Match Preview | Grimsby Borough (H)
Halesowen return to The Grove after four successive away games as they look for progression in the FA Cup and a home tie against Aveley in the next round
Head to Head
Grimsby Borough were founded in 2003, and due to the latter and geographical differences between the two clubs. There has never been a game between the two sides, other than the one at the weekend.
Oppostition Preview
Just like the Stratford replay, I apologise for slightly repeating myself with this preview. Let’s re-run through each position of Grimsby Borough and who is most likely to start for our opponents + who there key men are. In goal, Liam Higton was their first choice in the league, starting five games, but he left to join step 6 Brigg Town last Friday. In his absence Dec Dennis has started the most recent league and FA Trophy game, but it was Grimsby Town loanee Seb Auton who started against us on Saturday. Ahead of Auton or Dennis, Alfie Taylor and Tom Sawyer have started five of Grimsby’s six league games, as well as the game on Saturday, but Sawyer went off injured 12 minutes into the contest and is more than likely out for today. Instead of him, Taylor will most likely start alongside Callum Lovett, who has started the four league games this season. In the fullback spots, the starting left sided defender has been Tom Jamieson, whose featured in five league games, but he was absent on Saturday, and instead Brad Wood featured in his place, just his fourth appearance of the campaign. On the right side of the backline, Sam Topliss has featured in five league games and has scored once, and came on as first half substitute on Saturday, while Paul Walker who has featured off the bench twice, started on Saturday but seemed to be playing at centre half at times. The Borough midfield has many options. Defensive mid Alex Flett was sent off at the weekend, but his suspension will not kick in for a week, so expect their captain to start. Jack Richardson is the only other player in the middle of the park whose featured in every league game, starting the four, and he played 70 minutes on Saturday. The duo of Josh Venney and Reece York have started four of their five league appearances, the former who played the whole game on Saturday, and the latter who scored. Arun Jones was absent against us at the weekend, but has featured off the bench four times in his five league appearances. The majority of Grimsby’s goals have come from the midfield, as only one of the frontmen has scored this season, Luis Adlard. The striker has featured in all six league games, starting three, and led the line on Saturday, while Charlie Burden-Whittleton has started in four of his six appearances, and Dayle Southwell has featured once off the bench. Both who were in the squad on Saturday, the former who was an unused substitute, and the latter who featured for 14 minutes. The two wide positions have been taken up by Brody Robertson (left) and Rio Molyneux (right). The former and latter have both started five league games, and it is Molyneux who has featured in every game, and got the assist for York’s goal at the weekend. The last of the 21 Borough to have featured so far in their league campaign, is Tom Rennerson, whose had two solitary appearances off the bench.
Statistical Insight
Grimsby Borough
- 5 of Grimsby Borough’s 8 league goals in the Northern Prem Div One East have come in the second half.
- Grimsby Borough are yet to have won two games in a row in all competitions, and their last game was a draw in the league at Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday.
- Grimsby Borough are the only side in the Northern Prem Div One East alongside Bridlington Town to have still not lost in all competitions.
- Grimsby Borough have the chance to go five home games unbeaten this weekend. The last time they reached the feat was in January 2023.
Halesowen
- Only Bishop’s Stortford & Harborough Town (9) and Spalding United (8) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 6.
- Only Bishop’s Stortford, Quorn & St Ives Town (3) have scored more goals this season in the Southern Premier Central in the 15 minute period after half-time than our 2 goals.
- Only Kettering Town (6) have won more points from losing positions this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 4.
- Only Harborough Town & Bishop’s Stortford (43), Quorn (36), Kettering Town (29), and Spalding United (27) have spent more days in the top 5 of the Southern Premier Central than our 14 Days (as of 20 Sept).