Cod Almighty | Match Report

by Chris Parker

21 December 2025

A pre-Christmas lunchtime kick off in South East London (or Kent, if you prefer) for a Town side on the crest of a slump.

Bromley had an unbeaten record at home this season and were looking to solidify their place in the upper echelons of League Two.

An injury to Pym meant a return on an emergency seven-day loan for Jackson Smith from Barnsley, whilst Lavelle joined three other centre-backs in the starting line-up up, which also included a rare start for Amaluzor.

The game was far from a classic, with both sides seemingly keen to give away possession continously. What little football was played came from the team in black and white. Unfortunately Town were playing in a similar kit to nearby Crystal Palace.

It didn't take long for Bromley to open the scoring with a looping cross to the far post being headed back across to the totally unmarked Hondermarck to nod home. Four centre-backs didn't help there.

Town had a scrambled opportunity in the box for an equaliser and the pacy Kabia broke away with just the keeper to beat. Unfortunately the ambling Cameron chased Kabia and made an excellently timed tackle before a shot could be delivered.

Half time and all to play for perhaps?

Totally wrong.

Bromley were dominant

Grimsby were passive and totally ineffective. Tried, but they had no obvious game plan, lost their individual battles and collectively were outplayed.

The second goal summed the game up. The home wing-back Ifill waltzed past Vernam and deliverd a low ball into the six-yard box where static defending gave Hondermarck an easy tap in for 2-0.

Towns response was... absolutely nothing.

Bromley 'probably' had a third goal when the ball looked to have crossed the line but the linesman's view was obstructed. You can't give what you can't see, though the lovely Mr Woodman could see clearly from more than 50 yards away.

Substitutions were made but, yet again, added nothing.

The views of everyone I spoke with were the same. This was right up there with the worst performance of the season. We asked no questions of Bromley, we were outplayed from start to finish. There looks like a lack of leaders out on the pitch; the leader in the dugout thought the performance was 'OK'. Maybe that is part of the problem?

We haven't won for months and the team currently don't look capable of doing so. We have forgotten how to create, and put away chances, whilst continuing to look vulnerable.

This is the squad that Mr Artell has built across a few transfer windows. Built presumably to play the 'Grimsby way'. Some may say he has achieved that!

We desperately need a forward with some fourth division attributes: strength, capable of winning an aerial challenge, holding the ball up for others. Then we must have runners off the ball. We lack flexibility and look predictable, like a team coached by a computer.

I'm worried about the next two home games. Oldham and Shrewsbury are fighters. I'm not sure we are.