Holiday Mode

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 03/04/2026

THE last few days have been strange without proper football. The presence of the internationalists in our squad led to the postponement of our games at Cambridge and Chesterfield. It was the right decision as a precaution against injuries, which in the event were sustained in our resounding victory against Barrow.

While on the one hand it could be argued that momentum may have been lost, at least the void period could be seen as giving the opportunity for our players to rest and recover as we embark upon an intensive and crucial series of games. Today we faced bottom club Harrogate, who have had the better over us in most of the games between the sides. One thing which Town needed was to come out of holiday mode quickly and start on the front foot, and not let the game drift as we re-acclimatised ourselves.

Town's starting line-up on this breezy Good Friday was: Smith - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Staunton - Turi - Burns, Green, Walker, Kabia - Cook. The fans were issued with clap banners to enhance the atmosphere today. With 7,911 here today there was plenty of noise. Harrogate wore a sky-blue kit with glittery dirty-looking bits on the front of their shirts.

Town kicked off, heading towards the Osmond end, and almost scored within 20 seconds as Kabia's shot was deflected for a corner with Green coming close to nudging the ball in the right direction. Town dominated the first few minutes but Harrogate won a free kick on the left after a foul by Rodgers. Thomson's free kick went sailing over everyone. Town launched a counterattack on 11 minutes, when Walker played a nice flick on to Cook. That fizzled out but a minute later a quick attack saw Kabia find Walker who was fouled outside the Harrogate box. Staunton's free kick was headed away for a corner. After probing by Town, Kabia won another corner on 15 minutes. Staunton's corner was pushed out to Walker whose excellent low shot was pushed away by Harrogate's unsighted keeper Gray. After neat work on the right, Turi wasted an opportunity with a misjudged chip towards goal. In spite of dominating, Town had nothing to show for it. On 20 minutes Harrogate pushed the ball forward. Smith received the ball on the left after determined endeavour by Evans and weaved inside, finding Brenan, who with Kacurri standing back had the time and space to pick his spot and curl his right-footed shot off the post and into the net. Town 0, Harrogate 1. The crowd went quiet. The clap banners stopped. On 24 minutes Town won a free kick 35 yards when ex-Mariner Morris fouled the advancing Kabia. But Staunton's free kick went too far. The wind seemed to cause problems for both sides. On 26 minutes Harrogate attacked. Brenan saw Evans on the left. Evans steadied himself and fired a low shot to Smith's left. Smith got a hand on it and probably could have done better as he he palmed the shot onto the post before it went in. Town 0, Harrogate 2. Burns received a yellow card on 29 minutes for simulation as he slid in Harrogate's box. As the game threatened to peter out, even at this early stage, McJannet received the ball around the half way line and gave it a good old-fashioned heave forward. The flight deceived the Harrogate defence in the wind, but Green had nipped on and headed the bouncing ball past Gray. Town 1, Harrogate 2. Another ball from McJannet found Green who won a throw. The game was disrupted by a second ball on the pitch. Two minutes were added as Headman was penalised for a foul throw. Town took advantage with an attack. Burns battled to find Walker who worked his way into the box, falling. The referee adjudged that Gibson has tripped Walker and awarded a penalty. Cook's penalty was weak, allowing Gray to make an easy save so at half time the score remained the same: Town 1, Harrogate 2. No happy clapping here. Whilst Town had dominated in terms of possession, the performance had been flat as if we were going through the motions. Even so Town had every chance to gain parity but Cook's penalty, as so many have been this season, was disappointing. At least there was 45 minutes left to get to work and put things right.

After a brief Harrogate attack, Town started to apply pressure. Burns won a free kick on the right but Staunton's delivery was poor. Good work from Rodgers earned another corner but again Staunton's delivery was dreadful. Harrogate followed this up with a good attack. Smith was forced to punch clear from a Slater shot before a Thomson cross was directed wide by the appropriately named Headman. Walker then made a sharp turn at the Pontoon end but his low shot passed inches wide. A nice move by Town on the right almost led to a great opportunity for Kabia but Morris cut out the threat. While Headman messed about with his boots, no doubt to waste some time, Amaluzor warmed up for Town. Headman received a yellow card for fouling Kabia, which gave the chance to Amaluzor to replace Burns on 59 minutes. Upon the restart Staunton fired a dangerous cross from the left, resulting in a Town corner. Town battled to penetrate the Harrogate defence which was holding firm. Once again it was flat from Town. On 65 minutes Town did have an opportunity when a Green shot bounced out to Walker whose shot from inside the box was too straight, hitting Gray on the legs. Following a Harrogate corner, Town countered. But Town laboured. The game stopped on 70 minutes for attention to Harrogate's Gray. Svanthorsson now replaced Walker. Cook won a corner for Town. Staunton's kick was short but McJannet got a head on it - easy pickings for Gray. Green got in a decent shot after an interception as Town battled on grimly. Harrogate defended stoutly. Amaluzor was fouled outside the box by Slater on 77 minutes. Staunton fired into the wall - do we not have any other options? - and the move ended with an offside decision against Town to reinforce the frustration. If that wasn't enough, Harrogate piled forward up the left, battling to beat Mr Artell's “best right back in the division” Rodgers through sheer determination. Harrogate's players were lined up in the middle. Sutton nearly laid the ball off to Morris who drove the ball sweetly past Smith. Town 1, Harrogate 3. Soonsup-Bell and Oduor replaced Kacurri and Turi on 85 minutes as the game threatened to die a death. As Town sought forlornly to get back in the game, Harrogate attacked in numbers but Smith's effort lacked composure. It didn't appear to matter as Town were ramshackle and didn't look like scoring. On 88 minutes Town did have a free kick which resulted in a lot of arms and legs but no joy for Town in Harrogate's box. As 6 minutes were added, Harrogate won a corner. Amaluzor tried to break free but Morris pulled him back and received a yellow card. Kabia then went down, which merely resulted in more lost time. Town won a corner on 94 minutes but Green headed over the bar. Inevitably nothing happened of note after that and so the game fizzled out. Final score: Grimsby Town 1, Harrogate Town 3. Utterly frustrating and a lot of money wasted on clappers. Claptrap more like.

Town huffed and puffed without intensity, and frankly didn't show the desire or coordination that Harrogate did. Harrogate didn't have to do very much, but at least they took advantage of their opportunities unlike Town, whose quality of interplay and dead-ball delivery was underwhelming. I would question Mr Artell's preparation for this game. The mindset of the players was wrong. Town are not out of contention for a play-off place but there needs to be a drastic improvement in the quality of play and mentality. After the mini-break Town were still in holiday mode today.

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