MATCH REPORT | Swindon Town 2-1 Grimsby Town

Swindon took on Grimsby in a clash that could have seen the home side continue their pursuit of the top of the League Two table.

Grimsby had lost their last two games in a row and hoped to start to turn around a poor run of form. 

The home side looked to put their disappointing 2-2 draw with Morecambe to bed and get another vital win at home under their belt as they continued their hunt of table toppers Notts County. 

First Half:

Grimsby would get the game underway, the Mariners had scored nine of their eleven league goals in the first half and they would hope to take an early lead. It would be Swindon who had the first chance of the game, Charlie Austin hit the post from a header but the flag went up for offside regardless.

Both sides have started quickly in games this season and this was no different; both sides would charge up and down the pitch and try to find that opening goal. Grimsby were showing to be a tough opponent to break down as the Mariners were more than happy to go man for man and not sit back. 

The opening ten minutes came and went with neither side managing a shot, possession had been tightly fought for with Grimsby having 55% possession. 

Twenty minutes came and went and still we waited for the first shot of the game, Swindon had started to get a grasp on the ball having over 60% possession and had come close to creating a few chances but could never find that final ball. 

The game was very back and forth and it showed when Grimsby came close to scoring, Tobias Mullarkey broke down the right and played a cross that just needed a touch but no Mariners were on hand. 

Then just a minute later Swindon had a chance, Dan Kemp played a ball to Remeao Hutton who found Jake Young who had the game's first shot, unfortunately, it was deflected over the bar. 

Kemp had been everywhere in the first half and was on hand to open the scoring in the 26th minute. Austin beautifully dinked the ball over the Grimsby back line and found Kemp who struck the ball home making it 1-0 Swindon. The ball bounced in front of him before he struck from outside the area. 

Kemp celebrates the opener (Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

Grimsby would get their first chance of the half when Arthur Gnahoua forced Murphy Mahoney into action for the first time, he could only parry the strike but gathered the ball quickly. 

Abo Eisa had been Grimsby's danger man this season and showed why by breaking through the Swindon defence, Tom Brewitt was on hand to block his cut back but the ball fell to Dan Rose who forced Mahoney into a great save from close range.

Halftime would come and bring an end to the half that saw constant back-and-forth football, Swindon finding the opener but Grimsby going close a few times at the end of the half.  

Second Half:

The first big chance of the second half fell to the visitors and somehow it remained 1-0. Tariq Uwakwe misplaced a pass, Gnahoua intercepted and his cross fell to no one but Hutton messed up a clearance with the ball falling on a plate for Rose, but somehow Mahoney scrambled to make an incredible save from what was a certain goal. 

It had been a tense half and Michael Flynn looked to the bench to find a second, bringing on Tyrese Shade and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy for Uwakwe and Young. 

Frazer Blake-Tracey brought down Eisa who looked to be running clean through on goal, the centre-back picked up a yellow that could have been a red. 

The search for a second would come to an end through Jake Cain, Kemp was the provider this time picking out Cain who had made a run through the Grimsby back line he then lifted the ball past Jake Eastwood and made it 2-0 Swindon. 

Jake Cain wheels away in celebration. (Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

Grimsby had an immediate response, Rose found Donavon Wilson had only been on the pitch for a minute but he managed to wriggle into space in the box before slotting into the net making it 2-1.

Swindon almost had an immediate response to Grimsby’s immediate response, Hepburn-Murphy broke into the box and had his shirt nearly taken from his back before then being taken down to the ground. It looked like a slam dunk penalty, but somehow the referee wasn’t interested. 

Shade had the chance to restore Swindon's two-goal lead, Kemp was the provider again;  there was the question of whether the ball went out of play but he carried on and his ball into the box found Shade at the back post who had a tap in but his shot was deflected off of the keeper back onto his head and then wide. 

The final ten minutes saw Grimsby desperately scrambling for the ball to find the equaliser but Swindon were just looking to see the game out with a win. 

Saidou Kahn had a chance deep into injury time but his effort was just wide, he would pick up a booking not long after as Swindon continued to not allow Grimsby any of the ball in the final moments. 

The referee would bring the game to a close and secure a hard-fought three points for Swindon who continue their unbeaten start to the season. 

Summary:

Following Notts County's loss today means that Swindon move just one point off the top of the table with a game in hand. 

The game was close throughout with both sides creating plenty of opportunities, but it was the ever-present Dan Kemp and Jake Cain who sealed the three points. Donavon Wilson gave Grimsby hope of a comeback, but the rigid Swindon midfield and defence kept them at bay and the unbeaten run continues.