When the Other Half Shone Through

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 27/08/2025

WE all remember our 1 - 1 draw against Manchester United, the last time we played them. This followed a 4 - 3 win at Old Trafford earlier in the season, with three goals from Billy Cairns and one from Tommy Blenkinsopp.

Since then they've been avoiding us, messing about in Europe in the late 60s at the same time as we were being relegated to division 4 before finishing 23rd and having to apply for re-election. Our record against United is better than that against Harrogate, Dagenham and Salisbury with 15 victories registered against 6 draws and 16 defeats. It's all about perspective. Our Head Coach David Artell often tells us how much wealthier other clubs are. He would have a point with today's opposition. Oh, and we haven't actually played Manchester United since 1948 and are accordingly one of the few league teams I've never seen. But here we are at last, facing off in the League Cup second round.

Off the field, the draw has understandably attracted excitement. It would seem that some United fans have taken to social media to comment how terrible Grimsby is. So I'm guessing that Moss Side, Longsight and Harphurey, which last heard of "experiences challenges relating to theft and drug offences, contributing to its reputation as a high-crime neighbourhood", have been gentrified? I doubt it. Actually, these comments were probably made from their well-known fan base in Guildford, who probably read about Grimsby, where we don't even play, on TikTok. You have to feel sorry for United supporters who were actually brought up in Manchester. I bet no-one believes them. I'm an exile and if I mention to a stranger that I support Grimsby, I just get blank looks.

While on the subject of off-field matters, Town's commercial and ticketing operations deserve praise for not hiking prices and doing their absolute best to oversee the fair distribution of tickets. I was particularly impressed that Manchester United supporters were identified in advance and prevented from taking spaces in the home section with tickets being at such a premium for the many loyal home supporters.

This is what we've been waiting for. Not the women's rugby, as claimed by the BBC, but Grimsby Town versus Manchester United. In front of a packed house of 8,647 spectators Town's starting line-up was: Pym - Rodgers, Warren, McJannet, Sweeney - McEachren - Burns, Green, Khouri, Vernam - Gardner. This was a bold choice by Mr Artell and a great opportunity for Cam Gardner. United meanwhile, started with: Onana - Fredricson, Maguire, Heaven - Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dorgu - Diallo, Mattheus Cunha - Sesko. I knew some of these names but then I'm not a follower of Premiership football. Whether I knew them or not is immaterial. We simply don't have the resources that Manchester United have. We were going to find out how the other half lives. But the game starts at 0 - 0, and the enigma that is half-and-half scarves on sale this evening gave each side equal coverage.

Town kicked off. The sun was setting over Blundell Park. Town attacked the Osmond end. And attack they did with McEachren finding Burns, whose cross was long. United passed the ball confidently and quickly, winning a free kick in the second minute. Maguire pushed Warren over in the box, ending the move. A United error was intercepted by Sweeney, who found space to cross. United responded. Shots by Sesko and Cunha were dealt with. Green took advantage of United's wobbly defence but again Town couldn't finish the job. On 9 minutes an Onana pass went straight out of play, giving Town another chance to create something. Town's first chance came when an offside Gardner had a clear header on goal from a Sweeney cross. Town looked capable of pegging United back, but United's breaks were dangerous. Town's won their first corner on 14 minutes. Vernam's cross forced Onana to tip the ball out. Burns struck a corner from the right but Warren couldn't finish. Town continued to attack. Vernam ran into trouble but McEachren, Green and Khouri saw to it that United had no freedom. On 21 minutes Green took advantage of a mix-up in midfield and found Gardner who put the ball out to Burns on the right. As Gardner pulled Maguire out of position, Burns crossed and found Vernam, who with space at his disposal brought the ball under control and Bang! Vernam slammed the ball home low past Onana, who could only get his fingertips to it. Town 1, United 0. This was no more than Town deserved. Town had shown better energy and endeavour so far. With 28 minutes gone, Vernam struck a ball into the centre. Green again muscled the defender out of the way. The ball found Gardner who tried to chest it down before striking it home. The ball accidentally struck Gardner on the arm, and was correctly disallowed. With 28 minutes gone, Town won another corner. Burns played a short one to Vernam, whose cross was aimed at Rodgers and McJannet in the centre. Onana came out and under pressure spilt the ball. Warren was there to bundle the ball home against his old club. Town 2, United 0. Town continued to press, and Green won a free kick after a battle with Ugarte on the right. Fredricson then clattered Khouri half way into the United half. Burns crossed. Gardner was on hand to nod the ball on but there was no back up to finish. Town won another corner after poor communication between Dalot and Onana. United broke. 39 minutes had gone. Fredricson turned and was fouled by Vernam on the right. Warren showed good vision and cleared the ball. United's shots had been sporadic but Pym had to make two good saves from Sesko, the second from a good header. As the game approached half time, Town were forced to defend but were closing ranks and blocking well. The half ended: Town 2, United 0. United had underperformed. Town had been magnificent. Town had expended so much energy that Mr Artell was going to have to manage his substitutions. But so far, so good. It was unlikely that we were going to resort to desperate defending because that's not the New Grimsby Way, however it was hard to imagine that United, who had shown only glimmers of fluidity and embarrassing vulnerability in defence, were going to continue to be this bad.

United made changes at the half, bringing on the big guns with Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo and de Ligt coming on for Fredricson, Dorgu and Ugarte. Town made no changes. As expected, United went on the attack, but Town under the leadership of Green continued to press. Lightning struck and the rain came down. On 49 minutes Town put together a brilliant move. Vernam found Khouri. A cross from Green came in for Burns whose attempt to turn the ball in was only prevented by desperate defending from the sprawling Heaven. United responded with a sharp attack but Diallo's shot went wide. Town then set up a rapid attack up the right. A long pass was sent to Gardner who was on his own. Gardner did well to win a corner after causing a deflection off Maguire. The rain now was coming down torrentially. Warren committed a foul 25 yards out. The free kick found the unmarked Heaven in the box but heaven turned to hell as the United defender's attempt went over the bar. With an hour gone and pools of water gathering on the pitch, United found themselves being met by Town's determination and willingness to counterattack. A Cunha attempt was blocked by Sweeney before McEachren took the initiative and cleared the ball out. Fernandes had one of United's best efforts with a low curling shot which Pym did exceptionally well to save low. With 64 minutes gone, Brown and Turi replaced Vernam and Captain Fantastic Green. Mr Artell was showing belief in his players. Mount replaced Heaven for United. Not for the first time, Warren did well to get his head in the way of a Mainoo cross and cut out a threatening attack. Rodgers was forced to do the same moments later as United piled on pressure. Town broke as Burns found Brown who was shrugged off the ball. De Ligt then had an opportunity but fired his shot over. Town had the ball in the net on 71 minutes when Burns found Gardner whose left footed shot was deftly placed past Onana, but the linesman flagged for offside. It was a marginal decision. With 73 minutes gone, Kabia and Oduor came on for Gardner and McEachren. This was bold. Mr Artell was taking off Town's best players in order to keep fresh legs. 74 minutes had gone when United launched an attack, moving up quickly. Mainoo in the middle supplied the advancing Mbeumo, who with McJannet backing off, saw his opportunity and struck a low curling left-footed shot to Pym's right. Town 2, United 1. Town were forced to make a substitution on 78 minutes when Rodgers was injured. Staunton came on in his place. Diallo showed perhaps why United have problems, arguing when dispossessed by McJannet instead of trying to retrieve the ball. United were now dominating the game. Town were relying on fresh legs and effort. The game was on a knife edge. Zirkzee replaced Diallo on 82 minutes and immediately helped Grimsby by committing a foul on edge of Town's box. McJannet had a worrying moment, slipping in the ground water but the situation was retrieved. Burns did well to deny de Ligt after a Mbeumo cross, conceding a corner. From the corner Maguire headed across goal. The ball was cleared but Maguire's shot was blocked as the goalmouth was packed. After United won a free kick following a Khouri foul in midfield, United won a corner on 88 minutes. At the second attempt following a McJannet booking for a shove in the build-up, Mount found Maguire whose header was unstoppable. Town 2, United 2. Five minutes were added. United were applying all the pressure in spite of Town's attempts to play. McJannet saved the day twice before more wizardry by the tricky Mbeumo saw a cross to the centre. Sesko and de Ligt pounced, withstanding the defensive pressure, but Sesko contrived to spoon the ball over the bar. The struggle continued. Town held out. The score at 90 minutes was: Grimsby Town 2, Manchester United 2. Time for penalties.

The penalties were in front of the Town fans. Onana got a hand on Kabia's attempt. Town 1, United 0. Fernandes sent Pym the wrong way. 1 - 1. Burns emulated Fernandes. 2 - 1 to Town. A hop, skip and a jump from Mbeumo resulted in another successful penalty. 2 - 2. Uduor's penalty was heading high into the net. Onana got a hand to it. Missed. Still 2 - 2. Mount scored for United with ease. 3 - 2 to United. Staunton sent a cool penalty into the corner. 3 - 3. Pym went early, allowing Dalot to fire into an empty net. 4 - 3 to United. 18 year old Brown showed great composure and scored to Onana's right. 4 - 4. It was now down to Cunha to win the tie. Pym saved low. Still 4 - 4. McJannet's turn Great low penalty 5 - 4 to Town. Zirkzee blasted it into the left corner 5 - 5. Faroe time: Turi colly placed the ball into the corner. 6 - 5. Pym went early. Mainoo blasted home. 6 - 6. Sweeney showed a sweet left foot. 7 - 6. Maguire stepped up and delivered a Harry Kane high penalty. 7 - 7. Khouri's penalty was handled by Onana but not enough to save it. 8 - 7 to Town. De Ligt left Pym standing 8 - 8. Warren passed the ball into the net, making it 9 - 8. Sesko delayed and sent Pym the wrong way. 9 - 9. Time for the keepers. Pym first. 10 - 9. Onana colly scored. 10 - 10. Now Kabia - passed into the net. 11 - 10. Fernandes stuttered and slotted home. 11 - 11. Onana got a hand to Burns's next penalty but it was 12 - 11 to Town. Mbeumo stepped up to level the score. The ball rose, struck the underside of the bar and came back. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow … Grimsby Town 2, Manchester United 2, winning 12 - 11 on penalties.

In recent years we've seen capitulations in this competition against Sheffield Wednesday, Notts Forest and Chelsea in spite of playing well in the early stages. Here tonight we saw something different. Head Coach Artell's tactics were spot on. Town played in a way that showed no fear, causing United's misfiring defence all manner of problems and relieving pressure on our own defence. Manchester United are clearly a talented side with internationals galore but we nullified their threat with our pressure and creative play. The choice of line-up was inspired. Gardner, a surprise choice, was magnificent up front. Every single player was outstanding. Some of them were beyond outstanding. Warren would have been my man of the match but there were many deserving candidates. The quality of our play was excellent. Mr Artell has shown faith in his whole squad, none more so than tonight when to keep the energy level up, he replaced Green and McEachren with the youth and inexperience of Brown and Turi. This immense performance was testimony to the clear-mindedness, recruitment and improvement at the club. As a result we will have another cup encounter with Sheffield Wednesday, when we will undoubtedly be in better shape than the last time, and other important league fixtures starting with Bristol Rovers for which we will need focus and concentration. Under Mr Artell's leadership we have that. Yes, we still exist in the other half of the universe from Manchester United. Tonight in spite of the Cleethorpes rain the sun shone royally in our half. Maybe I won't get blank looks now when I talk of Grimsby.

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