Springtime in Chesterfield

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 02/04/2022

GRIMSBY trounced Chesterfield in today's promotion clash, belying the Mariners' fairly poor record against the teams above them in the league. It was a scoreline and a performance that can only increase confidence in reaching and then being competitive in the season finale.

Laurence Maguire gave Chesterfield an early lead, but two stunning strikes from John McAtee and Gavan Holohan turned the game around, and Town turned on the style to crush their fancied opponents on their own turf, with further goals from Clifton and Taylor. It was Chesterfield's heaviest home defeat since Hartlepool won there 5-1 in November 2019.

New signing Joey Jones his first game on loan from Dagenham, replacing Scannell in the game's only change.

Town switched off in the game's second corner, a short one, which was played back to the corner taker and crossed to Maguire for a free header that put the hosts in front.

Grimsby should have equalised within 5 minutes when a good team move led to McAtee crossing for Maguire-Drew, who managed to fire over from point-blank range.

Town were dominating the game despite the scoreline and McAtee levelled the game with a stunning solo goal fired into the top of the net on the half-hour mark.

The Mariners had not even stopped celebrating when four minutes Holohan fired in another long-range strike from even further out into the top corner.

Grimsby could and should have had more and were worthy 2-1 winners at the break.

Town went further in front early in the second half when McAtee picked out the unmarked Clifton to give Grimsby a two goal cushion.

Taylor could have grabbed a fourth after another McAtee assist but his shot was cleared for a corner.

Chesterfield managed to hit the post and avoid what might have been a tight finish, but the match was put beyond doubt when McAtee was deemed onside and pulled the ball back to Taylor and this time the big striker made no mistake.

Grimsby are finding form at the right time and the new signings have made the Mariners a much stronger team than that of the Autumn.

On that performance, nobody will want to play Grimsby next but Weymouth have the privilege as Town make the long trip to Dorset.

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