Grimsby Town clinch another home win with victory over MK Dons

Grimsby Town made it back-to-back home wins and extended their unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory against promotion-chasing MK Dons.

Justin Obikwu scored for the second time in as many games in the first half, and Town heroically preserved their narrow advantage after halftime to gain three more crucial points and another clean sheet in their League Two survival bid.

The Mariners had to deal with captain Danny Rose’s injury, which kept him out for only the fourth time this season. David Artell made two changes from the weekend, with Arthur Gnahoua and Abo Eisa replacing Jamie Andrews and the injured Rose.

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Justin Obikwu took the game’s opening shot, which was set up by a brilliantly-executed free-kick from Denver Hume that caught the MK Dons defenders off guard, but Michael Kelly saved well with his right boot to deny Obikwu.

The first 15 minutes of the game were spent primarily in the middle of the park, with neither team able to penetrate the opposing box in open play. Dan Kemp appeared to mishit his effort on the right side of the box, but it drifted past Harvey Cartwright and barely wide of the far post.

Stephen Wearne returned to Blundell Park as an MK Dons player after an unsuccessful spell with the Mariners last season, and his first real attacking involvement almost created a great opportunity, getting to the byline with the ball down the left and flashing the ball across goal just past two MK attackers.

There weren’t many chances for either team, but Obikwu took the key one in the 33rd minute. The Coventry City loanee scored his first professional goal on Saturday against Sutton United, and he doubled his Grimsby tally with the simplest of finishes after Eisa floated a cross from the right back across the six-yard box.

The Mariners gave up a lot of possession in the first 45 minutes, but once they were ahead, they were content to defend, and they were provided with a fantastic opportunity to increase their lead right before the break.

MK custodian Kelly was caught in possession by Eisa in his area and slid in quickly to try to reclaim the ball, but only got the man as the referee pointed to the spot. Kelly escaped the harshest punishment, much to the chagrin of the home crowd, and then redeemed himself by stopping Holohan’s penalty, failing to stay on his feet to make a routine save as the Grimsby midfielder went right down the barrel.

Town went deep into a defensive stance to begin the second half, with the visitors continuing to control possession and territory, allowing no respite. Kemp’s first serious chance after the interval was thwarted ten minutes in by some last-ditch goal-line defending.

The counter was on for Town if they could get the first pass out correctly, but MK were doing an excellent job of closing the channels and preventing quick out-balls. Town’s defence was panicky at times, especially when they won the ball back in and around their box, but it was enough to keep the visitors at bay despite having all of the possession.

The Grimsby forwards were feeding off scraps in the second half, but as the game entered the final ten minutes, there was a great opportunity for substitute Harry Wood to latch onto the loose ball after Rekeil Pyke’s shot was blocked by Warren O’Hara, with the former hitting the base of the left post with his strike.

Fortunately for Town, a second goal was not required in the end, with another strong defensive performance clinching the victory and moving the club closer to EFL safety.

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