Grimsby v Sutton preview and travel information

19 August 2022

Sutton are on the road again on Saturday with a first ever trip to Blundell Park to take on Grimsby Town, who regained their Football League status through the National League play-offs in June just a year after being relegated.

Both Grimsby and Sutton have four points and an identical goal difference going in to the game, with U's a place higher having scored one more goal, but Grimsby already have a game in hand after torrential rain caused the abandonment of Tuesday's game at home to Carlisle midway through the first half.

Prior to that Grimsby had lost on the opening day of the season at Leyton Orient, then drew at home to Northampton before picking up a first league win of the season last Saturday when they inflicted one of the four defeats that Rochdale have suffered so far which led to the departure of manager Robbie Stockdale on Thursday. Grimsby also enjoyed a comprehensive Carabao Cup win over Crewe and are looking forward to a visit from Premier League Nottingham Forest on Tuesday in the second round.

Grimsby's squad this season includes several players that U's have encountered in recent seasons, including defender Luke Waterfall, a member of Lincoln's 2017 National League championship squad, as well as defender Shaun Pearson (ex Wrexham), midfielders Gavin Holohan (Hartlepool) and Niall Maher (Halifax) as well as forward Jordan Maguire-Drew (Dagenham and Leyton Orient). Sean Scannell, brother of former U's forward Damian Scannell, is also in this season's squad.

Sutton will be looking to reverse early season away fortunes which have seen defeats at Doncaster and Crewe, neither of which U's will feel were deserved, and Sam Hart, Will Randall and Coby Rowe are all in contention for a return after injury although Omar Bugiel is still likely to be on the sidelines after his injury against Barrow.

For the second game in a row U's will be refereed by an official in his first season on the EFL referees' list, with Martin Woods having taken charge of Grimsby's defeat of Solihull in last season's National League play-off final. The Lancashire official has refereed several Sutton games at National League level.

Supporters who can't make the trip to Blundell Park can follow an audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass available at £2.50, while monthly passes (£4.49) and season passes (£45) are also available. Overseas supporters can watch a live stream of the game for £10, with a reminder that until the end of August a season pass for the live streaming overseas is just £140.

Tickets are on sale on line through the Grimsby Town website here. Prices are: Adults £20; age 65 and over/age 18-22/student and unemployed with proof of ID £13; unaccompanied junior age 14-17 £7; accompanied junior age 3-17 £5, under 3 free. Tickets are also on sale at the ground, but adult and concession prices rise on the day by £2. Our accommodation is in the Osmond Stand.

The Supporters' Club coach leaves the VBS at 6.30am, price £35 return. Email johnparsons092@gmail.com or text 07989 261929 (please confirm your name) to reserve a seat.

Independent travellers are reminded that there is a rail strike on Saturday, and while it is possible to get to Cleethorpes, leaving King's Cross at 07.33 or 10.48 and changing at Doncaster, there is no return train after the game. For drivers, the post code of the ground, which as all students of the game know is in Cleethorpes rather than Grimsby, is DN35 7PY. Take the M1/M18/M180 and at the end of the M180 stay on the A180 through Grimsby to Cleethorpes, and the ground is on the left adjacent to McDonalds. There is no on-site parking, but there is ample street parking around the ground, although some roads may have matchday parking restrictions. You can also reach the M180 by leaving the M1 at Junction 21A at Leicester and following the A46 to Lincoln then the A15.

Our academy side are away to Gillingham on Saturday in the EFL Youth Alliance, kick off 10.30 at Gillingham's Beechings Cross training ground.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Grimsby Town 0 Sutton United 0

20 August 2022

Grimsby Town 0 Sutton United 0.

Sutton came back from a bright and blustery Blundell Park with a hard earned point from a game where both sides had spells in the ascendancy without ever being able to claim control. It wasn't generally a game for the purists, with the windy conditions not helping either side to produce great fluency, but after two unfortunate defeats it was a welcome point for U's, who defended well in to the wind in the first half and then put the home side under more pressure in the second half, although it was in to the wind that Grimsby had their best chances, particularly after a double substitution which saw them switch to a 4-4-2 formation on the hour mark, and U's needed Jack Rose to be at his best to preserve the clean sheet and the point.

U's welcomed back Coby Rowe to the centre of defence, with Jon Barden dropping to the bench, and restricted Grimsby to two shots from Gavin Holohan from outside the penalty area, the first going very close to Rose's right hand post, the second dipping harmlessly over. Anthony Glennon did put a wind assisted corner in to the net six minutes before half time but referee Martin Woods spotted an infringement and ruled the effort out, while a dangerous run from Brendan Kiernan was ended by a challenge by Louis John on the edge of the penalty area that earned a yellow card and conceded a free kick that came to nothing.

It was U's, though, who had the best chance when home skipper Luke Waterfall mis-hit a back pass which left Donovan Wilson clear with just goalkeeper Max Crocombe to beat, but the keeper was off his line quickly to save. Enzio Boldewijn also put a header across goal from a Rob Milsom cross.

The second half was a similar affair, with U's having the advantage of the wind but not creating a host of chances, the final pass often disappointing, although Joe Kizzi came very close from the first of a succession of corners, his far post header from Boldewijn's delivery blocked on the line by Kieran Green. Grimsby's threat increased after their change on the hour, although they were given a helping hand when Milsom left a pass back to Rose short, substitute Arabim Pepple having a clear run on goal but Rose sticking out a foot to divert his shot for a corner, with a relieved Milsom the first player to congratulate him on the stop. Michee Efete sent a low cross flashing across the face of goal, and Rose turned away a lowshot from Pepple as the game became much more open, while at the other end Ali Smith saw a well struck shot saved by Crocombe. There was a welcome return for Will Randall after injury and it took a good tackle from Green to prevent him from setting up a chance on the left by-line.

There might have been a sting in the tale for U's when Pepple put Ryan Taylor through in stoppage time, but a slightly heavy touch gave Rose the chance to come out and round off an impressive display by diving at the striker's feet to push the ball away, and both sides had to settle for a point.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi, R Milsom, C Rowe, C Eastmond, L John, E Boldewijn(sub L Gambin 88), D Wilson(sub T Fadahunsi 88), K Thomas(sub K Kouassi 63) H Beautyman(sub A Smith 76), J Neufville (sub W Randall 63. Subs n/u B House, J Barden. Booked: John, Boldewijn.

Grimsby: M Crocombe, M Efete, A Glennon, K Green, A Smith, L Waterfall, S Wearne(sub J Maguire-Drew 76), G Holohan, R Taylor, B Morris(sub A Pepple 59) B Kiernan(sub H Clifton 59). Subs n/u O Battersby, S Pearson, D Amos, J Cropper. Booked: Waterfall, Holohan, Green

Referee: Martin Woods

Attendance: 6,239 (105 away)

Photo courtesy of Grimsby Town FC/Jon Corken