The Rot Continues

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 22/09/2018

GRIMSBY slumped to their fifth consecutive league defeat and once again failed to score a goal, or even get a shot on target. The Mariners were second best for most of the game, and Stevenage had the better chances throughout and hit all three frames of the goal.

Town did have a spell in the second half where they looked like they might take the lead, but their lack of firepower once again cost them the points when Stevenage converted one of their chances through a Steve Seddon tap-in.

Alex Whitmore and Harry Clifton were the only changes for Town, with Wes Thomas spearheading the attack in place of the injured Jordan Cook. In the first half Grimsby were ponderous in their attacks and lacked the creativity to create any meaningful chances. The Mariners relied on corners and Mitch Rose long throws to commit numbers forward. Stevenage were much quicker to break and committed men forwards in numbers when they did have the ball. They almost took the lead from a break when Sonupe hit the post and Danny Newton then struck the outside of the other post.

Grimsby almost took the lead at the start of the second half, with Mitch Rose's shot blocked after a goalmouth scramble. The ball went down the other end and a strong run by Kennedy resulted in a shot by Newton which McKeown saved with his legs. From the ensuing corner McKeown made another strong save and then Newton's cross-shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Grimsby had weathered the storm but were still reluctant to get bodies into the box in open play, which severely curtailed their threat. A Woolford long-range shot might have won it for Town but it went just wide.

Stevenage took the lead when an attack down the left ricocheted off a Town player and fell to Seddon for a simple tap-in. Grimsby may curse their luck but their players were not putting themselves in those sort of positions, and that is reflected in the lack of recent goals.

Town have had a tough run of games against some of the better sides in the division. The Mariners face their first league game since Macclesfield against one of the lesser sides when they face Morecambe at Blundell Park next week. That's really a game Grimsby have to win if they are to claim to have got their season back on track.

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