A Quality-Free Football Event

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 23/11/2024

A LOT has been made of the fact that Town's upcoming games are against teams at the lower end of the table. I don't for a minute think that Head Coach Artell is in any way complacent and whilst sometimes he's paid undue deference to the opposition, especially after a loss, he has been critical while remaining constructive.

We've managed to prove in recent seasons that playing teams lower than us does not guarantee success, although the squad of players is largely different from last season and entirely different from previous ones. Even this year our home performances have been underwhelming and have suggested some form of psychological blockage.

Then there's the Colchester factor. I've always thought of Colchester as a struggling team which over the years has had the better over Town. There's some truth in this. Although the Us made the play-offs in 2019/20, they haven't finished up 15th in EFL league 2 since then. Even the Cowley brothers haven't brought magic as they currently sit in 21st place, having failed to win any of their last eight games and none of their away games this season. Town have lost the last three games against them, two of them at home, so however lowly they've been, they've been more than a match for us. But as always it's about preparation and attitude, and this Town side has demonstrated the right qualities in some of the games this season. A big boost is the return of Curtis Thompson from injury. Next week's break following our FA Cup exit will give him and Jordan Davies further time to recover, but right now three points were going to be needed against Colchester to maintain our momentum in the top half of the table. Today's starting line-up today was: Wright - Warren, Rodgers, McJannet, Hume - Luker, Ainley, Thompson, Khouri, Barrington - Rose. Colchester wore an unfamiliar red and black kit. 4,952 were here today including 280 Colchester supporters.

And then there was the multi-hazard weather event, as the Met Office decided to call it. Strong winds and heavy rain is what the rest of us would call it, and without doubt it was going to be influential. Colchester's more physical approach promised an advantage but only time would tell. Town kicked off towards the Pontoon end. The first booking came after 30 seconds when Owura-Edwards kicked Thompson in the head near the half way line. Two minutes later Colchester had a great chance but Hume was alert to Tovide's cross and put the ball out for a corner. Colchester had the next chance after 6 minutes when bleach-haired Taylor shrugged off attention from Hume with ease and crossed from the right to Anderson whose was saved low by Wright. Anderson was unable to get up to finish off the chance. Colchester followed this up with a corner. Taylor then had a fantastic chance from 15 yards but Anderson took the ball away from his teammate's feet. Anderson could hardly claim not to have seen Taylor with that hair. Town were under pressure but won a free kick on 12 minutes but Rodgers's head from Hume went directly to Colchester keeper Macey - a relative of former Town keeper John Macey? Macey was in action again on 15 minutes, saving a shot from Ainley following a great pass from Hume. Ainley should have done better. Town struggled to get forward with Barrington being dispossessed twice, a series of misunderstandings and poor passing. The game stopped on 23 minutes after McJannet caught Taylor in the face. This was an opportunity to regroup, with neither side shining so far. Good work between Khouri and Luker and a great recovery by Khouri after possession was lost lifted the mood. This resulted in a Barrington shot and Town corner. Town showed good endeavour again with Khouri again in the action. Colchester had a chance on 30 minutes when Thompson slipped, allowing Tovide a chance to shoot. The ball deflected off McJannet but Wright got down well to smother the shot. Rose was then the saviour, cutting out a pass as Colchester attacked again. Town won a corner after good work from Hume, Barrington and Khouri. Macey stretched to reach Hume's corner. Town had an escape on 36 minutes when after a Khouri mistake, but Taylor blocked Rodgers with Tovide threatening. Barrington started a move after challenging Egbo in Town's box and ended it with a curled shot which went wide. Luker then did well to get a move going on the right but in spite of Warren's best efforts couldn't make progress. Town won a free kick on 41 minutes in the Colchester half. Khouri did well but Town struggled. The ball was visibly holding up and slowing down as the rain affected the pitch. Three minutes were added. Reid and Ainley were injured in a challenge but both were fit to continue. The half ended with the score at 0 - 0. It was a bitty game with neither side exerting authority. Both sides had one good chance but the overall quality from Town was poor with team play suggesting this group didn't know each other. This said, the weather was playing its part. The second half was going to be about physical durability as much as composure.

A good pass from Rodgers saw Ainley and Warren work upfield and win a corner. Colchester defended it well and brought the ball out. Wright set up an attack but Rose committed a foul when rising for a header. The game stopped for Donnelly's resultant injury to be attended to. The crowd was quiet. The game was scrappy. Taylor won a corner on 53 minutes after a battle with Rodgers. The game stopped again for Taylor to receive medical treatment. Still, there was plenty of time with the early kick off as the game dragged on. With the corner flag bending, the corner swung out of play. Colchester slowly worked upfield but Taylor passed to no-one and Town had a goal kick. Town fumbled their way up the pitch with Thompson and Luker involved but did win a free kick on 60 minutes. Hume's cross landed in the middle but there was no-one on hand as the ball dribbled back to Macey. Colchester won a free kick on 63 minutes. Reid's cross was headed out for a corner. Reid's corner was headed on and drilled home by Anderson - offside. Town responded with an attack. Barrington got past the defender on the left and crossed but behind Rose who attempted a bicycle kick and handled the ball in doing so. Barrington was then guilty of being slow after being set up by Khouri before Luker had a chance after cutting inside but wasted it with a wild shot. On 69 minutes Tovide turned McJannet, prompting an excellent low save by Wright. Iandolo committed a foul when the corner came across. Owura-Edwards was then guilty of messing up a volley after a long cross from Taylor to the back post. On 72 minutes McJannet started a move. With Hume involved, Khouri got to the byline and passed towards Rose who was waiting. But Donnelly got in first, turning the ball out and narrowly avoiding an own goal in the process. Ainley managed a shot but didn't have the space to get a proper shot in. Both sides made substitutions on 75 minutes. For Town Obikwu and Davies replaced Rose and Thompson. Colchester won a corner a minute later. Goodliffe got his head on substitute Payne's corner. Wright spilled it but the ball was cleared. Hume then gave the ball away in the left corner. Payne slipped the ball to Gordon who slammed a low shot wide of Wright. Town 0, Colchester 1. Town didn't seem to have any answers, having been sluggish all afternoon. Svanthorsson replaced Barrington on 82 minutes. Fresh legs maybe, but it hardly seemed like a game-changing substitution, particularly with Town being stuck in a rut. Town got the ball upfield on 82 minutes but with Obikwu breathing down his neck, Goodliffe saw the ball out. Colchester now looked to slow the game down. Seven minutes were added but Town still seemed unable to get into gear. Ainley committed a foul in the Colchester half, reinforcing the fact that Town looked unconvincing as a team or as individuals. Control was missing and there was no plan. Town were playing the ball as if they had time, and they didn't. 94 minutes had gone. Town moved up slowly. Luker saw a gap and sent Obikwu through. Obikwu struck but Macey came out and narrowed the angle, saving with his legs. McJannet then passed the ball out of play with Hume looking on. 97 minutes had gone, with the ball deep in Town's half. There wasn't time for any more. The game ended: Grimsby Town 0, Colchester United 1.

We can blame the weather but let's not. It applied to both sides. Town were more awful than Colchester. The decision which changed the game was the introduction of Colchester substitutes Payne and Gordon. Davies isn't match-fit and was always going to struggle. But from a Town supporter's point of view, we deserved better than this rubbish. Lacklustre throughout, most of Town's players looked half asleep. The passing and decision-making were poor, and the quality was mostly substandard. Ainley messed up a chance in the first half, and Obikwu brought out a good save in the second but apart from that there was no substance in our play. If Mr Artell declares as he has been known to that we should have been 2 - 0 up at half-time, even though facts indicate otherwise, and that we were superior in possession, then I shall be disappointed. He needs to look closely at what is in the minds of the players, especially at home. And having been tactically outwitted by the Cowleys, he needs to look at himself. The myth that we have an easier run against lower-ranking teams is blown. We should always have an opportunity at home, whatever the conditions, but we failed to take it today.

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