the box, but his effort was off target.

Grimsby were good value for their lead, although Colchester started the second half strongly, but Town's defence was imperious, restricting the Us to scraps. Vernam was presented a gift by Arajo, but failed to make the most of it, blasting his shot wide. Goodwin headed wide from a Colchester corner, and Green was booked for arguing with the referee about taking a free kick too quickly. He was to regret that, as five minutes later he hauled back Payne, who had intercepted the ball during a Town attack, and the ref had little choice but to present the Town captain with a second yellow.

The game entered a phase of near-constant Colchester pressure. Oduor and Cook replaced Vernam and Burns, with everyone but Cook largely defending the metaphorical Alamo. Grimsby defended magnficently but Colchester still had chances. A shot was deflected wide, and then a Tucker shot was headed off the line by McJannet. Smith was needed to make a brilliant reflex save to deny Akande at point-blank range, then Payne hit the post with a shot from 25 yards, as Town lived a charmed life.

The Mariners were forced to play out 13 minutes of injury time, but held on for a remarkable victory that will play a prominent place in the end of season highlights, despite it being in the middle of the season.

Grimsby go on face MK Dons in an early match on Saturday, which will be another tough challenge against the second-placed side. But the incredible run has brought Town back into playoff contention after the autumn's terrible run had condemned the Mariners to mid-table purgatory.

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