Match stats: Bromley v Grimsby

Cod Almighty | Match Stats

Saturday 1 February 2025

Division 4

Bromley 0

Grimsby Town 2 Rose (46), Obikwu (70)

Attendance: 3,857 (491 away fans)

Mini Report

Town secured their first win of 2025 and completed their first double of the season in sunny Bromley with goals from Danny Rose and Justin Obikwu. If it sounds routine, it certainly wasn't at the outset. Town didn't create anything of note in the first half and struggled to settle into an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation. Indeed it was Bromley who looked the likelier team. Jordan Wright was forced into two excellent saves, and the rest of his defence repelled corner after corner to keep the scores level. Town attacking highlights? Our most promising moment was an optimistic penalty shout for a trip on Greeny. Enough said.

The second half was a different matter. Town started it perfectly with what will go down in folklore as the Danny Rose Scoop. It was a quite ridiculous goal that perhaps only he could have scored and it gave the Mariners an edge that they never looked losing. Bromley wilted as we have done so often lately when conceding and Obikwu sealed the victory off a ricocheted shot.

So, in a word, progress with David Artell showing the wit and flexibiity to choose a formation that countered bruising opponents. While it took his players a half to really settle into it, the lack of cohesion did give Town a chance to show off their defensive mettle. The aerial bombardment we invited was worrying but Tharme and Rodgers led the way and won header after header.  

It would be difficult to select a single man of the match in such a formidable team performance, however the wing-backs, Hume and Svanþórsson impressed and looked comfortable in a new system, while Green was brilliant in transition.

The result was not the only good news to report. Town fans are showing progress as well, When The Town Go Steaming In was slowed to a much better tempo and was the setlist centrepiece of a cracking second half atmosphere. The only blight on the day were the away facilities. We love a queue as much as the next Grimbarian but four toilets for 500 fans is not acceptable. We had an international goalkeeper in our group but she won't have faced a tougher opponent than no dedicated ladies loo and that ratio. Sort it Bromleys.

Our gaffer says

Downbeat Dave was upbeat, in his own dour way, about the February reversal of fortunes against Fat Andy's Big Boys:

"Bromley aren't ashamed at being that kind of team, but we were magnificent in the second half. We deserved it in the end. 2-0 flattered them a little bit"

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Their gaffer says

The always fair-minded fragrant Andy somehow forgot to acknowledge the existence of home fans, perhaps too busy framing his warm words towards the club he always refers to as "them":

"It don't feel like a 2-0 but it is 'cos in the frst half we was as good as I've seen us for a while. Yeah, no, a freakish goal bicycle kick on the floor and then it's just a mess, not good enough, we went to pot, we were all over the place."

Although he laughs and acts like a clown, beneath that mask he's wearing a frown. He's sore about what he saw and he's a loser.

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Line-ups

Bromley: Smith, Grant, Webster (Congreve 76), Elerewe, Imray, Arthurs, Thompson (Leigh 64), Mayor (Ilunga 64), Whitely, Cheek, Dennis (Kabamba 76)

Subs not used: Charles, Jenkinson, Long

Booked: Thompson

Town: Wright, Svanthorsson (Cass 85), Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Hume, Green, Thompson (McEachran 67), Khouri (Ainley 91), Rose, Obikwu (Vernam 85)

Subs not used: Auton, Carson, Luker

Booked: Thompson, Rose, Svanthorsson

Sent Off: Cass

Referee: Sam Mulhall