Deja Vu

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 13/12/2025

GRIMSBY's latest game against Notts County followed the pattern of recent league games, with the Mariners failing to take their chances, and the opposition punishing the inevitable defensive lapses with ruthless efficiency. Grimsby shaded the goalless first half, but then a quality finish by Dennis broke the deadlock.

County then added a second in injury time to put the result beyond doubt.

Khouri replaced Walker in midfield, otherwise continuing with Artell's previous selection at Shrewsbury.

Notts County had the better start, and could have gone ahead when Tsaroulla crossed into the danger zone with Pym by the flight of the ball. Two Town defenders cleared it off the line between them, but it was nearly a terrible start.

Grimsby, though, got their passing game going, and a cross from Saunton was cleared to Kabia, who looked certain to score. The Irishman scuffed his shot, though, and it was bundled off the line and eventually found safety. For the remainder of the half, Town got more balls into the box, but either players couldn't get on the end of them, or fired wide.

Grimsby had a good chance at the start of the second half when a misplaced County pass found Kabia, who unselfishly passed to Vernam, but the winger's shot was saved.

Opposition strikers know now to shoot from distance as Pym seems slow to get down to strikes from range, and Matthew Dennis must have waited for an opportunity. His moment came on the hour mark when he was given the space to shoot from range, and he launched a curling shot which Pym failed to even get a hand to, and County went 1-0 up.

Grimsby had lots of possession in the final half hour, which Notts soaked up. The final insult came at the death when a horrendous fumble and backpass by Tharme presented Jatta to go through and dance past the hapless Pym to all but walk the ball into the net in front of the away support.

Town are so poor defensively that teams don't have to do much to beat us, knowing that chances are going to come their way, provided they can defend well against us. County's game plan must have worked perfectly. The Mariners need to present something different for the opposition to think about.

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