The Mariners travel to Priestfield Stadium this Saturday afternoon as Town take on Gillingham in Sky Bet League Two action.
David Artell’s side will be looking to build on Tuesday evening’s draw at Rochdale, while hoping to return to winning ways. Meanwhile, the Gills will aim to build on their recent performances and maintain their position in the top half of the table.
Gillingham currently sit seventh in League Two, with 17 points from their opening 12 matches, while Town occupy 17th place with 14 points. The Mariners will be hoping to repeat their impressive victory at Priestfield last season and end their recent winless run in the league.
You can watch Tom Culshaw’s pre-match interview here:
The Opposition
Gillingham currently sit seventh in Sky Bet League Two, having collected 17 points from their opening 12 league fixtures. The Kent side have recorded four wins, five draws and three defeats, with a goal difference of +3.
The Gills are managed by Gareth Ainsworth, who took charge in March 2025 after leaving Shrewsbury Town. The former midfielder enjoyed a lengthy playing career before moving into management, becoming particularly well known for his work with Wycombe Wanderers.
Ainsworth began his managerial career at Wycombe in 2012 and went on to guide the club to promotion from League Two in 2018 and League One in 2020, earning the Chairboys a place in the Championship for the first time in their history. He later managed Queens Park Rangers and Shrewsbury before moving to Priestfield.
Gillingham made a steady start to the campaign, opening with a 3-0 home defeat against Walsall before drawing 0-0 with Fleetwood Town. Further draws against Northampton Town and Chesterfield followed, before the Gills recorded an impressive 4-1 win away at Rochdale.
Back-to-back home victories against Tranmere Rovers and Bristol Rovers strengthened their position, with Gillingham scoring five goals and keeping two clean sheets across those matches.
However, their progress has been interrupted by a mixed run of results. A 3-0 defeat away at York City was followed by a goalless draw against Newport County, before the Gills bounced back with a 4-1 win at Rotherham United. Their most recent league outing saw them draw 1-1 with Port Vale, which followed a 3-1 defeat away at Accrington Stanley.
Gillingham also enjoyed a seven-goal thriller in the EFL Trophy, beating Brighton and Hove Albion Under-21s 4-3, although they were beaten 4-1 at home by Cambridge United earlier in the group stage.
The Gills have been difficult to beat at Priestfield in the league, going unbeaten in their last five home league fixtures, recording two wins and three draws while conceding just twice.
With a solid home record and a place in the top seven, Ainsworth’s side will provide a stern test for the Mariners on Saturday.
Mariners’ Start
Town travel to Kent looking to halt a run of five league matches without a victory, having drawn once and lost four times during that period.
The Mariners’ most recent league outing saw them draw 2-2 away at Rochdale on Tuesday evening. Kieran Green brought Town level before Jamie Walker put the visitors ahead, but the Mariners were unable to hold on to their advantage as Rochdale salvaged a point.
Before that, Town suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Northampton Town, having also lost 1-0 away at Port Vale and 2-1 at home to Shrewsbury Town. A 2-1 defeat against Newport County preceded that run.
Despite the recent results, the Mariners have continued to create opportunities and will be looking to turn their attacking play into points as they aim to climb the League Two table.
Town currently sit 17th with 14 points from 12 matches, having scored 15 goals. Saturday offers an opportunity to respond positively against a Gillingham side who have proved difficult to beat on home soil.
David Artell’s side will need to show defensive resilience, make the most of their opportunities and maintain their composure throughout the contest if they are to leave Priestfield with a positive result.
The Mariners can also draw confidence from their recent record against the Gills, having won the last two league meetings between the sides, including a convincing victory at Priestfield in April.
Head-to-Head
Saturday’s fixture will be another chapter in a long-running rivalry between Grimsby Town and Gillingham.
The two clubs have met 44 times in competitive fixtures, with Town holding the advantage in the historical record. The Mariners have recorded 20 victories, compared with 12 wins for Gillingham, while 12 matches have ended in draws.
Recent meetings have favoured the Mariners, who have gone unbeaten in their last six league matches against the Gills, recording four wins and two draws since Gillingham’s 2-1 victory in February 2023.
Town have also won their last two Football League meetings with Gillingham and will be looking to make it three consecutive victories against the Kent side for the first time since November 1997.
The Mariners’ recent success against the Gills provides encouragement ahead of Saturday’s encounter, although Gillingham’s strong home record this season means Town will need to produce another disciplined performance to extend that run.
Last Time We Met
The most recent meeting between the sides came on Saturday 18th April 2026, when the Mariners recorded an impressive 4-1 victory at Priestfield Stadium.
Andy Cook gave Town the lead shortly before half-time, finishing after a header from Kieran Green. Gillingham responded early in the second half when Garath McCleary produced an excellent finish to level the scores.
However, the Mariners took control during the closing stages, scoring three times in the space of 11 minutes to secure a convincing away victory.
Jaze Kabia restored Town’s lead in the 74th minute after a defensive mix-up, before Green headed home from a Charles Vernam corner six minutes later. Green then turned provider, delivering a low cross for Vernam to complete the scoring in the 85th minute.
The victory gave the Mariners a valuable three points in their push for the play-offs and demonstrated their attacking threat against the Gills.
Town had also beaten Gillingham 1-0 at Blundell Park in October 2025, meaning the Mariners will travel to Priestfield looking to make it three consecutive league victories over Saturday’s opponents.
Ones to Watch
Ronan Hale
Northern Ireland international Ronan Hale is one of Gillingham’s key attacking threats this season, having contributed five goals in the opening 12 league matches.
The 28-year-old forward has been a regular presence in the Gills’ attack, starting all 12 of their league fixtures and accumulating more than 950 minutes on the pitch.
Hale’s goals have helped Gillingham maintain their position in the top half of the table, and his ability to find the net makes him a player the Mariners’ defence will need to monitor closely.
Town will need to limit the opportunities available to the forward and remain organised when Gillingham look to play into dangerous areas around the penalty box.
James Brophy
Winger James Brophy has also made an important contribution to Gillingham’s attacking play this season, registering three goals and one assist in his first 12 league appearances.
The 32-year-old, who prefers to operate on the left, has been a consistent selection for Ainsworth, starting every league match so far this campaign.
Brophy has featured for several clubs during his career, including Leyton Orient, Cambridge United and Swindon Town, bringing experience and attacking quality to the Gills’ squad.
His ability to create opportunities and contribute goals from wide areas will make him another player for the Mariners to keep an eye on as they look to contain the hosts’ attacking threat.
The Numbers
- Gillingham have failed to win any of their last six league games against Grimsby Town (D2 L4) since a 2-1 win in February 2023.
- Grimsby Town have won their last two Football League games against Gillingham and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time since November 1997.
- Gillingham are unbeaten in five home league games (W2 D3), keeping three clean sheets and conceding just two goals in total.
- Grimsby are winless in five league games, losing four of them (D1) – as many as their previous 32 beforehand.
Match Officials
Sam Mulhall will take charge of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two fixture between Gillingham and Grimsby Town at Priestfield Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Mulhall will be assisted by Alex Bradley and Ian Cooper, while Paul Kelly has been appointed as the fourth official.
During the 2026/27 season, Mulhall has officiated 11 matches across all competitions, issuing 45 yellow cards and two second-yellow-card dismissals, while awarding three penalties.
His League Two appointments last season included nine matches, during which he issued 41 yellow cards, one red card and awarded two penalties.
Mulhall’s most recent match involving the Mariners was a 1-1 draw away at Shrewsbury Town on 9th December 2025.
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