Great Expectations

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 19/09/2026

TURI'S goal last Saturday was a thing of wonder. As well as the quality of the goal and its importance in terms of the game, for me it signalled a step change in the way Head Coach Artell approaches preparation for matches.

In a post-match interview he confirmed that the squad had spent four weeks practising power shooting. This was evident from Turi's strike. I have been critical of Turi for being too safe, noting his love of the short pass. His goal was the antithesis. At the same time I see Turi as an intelligent player and one who won't just have a dig every time he has the ball 30 yards out in preference to weighing up the best option. Head Coach Artell says he doesn't want paralysis analysis. Good, but last season I thought I was seeing this as “touches in the opposition box” seemed to take priority over spotting and capturing an opportunity. Burns was the worst example, being reduced to or reducing himself to ineffectiveness. What I saw in the excellent victory over Bristol Rovers was greater maturity in the game plan, in which we had identified and nullified the opposition's strengths while playing in a pattern which allowed freedom of decision-making. It was noticeable that the McJannet Lump was missing too. Low in success rate, the Lump's purpose cleared lines but rarely set up attacks, such was its inaccuracy. Whether this visible improvement is down to Head Coach Artell having an epiphany, to the arrival of a new Assistant Coach with new ideas or just to me imagining things, I don't know. Today we would find out if the progress is real as we face lowly Crawley.

I don't think anyone expected Crawley to be competing for promotion, and whilst it's still early days, they're not and currently lie in 23rd place. One of their players is ex-Mariner Danilo Orsi. His time with us contrasts with the way things are done now. Signed as a good prospect, he hardly got a game and in spite of him being mostly confined to cameo appearances as substitute, some people were critical of him. He then got a run in the team and we realised he was a good, physical striker. So we then sold him, maybe due to his own career preference but somehow the club never embraced him or his talents. It's for speculation how useful he might be now, with our warhorse Cook in his mid 30s.

232 miles and five and a half hours after setting off from home, and grateful for the chance to return given the travel logistics, I arrived at the Peabung. Having eaten and stocked up with a bun for the way back, I set off for Blundell Park. The weather couldn't make up its mind today. I was greeted by warmth and dark clouds before a heavy downpour. By kick-off the sky had cleared and it was now a bright day with a light drizzly breeze. 7,330 spectators were here today including a miserable total of 81 Crawley fans. Town's starting line-up today was: Pym – Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney – Turi – Cartwright, Green, Shelton, Vernam – Morgan. The injury questions were answered: Pym was back, but Cook was out.

Within 30 seconds Cartwright was fouled on the right. Vernam wasted the opportunity with an underhit free kick. Turi then regained possession but Green's pull back struck the side netting. Lax work on 6 minutes by Vernam led to a Crawley break. Kamara's low shot was safely gathered by Pym. A McJannet cross field pass on 9 minutes found Cartwright who combined with Green. Town were stepping up the momentum. On 10 minutes, Town won a corner. Farquarson shook off Kacurri's shot but Vernam recovered the ball and found Morgan. Cartwright received the ball but couldn't finish with his side-footed shot. Town were soon back on the offensive. Vernam had the ball in the box. Adeyemo put his foot up for a high challenge. The referee awarded a penalty. It was a bit soft. Vernam took the penalty, leaning back and placing his underhit shot at a perfect height for Michalski to save. It was a lousy penalty by anyone's standards. Town pressed on. Crawley did win a corner on 15 minutes but Turi was on hand to make an interception and find Morgan who sent in a dangerous cross. The missed penalty seemed to have taken the wind out of Town's sails as Crawley took charge, passing the ball around. Town had gone to sleep. On 25 minutes Town won a corner which inevitably Vernam underhit. Moments later Gordon pulled Vernam down on the left. This time the cross went to the defender's head. Cartwright threaded the ball to Rodgers who advanced on goal, reaching the byline before crossing into a defender's arm while being flattened by Michalski. The referee awarded another penalty to Town. This time Morgan stepped and blasted an unstoppable shot into the top right of the net. Town 1, Crawley 0. Cartwright went close on 33 minutes, drawing a good save from Michalski with his legs. Cartwright was then fouled by Russell on the edge of the box, taking the free kick himself and curling it inches wide with Michalski well beaten. A curled cross from Green went wide as Town dominated. Michalski made another good save with Shelton clean through after a McJannet tackle and pass started another Town attack. Farquarson was then booked as Town threatened to break again. Town were playing with great confidence. On 42 minutes Kacurri started a move on the right. Morgan couldn't get to the ball but chased down Russell who inexplicably headed the ball back to Morgan. All Morgan had to do was to find Green in the centre, which he did with his cross. Green nodded the ball past Michalski as if wrapping up a training session. Town 2, Crawley 0. Five minutes were added, during which Crawley attacked. Good defensive work by Green stopped Crawley's Morgan before Kacurri cut out a cross. Morgan then struck a shot wide for Crawley before the half time whistle went: Town 2, Crawley 0. Town were deservedly winning and had a plethora of chances. Crawley had been largely dreadful and Town took advantage, however there were too many wasteful dead ball plays from Town, notably from Vernam.

Crawley, now with the wind behind, clearly had instructions to step up the quality of their play during half-time, and within a minute Gordon tested Pym with a cross, which had to be punched out for a corner. Kacurri was then booked for a robust tackle on Arthurs. On 59 minutes Town had a nice little move involving Vernam, Shelton and finally Seeeney but the angle was too narrow for a solid attempt. Town had a terrific move on 50 minutes which started with McJannet, who was imperious today, working the ball out of a tight spot at the back and getting it upfield to Vernam who switched the play to the right. Rodgers crossed into the centre where Hreen bundled the ball into the net. Offside was given against Green, otherwise this would have been a magnificent team goal. On 54 minutes Walker replaced the injured Shelton. Three minutes later Sweeney broke out and was too quick for Adeyemo who committed a foul and received a yellow card. Sweeney found Turi. Another fluid move ensued, resulting in a Rodgers shot which Michalski palmed away. Walker then made an interception and sent Hreen away. Good defending stopped the attack. Crawley hadn't played well and were prone to mistakes but did show the occasional ability to use their pace and move the ball upfield well. Kacurri cut out a cross from Arthur's, conceding a corner. Turi was then booked when stopping a surge through midfield. Gordon won a free kick on 66 minutes, adding a fall which was worthy of a BAFTA award. A bit of amicable banter followed between Gordon and the crowd in the Lower Findus. Clumsy but persevering Crawley won a corner on 68 minutes, leading to a golden opportunity for Gordon whose header missed the target. On 69 minutes Reynolds and Finch replaced Cartwright and Morgan. On 72 minutes Reynolds conceded a foul. The crowd had gone quiet. The game had become messy. Pym raced out after failing to hold onto a cross but denied Gordon from advancing or crossing. Pereira then proceeded to send the ball over everyone. Town now were giving Crawley every opportunity, conceding another foul on 75 minutes. Pym collected cleanly this time and threw the ball to Vernam who didn't know what to do. Crawley used the possession to work the ball forward. The ball was crossed. Rather than take the risk of Pym mishandling it, Kacurri stepped in and cleared. A Rodgers long ball fell to Finch as Crawley were committed to attack but Odinayo shrugged off the lightweight Finch as if he was brushing dandruff from his shoulder. Impressive as Town's play had been, a number of weaknesses were on show. Town seemed incapable of keeping the ball or making the right pass. On 79 minutes Crawley's worked the ball upfield once again. Kacurri fouled Adelphi in the corner. Reynolds had the chance to ease the pressure by keeping possession but kicked it out of play: awful, awful, awful. Town had lost the ability to use possession, particularly since the substitutions. On 8 minutes Turi was hauled down by Ebiowi in midfield as Town looked to launch a meaningful attack. Foulkes and Doyle came on for Vernam and Green. Seven minutes were added. Town were reliant on the break but couldn't get the final ball right. Foulkes was guilty after a pass out right from Turi. Finch was then sent clear but fluffed his lines as Michalski came out and saved with his foot. Walker then found Reynolds, who looked lost with the ball. Crawley then had a chance as time ticked on. Ebiowei could have volleyed a cross but chose to supply Aderoju who somehow managed to bounce the ball over the bar from 10 yards. The final action saw Town attack.

Doyle found Finch who drew another good save from Michalski before Foulkes struck and had his shot cleared off the line. The game ended: Grimsby Town 2, Crawley Town 0. After an excellent first half, Town made hard work of it but fortunately Crawley didn't have the grit of Accrington.

The second half was a hard watch after such a dominant performance in the first half and moments in the early part of the second. Crawley upped their game, and Town had the wind against but both sides were mistake-prone. The substitutions seemed to make matters worse but Foulkes, after a shaky start, had a nice little cameo at the end. It would be wrong however to say we were lucky as our earlier play was so fluid. The concern was that we didn't bury our chances. Ultimately it was a game that we deserved to and did win, and with the manner of the earlier play we can retain great expectations for the season.

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