Grimsby Town’s late-season resurgence continued in style on Friday night as they overcame Colchester United 2-1 at the JobServe Community Stadium, thanks to second-half goals from Kieran Green and Evan Khouri.
With both sides in direct competition for a play-off place, the stakes were high in Essex. After a quiet opening 45 minutes, the game exploded into life just seconds after the restart, setting the stage for a thrilling battle under the lights.
David Artell named an unchanged line-up from the win over Newport County, with Green once again deployed ahead of George McEachran and Khouri in midfield, while Jordan Wright retained his place in goal. The Mariners’ cohesion was evident from the off, even if chances were limited early on.
Lightning Start After the Break
Grimsby wasted no time after the interval. Khouri latched onto a clever ball from Denver Hume and delivered a sharp pullback into the box, where Green beat Rob Hunt to the ball and stabbed home from close range.
The lead lasted just five minutes, as Owura Edwards came back to haunt his former club. Cutting in from the left, the Colchester winger bent a low shot beyond Wright to level the score. But that didn’t rattle the Mariners.
Town responded by going on the front foot, creating waves of pressure. Hume, Green, and Barrington all tested Colchester’s defence, while Wright stayed alert at the other end to deny Arthur Read’s dipping drive.
Then came the moment that changed the night. A wayward pass from Tom Flanagan was intercepted by Barrington, who drove forward before feeding Khouri. The young midfielder made no mistake, firing low into the corner past Matt Macey to restore Grimsby’s lead.
Late changes saw Jordan Davies, Curtis Thompson and Jayden Luker introduced to help shore up the result. Colchester threw bodies forward in added time, but Grimsby’s defensive resilience held firm.
Writer’s view
This was a proper away performance. Grimsby soaked up pressure, took their chances, and showed grit when it mattered. Green and Khouri’s impact in both midfield and the final third proved crucial, and the energy from the travelling supporters lifted the players.
With momentum now firmly on their side, the Mariners have timed their charge perfectly heading into the final month.
