A Long Haul

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 26/10/2024

DOOR to door, my journey from home to Blundell Park took six and a half hours but I have long come to realise that there is no reward for length of journey or overcoming any obstacles which the UK transport network may throw up.

I know it's not the longest trip, as I know people from places like Belgium and Norway who for no rational reason have made the same trek. If I didn't look forward to being at the match I wouldn't go, but I did pick up on Mr Artell's comment last week that going to Blundell Park should be an experience of expectation, not something we should be dreading. It has been a case of the latter for the most part in the last few years. Recent home games against Doncaster and Walsall did nothing to dispel the dread, but the away form of late has been outstanding, with Tuesday's win at Tranmere another example of the fighting spirit in the team when we want to but also the variety we offer when going forward. Preparation and mindset are key, and we were all hoping that the right version of Grimsby was going to turn up today at Blundell Park. 5,853 spectators turned out on this damp day for the game. Whether the club's much-trumpeted seat swap initiative, which we could have done anyway without the marketing, made any difference to the attendance is a moot point.

Today's opposition is MK Dons, who might have been expected to be at the top end of the table, but instead have had a stuttering start to the season. The team wearing red today have picked up of late and sit three points behind us with a better goal difference. Our emphasis needed to be on building a upon our strengths, which we undoubtedly have somewhere in there. Our team today was: Smith - Warren, Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Hume - Barrington, McEachren, Khouri - Rose, Obikwu.

Town started brightly. Warren won a corner from which Barrington put in a good cross. This was dealt with but MK keeper McGill put his side under pressure by passing out to Barrington. Trickery from Warren led to a Rose cross which was cleared. Barrington was pulled back and from his free kick Obikwu found space, but his shot was blocked. The ball remained in play, and Tharme crossed into the centre where Warren piled of a back flick, forcing McGill to save. Runs from Obikwu and then Barrington caused problems in the MK defence. Town were moving the ball well. Rose then robbed Tomlinson but again Town were unable to breach the defence. On 14 minutes MK had their first attack following a through ball but Tomlinson's shot was wildly sliced wide. Shortly after Rose was rewarded for his persistence, winning a free-kick after a shove in the MK half by Tomlinson. Barrington slipped the ball forward. Lemonheigh-Evans looked to have the ball under control, but Rose stuck his foot in and slid the ball goalwards and under McGill who seemed to have lost concentration. Town 1, MK 0. Rose showed great opportunism. On 18 minutes Rodgers was fouled. June's free-kick was long and dangerous but offside was given. MK were doing little as Town were closing them down at every opportunity. Rise and Obikwu combined to earn a free-kick in the corner. Hume crossed. McGill struggled and conceded another corner. This time the cross went to Obikwu who couldn't time his header. Tharme then brought the ball out of defence and supplied Obikwu who held off the defender but screwed his shot wide. On 25 minutes MK finally got a shot on target which Smith saved with ease from Leigh's strike. McEachren then had an audacious chip shot which went over the bar with McGill stranded after MK's goalkeeper and Offord almost committed footballing suicide by passing the ball about and giving the ball away. As Town pushed forward and Obikwu in particular looking lively, McEachren sent in a long-range shot which cleared the bar. MK meanwhile were basing their game on the defence-splitting pass but Town's defence was wise to it, and MK's delivery wasn't great either. On 36 minutes, MK won a free-kick on the right. Tomlinson overhit it but the same player did better with a curled shot which just missed to the right with Hogan lurking. Town put together a move as MK threatened to make their mark on the game. The move broke down when Rose committed a foul but Obikwu recovered. Town won a free-kick but on 39 minutes after Town's defence had been called into action Sherring received the ball on the right, crossing to Leigh in the middle. Leigh should have done better with his header. Smith then gave the ball away but Town's defence rallied. The ground was quiet. It was 1 - 0 at half time but after dominating the first 30 minutes, the fluidity had disappeared and Town's play had gone flat.

MK started the second half with an attack but Town broke out with Hume the instigator. Finding space he picked out the advancing Barrington who was clear but shot straight at McGill. On 48 minutes MK attacked. Town's defence seemed to drop back. Leigh got behind the defence and crossed for Gilbert to slot home the easiest of chances. 1 - 1. Town had a scare when Smith's clearance was blocked by Hogan who chased the loose ball and fortunately was only able to hit the side netting with his shot. Town looked leggy. Encouraged no doubt by the equaliser and the manner of it, MK looked lively. On 52 minutes MK launched another attack, moving up in numbers. Town couldn't keep up as Leigh played a diagonal ball to Nemane who crossed from the right to provide Hogan to tap home. It was the easiest of finishes. Town 1, MK 2. Town had a chance a minute later. Obikwu was fouled, resulting in Hume crossing to Obikwu's head, but the header was too high. Visibly tiring Town made a double substitution on 56 minutes with Ainley and Luker replacing McEachren and Barrington. Rose helped out in defence on 60 minutes and directed a header to Luker who provided a through ball for Obikwu but it was intercepted. Luker was then robbed but Khouri retrieved the ball and started an attack on the left. As Town looked low on energy, even with the substitutions, MK were playing as if their batteries had been charged. On 66 Town had another nervous moment when Sherring beat McJannet to a cross, his powerful header going just wide. Nemane continued to cause problems on the wing for MK. On 69 minutes Luker did well to break out of a melee of players and start an attack. From it Tharme's long throw found Obikwu who was surrounded by three defenders and unable to proceed further. Hume revitalised the attack which culminated in a decent strike by Khouri. Ainley followed up with a run and shot, dragging the ball wide as he lost balance. On 74 minutes Khouri cut out a dangerous attack involving Gilbert. Lemonheigh-Evans won a corner. Smith was then forced to save with his feet after Kelly put Tomlinson through. On 76 minutes Wilson replaced Obikwu. Four minutes later Town won a throw. Tharme delivered it, and Hume attempted to wriggle through but the defence was packed and stood firm. Town were trying hard but were looking laboured while MK managed the game well. Luker started a move from defence on 84 minutes. Tharme played the ball forward. Rose was fouled. Hume passed to Ainley who found Wilson in the middle but the box was congested. McJannet then played a high ball across Town's penalty area like a man running on fumes, incurring the displeasure of Warren who had to hook the ball out of play to safety. Shortly after that Warren was booked for a foul on Gilbey. With 88 minutes gone, Svanthorsson replaced Rodgers. It seemed meaningless as MK looked more likely to score, but it was an attempt to provide fresh legs and attacking impetus. Svanthorsson did nothing. Town were lucky when Harrison gave McJannet the slip, but Gilbey couldn't get near enough to the cross to control the ball and score. As 7 minutes were added following the earlier clash of heads between McJannet and Sherring, Luker won a free-kick in the MK half. MK won possession and Nemane broke out to gain territorial advantage as the clock ticked on. Hume, who was the only Town player to have shown continued energy, was now outpaced and ended up hacking Nemane down, earning himself a yellow card in the process. With 94 minutes gone, MK attacked. Harrison crossed to Lemonheigh-Evans who fired home low into the left hand corner. It came as no surprise. Town hadn't been it since the first half. Fans filed out, muttering to themselves. So the final score was: Grimsby Town 1, Milton Keynes 3.

This game was about energy and Town had less of it. A couple of weeks ago Mr Artell spoke of the rigours of travelling from Scotland to France, or Carlisle to Gillingham for those who like to be more geographically accurate. After Tuesday's exertions in Liverpool, Town were ineffective after 30 minutes during which they played well before looking like they'd been on a long journey. MK Dons were quicker and sharper. Well we'd better get used to this as the season is a long haul, there will be midweek games and matches in godforsaken places like Wales. So like it or not Mr Artell will have to manage our participation in cup competitions as well as looking at fitness in general and putting out a team that doesn't run out of gas after 30 minutes. The way we performed, it seemed as if we'd just come straight off a six and a half hour journey. Speaking of which, it's time for me to do that. But at least I don't have to play football at the end of it.

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