The Big Disappointment

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 14/04/2026

THIS evening's result doesn't determine our season, but it goes a big way towards it. We did what we needed to do on Saturday with a victory over Crewe at Blundell Park, but now needed the same at Chesterfield to leapfrog our opponents and put ourselves in a playoff position.

It's easy to write that down but not to do, for as we know Chesterfield are a good side. This said, we let them off the hook in November during a good performance with an act of defensive suicide. Things have tightened up since then. It was inconceivable that Town weren't going to be motivated here at the SMH Group Stadium, the site of a former glass works.

Town's unchanged starting line-up this evening was: Smith - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Staunton - Turi - Burns, Green, Oduor, Kabia - Cook. Cream was the chosen kit colour tonight. 8,661 was the attendance with over 1,000 loyal Town fans here. Town kicked off. Town won an early corner after good running. Staunton's delivery was mishit and short. Town started brightly. Good work in turn by Staunton and Turi led to nothing. On 9 minutes hesitation by Turi led to a Chesterfield attack, and a great chance to score but instead of leaving the ball to Mandeville who was in a better position, Naylor snatched at his shot. The teams then cancelled each other out, with quality passing being absent. On 19 minutes Town played the ball up the right. Cook laid the ball off to Kabia who only had to stroke the ball home but brilliant defending by Curtis cut out the seemingly inevitable goal as he got to the ball in the nick of time. On 30 minutes Curtis supplied a good cross for Naylor to head on. This went wide but Chesterfield we're back moments later with a move in the left between Naylor and Gordon, whose cross was deftly flicked on past Smith by Mandeville. Chesterfield 1, Town 0. Three minutes later, Braybrooke broke out from defence and played an excellent cross field diagonal ball behind Kacurri to Bonis who ran on and placed the ball past the advancing Smith. Chesterfield 2, Town 0. Bonis almost scored again on 37 minutes when put clear after a pass from Dobra, but Smith stopped the shot with his legs. Town had shown earlier energy, but Chesterfield were sharper. Town won a free kick on 41 minutes. Staunton's delivery into the box was good this time. The ball bounced off the knee of Kabia who with Kacurri in close attendance slammed the ball home. Chesterfield 2, Town 1. McJannet did well to cut out a cross and deny Bonis as the game gathered momentum. Four minutes were added to the half. McFadzean went close with a header from a corner. It remained 2 - 1 in favour of Chesterfield at half time. Town showed early endeavour but as the half went on Chesterfield seemed to get the measure of Town's struggling midfield. Chesterfield were more clinical and ruthless, and of the two sides looked more dangerous when going forward.

A minute had gone in the second half. Town made a move up the left. The ball came across to the hitherto unmemorable Burns who miserably ballooned his shot over the bar and wide from close range. As it happened offside was given. On 50 minutes Cook received a yellow card for a challenge on Swinkels. Chesterfield then went on the attack. Town were undone by a cross field pass from Naylor to Bonis whose shot, luckily for Town, struck the post. On 55 minutes Warren replaced Rodgers. It was Warren who found himself in the right position moments later to head away a dangerous cross. McFadzean's header from the corner went wide. On 58 minutes Town started an attack. Burns cut inside and lost the ball, creating a breakout for Chesterfield. Odour's persistence stopped the attack. Chesterfield continued to look dangerous every time they went forward. A good run by Curtis led to a cross which no-one was on the end of, but moments later Braybrooke broke forward again, only to be fouled by Warren who received a yellow card. Town were struggling badly against Chesterfield who looked strong both in midfield and on the wings. Warren was then beaten by Gordon. Town had Oduor to thank for cutting out the danger. Chesterfield had two corners as they started to overrun Town who were increasingly ineffective and unable to create attacks or opportunities. On 68 minutes Walker and Amaluzor replaced Oduor and Burns. Town won a corner on 69 minutes. Staunton's cross found Cook's head. Cook's header from the back of the box crashed off the crossbar. Other than this Town weren't getting a foothold. Chesterfield attacked again on 74 minutes, winning a free kick after a foul by Warren on Dobra. This gave Town the opportunity to bring Vernam on for Kabia. Staunton received a yellow card on 81 minutes for a foul on the marauding Dobra. McFadzean was unable to control the ball in the box when the ball came in. It was Town who were doing all the defending. Chesterfield were dominating, and moving the ball round in a way that Town could only dream of, winning a corner when McJannet sliced a clearance out of play. Markanday won another corner after his skilful play led to a shot which Kacurri deflected. Stirk's subsequent volley struck the right-hand post. McJannet shook off Bonis to prevent a breakaway, as the game looked increasingly one-sided. Four minutes were added. Town had a ray of hope on 91 minutes when skill from Vernam led to a cross and a corner, but the corner kick went directly to Chesterfield keeper Boot. Town retrieved possession. Amaluzor ran into the box, looking to get round Donacien. Amaluzor went down under the challenge. The referee awarded a penalty to Town. After all the missed penalties by a number of takers over the season, this time Staunton got the nod, stepping up and scuffing his shot to Boot's right. There was no power on it and Boot saved it with ease. Pathetic. The final whistle went. Chesterfield 2, Grimsby Town 1.

The Big Match became The Big Disappointment. It wasn't just the result but the manner of the performance, the subject which Head Coach Artell is always banging on about. Town had a fortunate reprieve with the last-minute penalty and messed that up. But we didn't deserve to win anyway. Chesterfield were vastly superior in their passing and movement. You'd think it was they who were a goal down at the half, as they built up attack after attack in the second period. Cook hit the bar with a header and then there was the penalty but otherwise Town created nothing and looked tired and off the pace. We couldn't match Chesterfield's quality. So as a result we sit 4 points behind them. We're not out of contention completely but you'd have to think that we blew our chance tonight, and League 2 beckons once more next season.

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