The Only Way is Progress

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 22/08/2026

WITH our first win under our belt, Town head to Walsall who came away last week with an impressive 3-0 victory at Gillingham. Walsall's Pallet-Track Stadium, or Bescot as most of us know it, has been a happy hunting ground of late for Town.

Walsall topped the league for the first half of the last two seasons before fading away. It's impossible to judge a team on one result but the signs were that today was going to be a difficult test for Town.

Our starting line-up today was: Pym - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney - Turi - Amaluzor, Green, Doyle, Vernam - Cook. The bench looked an interesting mix with Brown, Catchpole and Lavelle featuring. One thing that has struck me in the last week is the number of people including our own official site producing arguments and selective evidence to say what a good keeper Pym is. This wouldn't have happened with Gordon Banks or Pat Jennings, or for that matter Jackson Smith, so the message suggests that there are ongoing doubts. All that matters is that apart from the apparently coached suicidal passes to defenders close to the box, he was fine last week. Hopefully it'll get to the stage where we don't notice him, unless it's to acknowledge clean sheets.

It was a pleasant early afternoon in Bescot. Town, in their snazzy blue kit today, kicked off. Two early interceptions by Turi put Town on the front foot. The second, on 6 minutes, led to a misdirected header from ex-Walsall striker Cook. Walsall won a corner on 9 minutes. Pym missed the cross. The ball ran out to Clarke, whose cross was ready for one of Pressley or Connolly to tap in but fortunately for Town the Walsall players got in each other's way. Walsall had a good chance on 16 minutes after good combative work by Ahui but Clarke fired over from close range. Town hadn't looked fluid but put together a good passing move on 17 minutes, leading to a foul by Moore on Amaluzor. Town fumbled but kept going. Doyle had a decent shot from outside the box before Rodgers ballooned one over. Walsall had a good chance soon after but Sweeney cut out the threat with an excellent tackle. Town had a good chance themselves on 23 minutes following a cross by Rodgers but Vernam blasted the ball over. Town were starting to pose a threat now. Amaluzor did well to win a corner on 30 minutes after Kacurri won a midfield challenge. The corner from Sweeney wasn't great. The sides exchanged possession. Although Town were getting better, neither side was exerting control with Town's final ball letting them down. Dallas got into a scuffle with Kacurri on 35 minutes to spice things up momentarily. Cook then dithered with a number of Town players in good position, but the Walsall defender quickly retrieved the ball. Town's defence did its job on 38 minutes with McJannet heading clear from a dangerous Hancock cross. Rodgers conceded a foul on 42 minutes after losing control. Simper's cross was met by Skura's head but the attempt ran wide. It was 0 - 0 at half time. Walsall had the better chances. Town showed endeavour with notably good performances from Turi and Sweeney but the overall quality was lacking as Town failed to test Walsall keeper Ward once. Both sides need to increase their intensity level.

The second half started with a mix-up in Town's defence but at least Sweeney had the presence to head away from the goal in conceding a corner. Town then broke but Green who was clear was adjudged to be offside. Town then put together a nice move but Amaluzor's cross was poor. On 50 minutes Walsall won a free kick when Kacurri fouled Dallas in the corner. Sprangler committed a foul following the free kick. Cook then uncompromisingly fouled Ahui. Clarke turned and wiggled, beating Rodgers but Pym was on hand at the near post to prevent further progress. Clarke forced a Kacurri clearance to earn another corner. Pym tipped the cross away, and Turi cleared the threat. Kacurri did well to stop Pressley as the Walsall striker was about to fire the trigger. McJannet then cleared Moore's cross for another corner. Simper sent the ball in but Skura headed over. Town were weathering the Walsall storm. Turi's vision enabled Town to start an attack which ended with an offside decision as Town sought to ease the pressure. Walsall won a corner on 62 after another scrap between Kacurri and Dallas but the defence stood firm. On 63 minutes Doyle looked to be clipped by Ahui in the box. It would have been a soft penalty but Town did follow up by winning a corner. Sweeney was the first player of the game to receive a yellow card for pulling down Ahui. Both sides continued to have their moment but were unable to dominate play where pressure was going to lead to a goal. On 69 minutes Morgan replaced Cook. But still neither side seemed to be able to break through, with Town still to have a shot on target. A Green knock-on header on 73 minutes gave Amaluzor the chance to surge forward. Connolly pulled down Amaluzor outside the box, earning himself a yellow card. 75 minutes had gone. Vernam's free kick was weak and wasteful. The ball came back but Ward held onto Rodgers's cross. On 76 minutes Town seized on a Walsall mistake. Vernam found Turi whose perfectly weighted pass to Sweeney resulted in a ferocious shot which Ward did well to save. This was better from Town. On 79 minutes Reynolds replaced Doyle. On 82 minutes Morgan won a corner after a tussle with Skura. Skilful play by Morgan led to a cross with Rodgers close to making contact. Town pressed. Vernam crossed. Morgan controlled but was unable to keep his balance for the shot. Determined work by Amaluzor earned Town a corner on 87 minutes. Sweeney played it short but Vernam's went straight at a defender. A Turi shot was deflected. Ward punched clear. Turi cut out Walsall's attempt to break. Two minutes of stoppage time was added. Both sides frantically looked for the winner. Walsall put the ball in the box but Town's defence stood firm. The game ended: Walsall 0, Grimsby Town 0.

"The word of the season is progress" said Head Coach David Artell earlier this week. Today's draw at Walsall was a decent result, tempered with frustration in that chances were minimal. It's hard to gauge what progress we have made at this early stage but defensively we were impressive, with combative performances notably from Turi and latterly Morgan. And it was a welcome clean sheet. Our interplay had a tendency to become undone with misplaced final passes, while a number of dead ball kicks were wasted, Vernam being the principal culprit. But overall while this wasn't a stellar performance, it was one where many of the team's qualities were in evidence, not least the work rate. So there was plenty for Head Coach Artell and his team to analyse, and we have to look forward to the promised progress as the season progresses.

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