The Grimsby Goal Machine

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 14/11/2026

TWO weeks seems a long time in football. That's the time since our last league game and the euphoria of an excellent victory over York. Between then and now we had the unconvincing win on penalties over Stafford Rangers, reminding us of the frailties of this team.

With no international fixture interruption but the corresponding absence of rising star Turi and defensive rock Kacurri, today we were at Swindon's County Ground, my second most-visited stadium after Blundell Park.

The County Ground seems dilapidated these days, reflecting Swindon as a town and the club's off-field financial troubles and lack of success over the last few years. Swindon were close to promotion last season but fell away towards the end, our 4 - 0 victory over them being one of their lowlights. This season they sit just one point behind us, having had a good run of form recently. It was a return to reality here at Swindon as the grind resumed after the excitement of the FA Cup.

Town's line-up on this cloudy autumnal day read: Pym - Foulkes, Rodgers, McJannet, Sweeney - Walker, Doyle - Finch, Shelton, Morgan - Cook. 719 were here to support Town, today in the blue kit, in the crowd of 7,020.

Town showed promise in the first few minutes without reward as Shelton and Morgan had decent attempts after good build-up. On 14 minutes Doyle delivered a perfect ball to Morgan who lost control. Three minutes later Finch was unlucky, his chip over keeper Ripley being deflected and landing in top of the net. Town were providing all the threat so far. On 20 minutes Walker picked the ball up in midfield and threaded a pass to Cook who turned the defender inside and out before coolly slotting the ball past Ripley. Swindon 0, Town 1. Swindon had a brief spell, winning two corners before Drinan headed well over from a Thomson cross. Town continued to play nicely and with purpose. On 32 minutes Town won a throw. Shelton supplied Rodgers who turned the defender in the box and looked to be tripped. The referee saw no infringement. The ball fell to Morgan whose ferocious shot had to be tipped over acrobatically by Ripley. Sweeney then sent the ball into the arms of the keeper. Swindon now countered but Foulkes saved the day with a timely tackle on Snowdon. Town were soon back upfield. Shelton caused havoc with a low cross. Walker picked up the ball outside the box, shimmied and crossed to Rodgers whose header was close. On 40 minutes Doyle played a brilliant ball to Finch on the left. Butler's solution was to hack the advancing Finch down, for which he earned himself a yellow card. Following the free kick, the ball fell to Sweeney who instead of taking the option to volley the ball laid the ball off to Morgan who in Mendoncaesque fashion nonchalantly curled a shot from the left edge of the area into the top right corner. Swindon 0, Town 2. So it was at half time. Town's play had been outstanding. Town just had to be careful to maintain the pressure over a Swindon team which had been lacklustre.

An ironic cheer rang out when Swindon had a shot on 48 minutes. Pym gathered Drinan's effort comfortably. Cook harassed Ripley, leading to more pressure from Town from which Finch won a corner. The ball came to Doyle whose volley was accurate but too straight. Swindon won a corner but it was Town who continued to make all the play. On 56 minutes Sweeney and Morgan combined on the left. Sweeney won a corner and delivered it. Rodgers headed over but the referee had spotted a push by Virtue on McJannet. Morgan drilled the penalty low and hard - goal! Swindon 0, Town 3. “Stafford were better than you” sang the jubilant Town fans in between sporadic advice for Swindon's ex Town manager Ian Holloway. Swindon won a corner. Morgan broke out and was pulled over by Thomson. 63 minutes had passed. Andrews and Vernam replaced Cook and Finch. Morgan and Sweeney once again combined on the left but Sweeney landed with the ball on his weaker right foot and was unable to get power on his shot. Moments later a clumsy tackle by Butler on Andrews led to a second yellow card for the Swindon player. Swindon's day was getting worse. Cartwright replaced Walker. Town attacked again. Morgan fought and fought to find space. The ball came out to Doyle whose effort was fired well over the bar. On 76 minutes Amaluzor and Reynolds replaced Morgan and Shelton. On 79 minutes Doyle forced Ripley into a low save at the post as Town piled on further pressure. Amaluzor won a corner. Town passed the ball around quickly. The ball returned to the Grimsby half. Town attacked as a pack. After surging upfield Reynolds crossed from the right with a number of Town's players descending on goal. It was Andrews who met the cross, tapping it in to make it 4 - 0 to Town. On 84 minutes Swindon won a penalty after a foul by Rodgers. Drinan hit his penalty low to the left corner. Pym went the right way and saved it but Drinan was on hand to slot in the rebound. Swindon 1, Town 4. Town won a corner on 87 minutes. Ripley was forced to punch Vernam's cross clear as Town continued to threaten the Swindon goal. Vernam, who'd come on as substitute, seemed to be too eager and needed to think more about his delivery but in the overall scheme of things Town were the clear winners in every department today. Seven minutes were added. Led by Debayo, Swindon attacked. But Town's defence was resilient once more, leading to a break which ended when Doyle committed a foul. The game ended: Swindon Town 1, Grimsby Town 4. This was as comprehensive a victory as you could have.

That's 13 goals from Town in the last three league games. It's easy to see why. This was a high intensity, high quality and dominant performance. Mr Holloway and his men were bludgeoned into submission from the outset. We seemed so much fitter and alert than the home side. There were so many impressive elements to the performance, but I would single out Town's incessant pressure, never dropping off in spite of substitutions and being comfortably in the lead. Town showed a real hunger. Long may this continue.

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