[ 14 Feb 23 ] GILLS v Grimsby Town Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Grimsby lead the wins 16 to the Gills' 11 and a further 10 meetings were drawn. Before the reverse fixture was drawn this season, the sides last met in the 2008/9 season when both teams won their home fixture 3-0 - the Gills scoring through Simeon Jackson, Mark McCammon & Charlie Daniels.
- The Gills have won their last 4 games at home to Grimsby including the most recent 2 in Sept 2008 and Feb 2003 where both games were won 3-0. The Gills lost the 2 home meetings before those with Grimsby's last win at Priestfield coming in November 1997.
- Earlier in the season, Grimsby won 5 games and drew 1 in a 6 game unbeaten away league run. These were followed by 5 successive defeats on the road with 3 involving blank sheets. This run ended with their most recent away league match - a 3-0 win at Crewe.
- In their last 5 games, Grimsby have twice conceded 4 goals in a half (once in the first half and once in the second). The most the Gills have conceded in any half of a league game was the 3 for Salford at Priestfield. Both sides have conceded 33 goals with Grimsby conceding 13 in their last 6 compared with 6 in 6 for the Gills.
- Grimsby have won the fewest fouls in League 2 with 249 which is 19 more than the Gills have conceded. Those fouls won is 93 fewer than the total they have conceded, the worst difference in the division.

(19:45) Kick Off [ 4 - 4 - 2 ]

(19.57) A Grimsby corner is whipped in quickly to the near post and Morris has to react quickly to punched away. The ball comes back and Ehmer blocks.

(20.10) The Gills are moving the ball around nicely. Hawkins crosses and Grimsby are stretched and just clear it but only as far as Tutonda who volleys into the side netting.

(20.18) The ball falls kindly to Grimsby and a first time shot curls just wide of Morris' right hand post.

(20.20) Lapslie strides through into the box. He rolls it off to Jefferies for a tap in but the ball is just deflected off his toes and away before a follow-up shot is blocked and cleared.

(20.22) Grimsby have a free shot at the Rainham End goal but shoots just over the bar.

(20.32) Half time 0-0

(20.49) The second half kicks off.

(20.55) Just a few feet from goals, Nichols gets a free header from a MacDonald corner which produces a brilliant point blank save. The Gills come back and Jefferies takes a heavy touch on the penalty spot to lose the opportunity to slot home.

(20.58) A lovely ball to Lapslie on the edge of the box sees the ball tapped off his toes when likely to score. He goes down but no penalty is given. As the Gills come back, Nichols is well shepherded to stop him tapping a simple ball home.

(21.00) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Grimsby Town: Lapslie

(21.04) A brilliant drive from Grimsby just misses the left hand post after a small touch by Morris.

(21.19) GOAL! Gillingham 1-1 Grimsby Town: Holohan

(21.29) Gills pile on the pressure. Hawkins misses by inches but it had taken a touch for a corner.

(21.31) Nichols slams a ball goalward from 3 yards and its brilliantly blocked.

(21.31) GOAL! Gillingham 2-1 Grimsby Town: Hawkins

(21.40) FULL TIME 2-1

Attendance:
Position: 21st
Referee: Craig Hicks
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5zWmOpYPIk
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64549650