Going Places

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 31/01/2026

THE signature of Albanian international Maldini Kacurri yesterday adds to our world collection, adding to Turi, Svanthorsson, Soonsup-Bell, Oduor and Gardner as players who have represented their country. I can't remember such a diverse group.

After serious deliberation, the nearest I could think of was 2001/2, when we had Danny Coyne, Zheng Enhua and Peter Handyside, like Cameron Gardner a Scottish under-21 international. Coming back to the present day, it looks like as we're now going places. Just as Town had a now almost forgotten poor spell of results in November and December, the turnaround since then has been remarkable. Our FA Cup opponents Weston were the only team who managed to score against us in our six consecutive victories. This success has coincided with the arrival of keeper Jackson Smith, but here I would agree with Head Coach David Artell who constantly reminds us that any success is not an individual triumph but a collective one. Now we have reason to think that confidence would be sky high. Today we take on Milton Keynes Dons who sit in second place. It's hard to forget our dazzling first half performance at MK Stadium earlier this year, following which we nearly undid ourself against 10 men in the second period, eventually squeezing home 3 - 2. Tuesday's victory at Colchester strongly suggested that we have resilience.

Town's starting side today was: Smith – Rodgers, Lavelle, McJannet, Sweeney - Walker, McEachren, Khouri, Vernam – Kabia, Cook. With Green out through suspension, it gave Mr Artell the opportunity to link up former Bradford teammates Walker and Cook. There was no starting place for any of our international players due to injury, fitness or other reasons. Even so the line-up looked solid. It was a bright and cold afternoon. 6,246 attended. MK dazzled in their lilac kit.

Town kicked off, heading towards the Osmond end. Barely 30 seconds had gone when MK opened up Town's defence but Collins couldn't sort his feet out when presented with a great opportunity. With 2 minutes gone Wiles went free and went down under a challenge from Sweeney - the referee declined the penalty appeal. MK then won a corner after Sweeney was caught out by the unpredictable bounce. The game was stopped for attention to Lavelle and McJannet. Town overcame the temporary shortage and went on the attack. But MK came back and luckily Collins's pass to his teammate was poor. Town struggled. A long throw from Paterson sent Collins through but McJannet was alert and cut out the threat. Rodgers then lost possession, allowing Paterson to take a shot but it was wild. With 15 minutes gone, Town hadn't got going. MK on the other hand looked lively. MK attacked again on 19 minutes. Collins took the ball to the left of Lavelle and fell over - a trip by Lavelle, according to the referee. A penalty was given. Paterson sent Smith the wrong way, firing his kick into the bottom left corner. Town 0, MK Dons 1. Town's first chance came on 23 minutes when Walker took a free kick quickly. Rodgers received and teed up Walker who disappointingly screwed his shot wide left. Staunton replaced Sweeney on 26 minutes, presumably due to injury. MK won a throw deep in Town's half. Walker's clearance was weak. Ekpiteta with space sent in a left-footed shot. It wasn't powerful but Rodgers in trying to clear it deflected it into the net. It was a soft goal. Town 0, MK Dons 2. Khouri was tripped on the left after 31 minutes, earning Town a free-kick. Vernam played it short to McEachren who floated in a left footed cross which floated over the defence. Kabia was on hand to head it in but was adjudged offside. Had he left it the ball would have gone in and the goal would have counted. With 35 minutes gone, Vernam was booked for a foul on Jones. 4 minutes later Walker did well to send Vernam on, but Vernam lashed wildly at his shot which flew high and wide. Walker then sent in a great cross towards Cook who seemed to be bundled off the ball by Ekpiteta. The referee saw it as an even challenge. On 43 minutes, a Rodgers throw found Walker who put in another curling cross. Cook's flicked header went wide. 6 minutes were added to the first half. A good interception by Staunton let to an attack before Staunton again set up another. Walker's shot from the right rebounded to Kabia whose touch was awful, and a good chance was wasted. So it remained 0 - 2 in favour of MK Dons at half time. MK dominated the first 20 minutes and deserved to be in the lead, albeit Town were unfortunate with the penalty decision. Weak defending resulted in the second goal. Town improved greatly as the half went on, and the score should have been closer but for Kabia's inexperience but understandable action, causing McEachren's well placed cross-shot to be disallowed. The muddy pitch threatened to prove to be a factor in the second half with players likely to tire.

Nice work by Walker led to a Staunton cross on 48 minutes but Khouri's attempt from close range went over the bar. Kabia then battled to win a corner, and Walker had a shot which went out for a throw in but at least Town were showing intent. Kabia then dispossessed Offord but hesitated with other Town players lurking. Lavelle cut out a Collins cross as MK made their way upfield. Good energy by Khouri resulted in a Town corner on 57 minutes. Vernam's delivery was decent but the ball was cleared. With an hour gone, Town found themselves deep in the MK half. Cook won Town a throw, before Lavelle crossed to Cook whose shot was deflected. Rodgers then burst into the MK box but couldn't keep his balance. Town were now applying sustained pressure. On 63 minutes Khouri fought and won the ball for Town in the corner. McEachren received the pass and played a delicious ball to Cook who held off the defender and saw the ball through to Kabia who with space slotted home from close range. It was a superbly worked goal. Town 1, MK Dons 2. Town pressed on and won a corner. McEachren then sent in a cross which was too long, but Town were now looking dangerous. A great cross from Cook was followed by Rodgers being denied but winning another corner on 72 minutes. Staunton's curled delivery from the right was pinpoint accurate. It was Kabia who was on hand at the near post to glide the ball home. Town 2, MK Dons 2. Town's performance and intensity had been excellent. Deservedly we had drawn level. MK won a corner on 75 minutes as they looked to respond and regain the lead. Wiles's cross found Nelson's head. The header was strong and accurate but blocked. A physical battle was going on at Blundell Park. Warren replaced Lavelle on 77 minutes. The game stopped on 79 minutes after a collision between Warren and Lemonheigh-Evans. After a few minutes Lemonheigh-Evans left the pitch, being replaced by the battling former Town favourite Jay Matete. With 85 minutes gone and players going down with the heavy pitch and the physical battle going on, Turi and Amaluzor came on for Walker and Cook. MK won a corner on 88 minutes which was cleared with ease. 10 minutes were added as a consequence of the injury stoppages. Town kept up the pressure. Sellars-Fleming replaced Vernam with 5 minutes left and immediately forced Jones into conceding a throw. A superb turn by Khouri saw him on a run but Matete had other ideas and tripped him. McEachren's delicate cross was cleared but now with 98 minutes gone Town won another free kick. Staunton's cross was good. Gilbey cleared but Town won another corner. McJannet flicked on Staunton's cross but the header ran wide. To the relief of MK, who'd been under constant pressure in this half, the game ended: Grimsby Town 2 Milton Keynes Dons 2.

It's not a win but it was a great recovery from Town who after a slow start to the game stepped up and really took hold with excellent play and intensity. Kabia went from zero to hero with his two goals, but it was a collective effort with both goals and other movements resulting from good skill, understanding and interplay. The dead ball play from Staunton and Vernam was noticeably improved, but so was the general play with Town's players winning battles in midfield and finding space. It seemed unrealistic even before today to expect automatic promotion as were already too far behind, but we're very much in the hunt for a play-off position. We're up to 8th in the table, although that's misleading as most League 2 games take place later. What is clear that we are going places if we perform as well as this.

Add To Facebook

This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!

Related Stories

• Arsenal Defender Signs for Town
• The Invincibles
• Wolves game moved to Sunday 15th
• More Stories

This Season and previous Seasons