Grimsby Storm to Victory

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 24/10/2026

TOWN comprehensively beat Gillingham with a superb second-half performance that turned an even 1-1 half-time score into a resounding 4-1 victory. Rodgers blasted Town into an early lead before Hale levelled before the break. Grimsby scored quickly in the second half with a Morgan penalty.

The Mariners then went on to dominate the remainder of the match, adding two more goals, and it could have had more, as the Kent side was blown away.

David Artell kept the same side that earned a point at Rochdale, though Shelton and Andrews returned from injury on the bench. It meant a continuation of the 3-man defence and a 2-man attack.

Grimsby started well, and Vernam had an early chance from an intercepted clearance, but his effort went well over. The Mariners took the lead when a ball from the left broke perfectly to Rodgers 25 yards out, who had time to run onto it and pick his spot (the top left-hand corner), blasting the ball through a congested penalty box to give the 'keeper no chance.

It was a brilliant goal, and Town carried on attacking; with most of the game still left, it was no time to sit on a lead. Green had a deflected shot tipped over, before Gillingham gradually played their way into the game and a spell of pressure ended with a Daley shot which fortunately was straight at Pym. The home side looked dangerous in some quick counterattacks, and their goal came in a good move when Hale ran on to a quick defence-splitting pass and slotted past Pym from a narrow angle to level the game.

David Artell's half-time team talk must have been a good one as Grimsby started the second half strongly and never looked back. Some early pressure forced a foul in the box on Green from Little. Morgan is now on penalty duty and made no mistake to put Town in front again. The side were not content to sit back and defend, and continued to look to add to their tally. Turi made it three when a Green short ball bounced to him in the box, and he reacted quickly to send it goalwards. Turi then turned provider with a slide rule pass for substitute Finch to make it four.

Town won handsomely, and the new system, albeit one arrived at by circumstance, worked well, especially with a few more days added on the training pitch. The back three were all superb, and the extra man in attack gives the team a lot more attacking options, and it was noticeable that less time was spent passing the ball between defenders waiting to spot a gap further upfield. The two "wing backs" are not natural defenders, which only adds to attacking prowess when in possession, and they worked hard to cover when out of possession. Grimsby looked dangerous throughout; everyone played well, and there were four different goal scorers. Turi was imperious in midfield and scored his second goal for the club. The four consecutive defeats are now a distant memory!

The Mariners return to Blundell Park at the weekend when York are the visitors for a 12:30 kick-off.

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