The Mariners produced an excellent performance in difficult conditions to beat table-topping Bristol Rovers at Blundell Park.
After the visitors had the better of the opening exchanges in front of the live Sky Sports cameras, Town hit the front when Kieran Green opened the scoring and David Artell’s men never looked back from then onwards as they earned a second Sky Bet League Two win of the season.
As rain showers added to the strong wind testing both teams, Geza Turi doubled the Grimsby advantage five minutes before the break, with the midfielder staking an early claim for the Goal of the Season award as he unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt which put the home side in full control.
Rovers offered little in front of goal in response and as frustration seemed to get the better of the away side, they were reduced to 10 men when Tommy Leigh saw the red card for an off-the-ball foul on Mark Shelton. But Town stood up superbly to the physical style of their opponents and were rewarded with a lunchtime victory which extended their unbeaten start to the campaign to six games.
Shelton and Andy Cook replaced Cian Doyle and Iwan Morgan as two changes were made to the Grimsby starting XI following last week’s draw at Cheltenham Town. David Harrington continued in goal after extending his emergency loan from Bolton Wanderers for a further seven days, while Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet and Jayden Sweeney formed an unchanged defence. Turi started behind Sonny Finch, Green, Shelton and Charles Vernam in midfield, with Cook leading the attack.
Doyle and Morgan were both named on the bench alongside Seb Auton, Jamie Walker, Ryley Reynolds, Edon Pruti and Fin Cartwright.
Rovers made the long journey from the south-west looking for a win which would extend their early-season advantage at the top of the League Two table to five points ahead of the division’s other fixtures later in the afternoon.
Leigh, Tom James, Fabrizio Cavegn and Bobby Kamwa would all be aiming to add to their two goals so far this campaign for Steve Evans’ side.
FIRST HALF
Rodgers had to concede the first corner on two minutes as he headed a Shaq Forde cross behind. James’ delivery from the left was cleared after it had been met by Clinton Mola.
Vernam did well to win the ball back after the visitors broke to the halfway line following a Town free kick, then Cook looped a header wide after defender Riley Harbottle’s attempted clearance hung in the air.
Sweeney cleared a low cross from Kamwa, before McJannet headed a long throw from the away left out for a throw-in. A 20-yard shot from Mola took a deflection for a corner after another long throw from Kofi Balmer and from the flag-kick, Harbottle’s cushioned volley went just wide.
A foul on Rodgers soon afterwards brought a Town free kick on the right and it led to their first chance as Vernam’s ball into the box found Green but the midfielder’s header flew just over the bar.
James saw a shot from distance blocked after another long throw broke for him, then Vernam called goalkeeper Brad Young into action for the first time with a low, curling strike from 25 yards which the stopper dived to push away for a corner. Sweeney’s delivery from the flag was headed clear by Leigh.
Turi found Cook with a free kick from a central position but the striker headed through to Young, then Balmer made a vital interception to stop Green from reaching a Vernam cross. Vernam’s resulting corner hit the side-netting.
Neither side had managed to gain control of the game as the 20-minute mark passed as both were forced to contend with the blustery conditions.
Moments later though, the Mariners seized the initiative as a long ball forward from Harrington was flicked on by Cook and as defender Harbottle slipped and fell awkwardly, GREEN took advantage to slot past the advancing Young and put the hosts ahead.
A lengthy stoppage followed as Harbottle was treated on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher to applause from around the ground. Ciaran Kelly was sent on in his place as Rovers were forced into making the first substitution.
Cook was fouled to give Town another free kick inside the away half on 29 minutes and from it, a penalty appeal from Kacurri was waved away by the referee. A foul on Shelton on the left brought another opportunity to get the ball into the box but nobody could get a vital touch to Vernam’s free kick as it bounced beyond the far post.
Balmer’s latest long throw was headed through to Harrington as the away side aimed to respond to falling behind, then a cross from James was caught in the wind and bounced harmlessly to the keeper.
Forde was shown the first yellow card of the game on 38 minutes after a foul on Sweeney, who had linked up well with Vernam on the left. Vernam fired the free kick across the six-yard line and it was blocked for a corner, which was headed away by Leigh.
Town kept possession and seconds later, they were 2-0 up as the ball was played to TURI in space and he advanced before looking up and letting fly with a 30-yard rocket which arrowed into the top corner of the net, giving Young no chance of keeping it out.
Five added minutes were played at the end of the first half and only good defending by Ben Purrington stopped Finch from reaching a low Shelton cross. That meant another corner for Vernam to take from the left but nobody could get on the end of his delivery and the ball bounced beyond the far post.
A Rovers corner was headed clear by McJannet as the away side aimed to haul themselves back into the contest before the break but with no further chances coming ahead of the half-time whistle, the Mariners took a commanding lead into the dressing rooms.
SECOND HALF
Ellis Harrison, Joe Quigley and Jack Aitchison were all introduced ahead of the restart in a triple-substitution for the away side as Evans aimed to change the course of the game, with Cavegn, Kamwa and Forde making way.
Finch almost had an early chance to make it 3-0, however, when Green played a through-ball into his path but Purrington got back well to challenge and deal with the danger. Harrison won a free kick against Kacurri but an offside decision came when the ball was played into the box from it.
Sweeney won a corner at the other end on 51 minutes but Leigh headed Vernam’s ball away, then a penalty appeal by Harrison for a handball against Finch was waved away by the referee. James sent a free kick out of play as the visitors’ struggles to create danger for Harrington and his defence continued, before Kacurri won his latest duel with Harrison near the corner flag on the Rovers left.
Vernam shot wide of the near post after working a short corner with Finch, then more strong defending by Kacurri saw him come out on top in a battle for the ball with Quigley.
Harrington tipped a James corner away from danger and Shelton completed the clearance, then Green and Balmer were both booked after an altercation inside the Town half.
The Mariners were standing up well to their opponents’ physical style of play, with the Bristol side becoming increasingly frustrated as the game went on.
Town’s first change saw Pruti replace Rodgers on 68 minutes, then Vernam became the latest to be booked after a foul on Balmer.
The hosts had another opportunity to grab a third goal soon afterwards when Finch ran onto the ball on the left. With Young racing out of his box, Finch looked for Cook at the far post and the striker stretched but could not make contact.
Cook and Vernam made way for Morgan and Cartwright on 78 minutes and after the game restarted with a Rovers corner, the visitors’ frustrations boiled over as Leigh fouled Shelton off the ball and was shown a straight red card.
Turi missed the target from close range after Green pulled the ball back across goal, then Reiss Russell-Denny came on for Ritchie Smallwood in Rovers’ final change.
Harrington was hurt soon afterwards as he dived to tip a strike from Harrison around his post for a corner. The keeper sustained a finger injury but was passed fit to continue after receiving treatment.
Morgan won a corner at the other end but nobody could get on the end of the ball from the flag, then Morgan was involved again as he got the ball 25 yards from goal but sent a low shot just wide.
Reynolds and Doyle replaced Finch and Shelton with two minutes to go and after the game moved into at least five added minutes, Morgan turned and shot from 12 yards but could not hit the target.
That proved to be the final chance of the game as Town saw out the remaining time to collect a fully-deserved three points.
The Mariners are next in action on Saturday, when they host Crawley Town at Blundell Park.
Town: Harrington, Rodgers (Pruti, 67), Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney, Turi, Finch (Reynolds, 88), Green, Shelton (Doyle, 88), Vernam (Cartwright, 75), Cook (Morgan, 75)
Subs not used: Auton, Walker
UTM
