Swindon's Louie Barry celebrates scoring his sides first goal with team-mates Swindon's Harry McKirdy and Swindon's Josh Davison and Swindon's Jonathan Williams during the match between Swindon Town and Forest Green Rovers at The County Ground Stadium , Swindon, on Tuesday the 26th of April 2022. The EFL League Two, Photo by Rob Noyes.
Grimsby Town were beaten despite a late fightback against Swindon Town at the County Ground.
The Mariners fell behind when Dan Kemp’s first-half strike opened the scoring for the high-flying hosts and although the visitors created chances to level the scores, they were dealt a further blow when Jake Cain made it 2-0 just after the hour.
That proved the catalyst for changes as Town boss Paul Hurst looked to his bench and within seconds of coming on, substitute Donovan Wilson registered his first goal for the club to halve the deficit.
The away side pushed forward in search of an equaliser but their pressure proved in vain as Swindon held on to claim the three points.
Grimsby manager Paul Hurst made five changes to his team following the home defeat by Crawley last time out. Luke Waterfall, Alex Hunt, Jamie Andrews, Arthur Gnahoua and the fit-again Danny Rose all came in as Kamil Conteh missed out through suspension and Anthony Glennon, Gavan Holohan, Otis Khan and Rekeil Pyke all moved to the bench.
Jake Eastwood started in goal, with Toby Mullarkey, Harvey Rodgers, Waterfall and Michee Efete forming the defence. Hunt and Andrews joined Gnahoua, Harry Clifton and Abo Eisa in a new-look midfield, with Rose leading the attack.
Glennon, Holohan, Khan and Pyke were joined as substitutes by Danny Amos, Harvey Cartwright and Wilson.
Swindon started the day fifth in Sky Bet League Two and knowing a win could take them into the automatic promotion places, while the Mariners sat six points adrift of their hosts and were aiming to make progress from 17th in the table.
Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin would aim to be among the main threats as he linked up with top-scorer Jake Young in the home attack.
An early cross from Tariq Uwakwe went out for a throw-in, before Town’s first forward move saw Rose win the ball and find Clifton, who made his way into the penalty area before being stopped.
Austin hit the post with a header after meeting a ball into the box from Remeao Hutton, although the flag had gone up for offside against the striker.
In an end-to-end opening to the contest, Eisa won the first corner of the afternoon for the Mariners and it quickly led to another. This time, Hunt swung the ball in towards the far post and it was headed behind for a third consecutive flag-kick, which was cleared.
Mullarkey turned inside the box and sent a low ball across the six-yard line but it was gathered by Swindon keeper Murphy Mahoney, before Clifton was penalised for a foul on Saidou Khan as Town looked to launch an attack from near the halfway line.
Waterfall had to concede a corner to cut a Young cross out but the centre-back was also in the right place to head Cain’s delivery from the left flag clear.
Another home corner followed on 17 minutes but the ball from it was punched away from danger by Eastwood.
The Swindon pressure was building though and with the 20-minute mark approaching, the game was mostly being played inside the Town half.
The away side had an opportunity to cause problems of their own when Efete was brought down by Austin in the centre of the pitch, although Waterfall could only head Andrews’ free kick through to Mahoney.
A cross from Mullarkey on the right was missed by Rose, Clifton and Eisa at one end, before a great block by Rodgers took a strike by Young away from goal for a corner at the other, with both teams looking for a way to break the deadlock.
The opening goal arrived on 26 minutes and it was the hosts who took the lead. Austin clipped the ball through the middle for KEMP, who had plenty of space to control it, pick his spot and beat Eastwood with a low strike from 20 yards.
Swindon kept the pressure on as they immediately looked to add to their lead, with Town forced to do more defending in and around their own penalty area including a brilliant Rose block from a powerful shot by Kemp.
Gnahoua called Mahoney into action when he let fly from 25 yards after a run through the middle, with the keeper diving to stop the shot.
Mullarkey was spoken to by the referee after a foul on Khan, then a shot by Udoka Godwin-Malife was blocked by Rodgers. The resulting corner was hooked clear by Hunt.
The Mariners had two chances in quick succession to get themselves level on 36 minutes. Hunt played a great ball to Eisa on the left and when his initial strike was blocked, he found Clifton but the midfielder was denied by Mahoney from close range.
Another attempt by Clifton was blocked at the edge of the box as Town continued to show positive signs, although Swindon were still causing problems and a Hutton cross had to be headed behind for a corner, which was dealt with.
One added minute was played at the end of the first half and with no further chances coming for either side, Grimsby went into the dressing rooms a goal down at the interval.
