EFL League 2: Grimsby Town 0-1 Colchester United

11th February 2023

Grimsby Town vs Colchester United @ Blundell Park - Cleethorpes, nr. Grimsby

EFL League Two

15:00 KO

£20 entry (with £1.50 booking fee)

Attendance - 6,462 (253 away fans)

Half-time score: Grimsby Town 0-1 Colchester United

Goal:

Colchester United: Hopper - 32'

Brief match highlights are on YouTube, see link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47K9n9Z6W0g

Final Score: Grimsby Town 0-1 Colchester United

Another trip up to Lincolnshire, this time to see Col U away at Grimsby Town, a ground I've been wanting to get to for years. I hear good things about the Grimsby fans, and I was also keen to get some of the world famous fish and chips, Grimsby being the main port where the fresh fish is landed. Looking to the game, it was bound to be a tough one for Col U, despite them winning 4 away games on the bounce, they would have to be on top form to get another result. Whilst only 2 points separated the teams before kick-off, Grimsby have a huge 5 games in hand on Col U!

Despite the name, Grimsby Town are actually based in Cleethorpes which is a nice little seaside town. I stayed the night with the in-laws and took the A46 all the way into Cleethorpes, skirting the edges of the scenic Lincolnshire Wolds and into the Greater Grimsby area. I parked on the Cleethorpes seafront and headed straight for Papa's Fish & Chip shop on the pier. Whilst Steels is often considered the best, I have already been there before so I wanted to try something different, plus being on the pier Papa's has a lovely setting, and it claims to be the largest fish and chip shop in the UK.

With a long day ahead of me, I only had a large cod, and it was incredible, a very light and crispy batter with fresh juicy plump cod in the middle. I was tempted to also get a Hull Patty, apparently a fried mashed potato and sage dish.

After this, I headed to the Wetherspoons pub, The Coliseum Picture Theatre, and met up with some Col U fans for a pre-match pint, where I found Doom Bar on tap for only 99p, if I wasn't driving I would have had more than 1! I then headed to the ground to pick up my ticket from the away stand entrance, which looked a bit ramshackle.

I also grabbed a programme on the way in for £3, a very decent one with lots of content.

Both teams were in their home kits, Grimsby Town in black and white stripes and Col U in blue and white stripes. Before the game, on a pleasant sunny warm afternoon, a minutes silence was held for the victims of the tragic Turkish earthquake disaster.

KEY MOMENTS

GT = Grimsby Town

CU = Colchester United

14' - CU - Chambers heads the ball at the near post from a Col U corner, taken by Wood, his effort slicing narrowly over the bar.

32' - CU - GOAL (0-1) - Wood launches a diagonal ball into the box from a free-kick, Kelleher jumps high to take the ball out of the reach of keeper Crocombe, and it falls to the near post where Hopper nods in from close range, triggering rapturous scenes in the away end!

35' - GT - Grimsby almost reply immediately, during a Grimsby attack, there is a frantic goalmouth scramble and eventually the ball falls to Efete close to the penalty spot, but he somehow, and thankfully, hits the ball wide of the post.

38' - CU - A long ball pumped up the pitch by Hall is touched on by substitute Read (on for an injured Skuse), Matt Jay is put through on goal, his tries to curl the ball past Crocombe, but he makes a good stop.

45'+2' - GT - A header on from a goal-kick sees Clifton through on goal down the right, but his shot is straight at O'Hara for a comfortable save.

64' - CU - From a Wood corner, Kelleher rises highest to head the ball, but his effort is narrowly wide of the post.

73' - CU - A ball over the top releases Appiah, before he can get into the box he is closed down, Chilvers picks up the ball and strikes from outside the box, but it is just wide of the post.

And with that win, Colchester United have secured an incredible 5 away wins on the bounce! The atmosphere was incredible from the Col U fans, we really got behind the team to see them home, as they closed out the game in comfortable fashion, and the scenes at the end with Bloomfield playing the crowd will live long in the memory. Colchester looked really solid defensively today, Hall, Kelleher and Chambers were imperious, with Ossama Ashley mopping up everything in front of them. I also enjoyed seeing Hopper more today, for a tall lad he has a blistering turn of pace, and Wood's set-pieces were brilliant today! I was a bit disappointed in the Grimsby fans, they were subdued and quiet all game, and their team looked lacklustre to me, I cannot see them challenging for the play-offs, however, it was a fun away day and I will definitely go back. It will likely be a month until I next go and see the U's, with the home game against Stockport County penciled in. Until then, I hope Col U can get some more results to well and truly put the relegation zone beyond reach, UP THE U's!!!

Line-Ups:

GRIMSBY TOWN: Max Crocombe, Michee Efete, Luke Waterfall (C), Niall Maher, Josh Emmanuel, Harry Clifton, Alex Hunt, Bryn Morris, Danny Amos, John McAtee, George Lloyd. SUBS: Anthony Driscoll-Glennon, Gavan Holohan, Stephen Wearne, Mikey O'Neill, Tom Dickson-Peters, Danilo Orsi, Andy Smith.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Kieran O'Hara, Connor Hall, Fiacre Kelleher, Luke Chambers (C), Connor Wood, Ossama Ashley, Cole Skuse, Junior Tchamadeu, Matt Jay, John Akinde, Tom Hopper. SUBS: Sam Hornby, Will Greenidge, Kwesi Appiah, Noah Chilvers, Arthur Read, Alex Newby, Samson Tovide.