The Ex Factor

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 15/08/2026

THE last time I went onto the Blundell Park pitch was at the end of our replayed game against today's opponents Exeter in May 1972.

I don't suppose anyone noticed as there were over 22,000 spectators there that day, and most of us ran onto the Blundell Park turf to celebrate our 3 - 0 victory and securing of the 4th division title thanks to goals from Tees, Hickman and Chatterley. Even now I can hear the cries of “You're rubbish, Hickman” emanating from the Barratt Stand, but probably not that night. The original match lasted 17 minutes before being postponed due to fog. I arrived late that day with my dad, who had just finished his shift before picking me up, but we didn't see any less than anyone else. The fixture was rearranged for the end of the season when it might be less invisible, thus setting things up for McMenemy's Magnificent Men to cap the season off gloriously. Today is the opposite, with the sides starting their league campaign here.

Town's starting XI today was: Pym - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney - Turi - Amaluzor, Green, Doyle, Vernam - Cook. Last week's defeat to Blackpool left us with a lot of learning points, as the understanding between players, set piece play at both ends and overall quality left a lot to be desired, so we had to hope and trust that all the weaknesses had been identified and addressed during the week. 7,483 spectators were at Blundell Park to find out.

Exeter, in sky blue and attacking the Pontoon end, kicked off on this sunny afternoon. Worryingly Town started by almost messing up a pass out from Pym. Exeter looked ready to pounce. The alert over, Exeter looked to make headway, forcing a sliced clearance from McJannet. Sweeney made a good run forward on 6 minutes, being pulled down clumsily. A decent cross from Vernam met Rodgers's head but the header went just over. Turi was then fouled by Perry in the Exeter half. Town had the best move so far on 10 minutes when a cross field pass found Vernam who cut inside and shot. The ball came back to quickly for Sweeney, who had run into space, to capitalise. On 13 minutes it was Vernam's turn to be bundled over but Town's intricate passing led to nothing. A great interception by the lively-looking Doyle found Vernam whose cross evaded Green's outstretched boot. Cook then made a good interception and found Green whose cross was awful. Oluwabori ran forward but his shot was equally awful. Exeter won a free kick on 19 minutes. Cole delivered an excellent free kick. James had space but directed his header inches wide. This was the best chance so far with over 20 minutes gone of a mediocre game. An Exeter mistake led to a break from Turi who was hacked down by Doyle-Hayes. The referee handed out the match's first yellow card. Exeter did well in closing down Town who looked to penetrate the defence. A nice ball from McJannet found Rodgers. The ball fell to Amaluzor who couldn't find a gap. Good work by Vernam was undone by poor control from Rodgers. Town now closed Exeter down. Town finally managed a shot on 33 minutes when Doyle supplied Cook but Bycroft made the save. Green then had a shot tipped wide. From Vernam's corner Rodgers's headed effort appeared to cross the line but was cleared by Fitzwater. Doyle was on hand in any case slam it home with 35 minutes gone. Town 1, Exeter 0. Town had a good move on 41 minutes when Cook won the ball. Exeter retrieved the situation Turi did well to win possession back which resulted in two successive corners for Town. Exeter broke, and McJannet received a yellow card for a foul. The imposing Kacurri cut out a cross on 44 minutes. Following a long throw Wareham turned and fired his shot high into the Pontoon Stand. At half time it remained Town 1, Exeter 0. It hadn't been the greatest of games but after a promising start by Exeter and a period of deadlock, Town got into their stride and were worthy of the lead.

The second half started with two offside decisions against Town. Amaluzor was flattened during a headed challenge - free kick to Town. It was a short one. Vernam crossed with his left foot. The ball pinged off Doyle-Hayes's head and went out for a corner, just evading the post. Exeter were lucky. Amaluzor did good work on the right as Town remained in charge. On 51 minutes a Turi error resulted in an Exeter break. McJannet was forced to clear the cross and concede the corner. Cole found Fitzwater's head but Pym tipped the ball over. Cook then seized on terrible control by Harper but didn't have the speed. Another error from a ragged-looking Exeter resulted in a lashed shot by Vernam. On 56 minutes a Pym short pass out almost undid Town's good work. This really is something Town need to cut out. More good work by Turi and Cook saw Town set up a chance for Town but the ball didn't fall right for Amaluzor. 60 minutes had gone and although the lead was slender, Town were playing the better football. Exeter had an attack on 61 minutes which again McJannet had to turn out for a corner. Exeter were still in this and went close when Samuel hit a shot wide after a good run up the left by Edwards. With 67 minutes gone, Morgan and Reynolds replaced Amaluzor and Doyle. Town attacked and worked the ball intelligently. Bycroft completely missed a long throw from Morgan. James cleared the ball unconvincingly. On 72 minutes following a foul by McJannet in midfield, Andrews came on for Cook. Gordon wasted the opportunity from the free kick with a wild shot. On 76 Town capitalised on more slack play by Exeter. Morgan's left-footed shot was dragged wide. Moments later Andrews laid the ball off to Sweeney whose cross from the left was perfect. Morgan's header however was not so perfect and went high. Rodgers had a great chance on 78 minutes but decided to pass to Green from 10 yards. Green was offside. It was a poor decision from Rodgers. The game was open with Town doing most of the attacking but on 89 minutes Exeter won a free kick in Town's half. The defence stood firm. Town broke out and Vernam won a corner. There was a massive scramble in the box. Bycroft was under pressure. McJannet looked to be smacked in the face. The referee saw no infringement. Town continued to attack. Walker replaced Green on 83 minutes. Bycroft did well to save a strong effort from Vernam, before Walker had a weak shot. The beleaguered Exeter reminded us that the game wasn't over when Pym was forced to save low from a Wareham flick. Andrews showed good physicality on 87 minutes, turning and earning a corner. Sweeney's cross was good but McJannet headed wide. In the 90th minute Birch raced up the right and sent in a ferocious cross. Pym got a strong hand on it but Wareham was closing in. Fortunately for Town the Exeter striker fired his shot over with Rodgers on hand to cause a distraction. 4 minutes were added. Exeter pressed for an equaliser but were unable to make inroads. The final score was: Grimsby Town 1. Exeter City 0.

Can we bottle the confidence which exuded from all of Town's players today? Exeter were wasteful and mistake-prone for sure, but Town pressed and pressed, never sitting back on the lead but playing great football, showing midfield determination to win the ball and being resilient in defence. Undoubtedly there are elements we have to work on, as we ran the risk of conceding an undeserved equaliser, but the tactic of taking the game to Exeter and taking advantage of our dominance was right. We really cannot ask for better than this at this early stage in the season. It was a golden buzzer performance from Town today.

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