Alls Well That Ends Well

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 17/08/2024

GRIMSBY experienced a dramatic victory for the second time this week at Blundell Park. The Mariners looked fairly comfortable having gone 2-0 up in the first League game. However, a Town mistake within half an hour resulting in a Cheltenham goal changed the game.

The comeback was complete when Taylor levelled the game with the visitors with 8 minutes to go and Town looked to be hanging on for a point. A late free kick in the 93rd minute gave Grimsby a chance to grab all three points, and Jordan Davies stepped up to blast an unstoppable piledriver into the net for his second goal of the match.

Lewis Cass replaced Tyrell Warren at right back in the only change to Tuesday's cup the starting lineup. Town's lack of fit players meant the bench looked short of attacking options, although Danny Rose was amongst the substitutes despite not being fully fit.

98% of the supporters were cheering on the home side, with only a small following from Cheltenham. Grimsby started the brightest and Vernan and Davies both forced saves from the keeper, something Town failed to manage last week at Fleetwood.

Lewis Payne had an opportunity on the break for the visitors but fired his effort over the bar. Town took the lead from a brilliant Vernon free-kick which looped into the path of Jordan Davies's head for an easy finish which opened his account with the Mariners.

Town continued to press in the second half and Vernon had two chances. The first was a tame effort which was easily saved by Evans; the second though was a sumptuous finish, curling an unstoppable ball into the top corner.

Cheltenham brought on Taylor and Archer and within 10 minutes had got themselves a lifeline when Town gave the ball away and a shot was deflected past Jordan Wright which wrong-footed him.

Town responded with their own substitutes, bringing on Ainley and Hume for Barrington and Green. The Mariners naturally started to sit back more and another mistake let a Jude-Boyd get in a cross from which Matty Taylor levelled the game at close range.

It looked more likely that Cheltenham would win the game but a late free-kick gave Town a lifeline and Davies's superb strike sent the Town faithful home happy.

Town are struggling with numbers at the moment and players are having to play more minutes than they should, and opposing teams have stronger benches. That makes taking a lead even more important as we don't have the firepower on the bench to turn things around. Fortunately, today worked out well. Davies with 2 goals and Vernon with 1 goal and 1 assist will take the plaudits but Wilson and Green both worked tirelessly, and Khouri continued his fine cameo at left back.

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