Power Cookery

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 11/04/2026

GRIMSBY Town took a giant step towards claiming a playoff berth with a 3-2 win over Crewe at a windy Blundell Park this afternoon. The Mariners were leading 3-0 with 2 minutes to go, but conceded two late goals, which made the game look closer than it actually was.

Andy Cook opened the scoring with an opportunist goal in the first half. Grimsby powered into a 3-0 lead shortly after half-time, and then had a comfortable afternoon until taking their eye off the ball in the final minutes.

Grimsby were unchanged, though winger Charles Vernam was named as a substitute, a much-welcome return.

Crewe could have opened the scoring in the first minute when Tezgel was played through, but Smuth was quick to react and made a good save to deny the striker. Grimsby settled, however and took advantage of the conditions when Cook pounced on some hesitation between Demetriou and Lawlor when the ball held up in the wind. Cook hooked the ball from under their noses as they dithered for a split second and swept it into an empty goal, it just creeping over the line.

Grimsby edged the remainder of the first half but stepped up a couple of gears after the break. Cook powered past Connolly on the left and waited for Green's run into the box before providing the perfect pass for Green to smash in. Kabia could have had a third goal, but struck the ball over the bar. Town didn't have to wait long for it to come, however, and this time the ball came from the other wing when Burns set up Cook for a well-taken volley.

Town looked the more likely to score a fourth goal, but Crewe were given a lifeline when Sweeney brought down Sanders for a clear penalty. O'Reilly made no mistake, and Crewe had about 10 minutes of playing time left to get 2 goals, with the score now 3-1. Grimsby looked to have negotiated this passage, but then Smith failed to get a hand on a cross from the right, and Demetriou had a clear header into an unguarded net to make it 3-2. Fortunately, the full-time whistle wasn't long coming and the crowd could finally celebrate the win that had looked certain 10 minutes before. On the plus side, Town were able to bring off players relatively early in the second half thanks to the 3-goal cushion, which should leave them a bit fresher for Tuesday night.

With other results going their way, Grimsby now lie one place below Chesterfield, who occupy the final play-off spot. Grimsby have a game in hand but will go above Chesterfield into the play-offs if they win there on Tuesday night. The match is a classic six-pointer: should Chesterfield win, the gap will be 4 points, so avoiding defeat is very important for David Artell's side if they are to finish in the top 7.

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