[ 18 Apr 26 ] GILLS v Grimsby Town Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Grimsby lead the wins between the sides by 19 wins to the Gills' 12 and a further 12 meetings have been drawn. The Gills are winless in 5 against the Mariners and have lost 3 of them including the reverse fixture back in October.
- The last 12 meetings are very even with both sides winning 4 and 4 ended as draws. All of the Gills wins came at Priestfield including their last win against Grimsby back in February 2023. Grimsby won their last visit to Priestfield (October 2024), their only win in 7 trips during which they lost 5 of them.
- Grimsby started the season unbeaten in 7 league and cup games, winning 4 of the first 5. They then lost 11 of the 23 that followed before their current run which has seen only 5 losses (and 13 wins) in their last 23 matches in all competitions.
- After facing Cheltenham on Tuesday with the fewest shots on target (128), the Gills face Grimsby who have taken the most with 201, an average of 4.8 for each of their League 2 games this season. This has contributed to a league-high shot on target difference of 71 more shots on target than Grimsby had faced.
- Having played a Cheltenham side with the joint fewest (14) first half goals scored in League 2, the Gills play Grimsby who have the second highest amount of first half League 2 goals (33). Only MK Dons had scored more - a whopping 14 more.

[Sat 18th April 2026] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Grimsby Town
Opposition Manager: David Artell. Matchday Team: Jackson Smith, Reece Staunton (Jayden Sweeney), Cameron McJannet, Maldini Kacurri, Harvey Rodgers, Jamie Walker (Geza David Turi), Clarke Oduor (Tyrell Warren), [c] Kieran Green, Jaze Kabia (Charles Vernam), Justin Amaluzor (Darragh Burns), Andy Cook
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (8th)
Referee: Oliver Mackey
Attendance: 5,863 (646)

(15.00) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
(15.06) Cook goes through for the visitors but is denied by a long and perfectly timed slide tackle. A minute later, he's waiting as the ball hits Morris and, unaware where the ball was, gathers just in time when he realises it is right beside him.
(15.26) Chances at both ends with the goal open but players not quite able to capitalise.
(15.36) A weaving run between defenders by Cook ends with a strike that hits the arm of Clark. Appeals by the away support are unheaded before a fine point blank strong hand by Morris from the rebound denies the visitors the opener.
(15.41) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Grimsby Town: Cook
(15.45) A minimum of 5 additional minutes will be played.
(15.52) Half time 0-1

16.07 The second half kicks off.
(16.16) Huge Rainham end cries for a Gills penalty are ignored with the ref giving nothing more than a corner.
(16.17) GOAL! Gillingham 1-1 Grimsby Town: McCleary
(16.29) Fantastic last ditch Gills defending as both Gale and Masterson throw their bodies on the line to make two crucial blocks inside the box.
(16.35) A through ball for McCleary ends with a strong run and shot which curls past the far post.
(16.35) GOAL! Gillingham 1-2 Grimsby Town: Kabia A terrible mix up at the back and Morris gifts the visitors and open goal to shoot in.
(16.40) Sam Vokes comes on to make his 750th senior appearance.
(16.41) GOAL! Gillingham 1-3 Grimsby Town: Green
(16.46) GOAL! Gillingham 1-4 Grimsby Town: Vernam
(16.52) The 4th official signals for a minimum of 6 minutes at the end of the match.
(16.53) Fantastic tip over from underneath the crossbar denies Max Clark from a very long range effort.
(16.58) FULL TIME 1-4

Gills' League Position After Game: 18th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cvg4vg52vr3t
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf-R9z_ILm4