Grimsby Town produced a spirited second-half comeback to secure a 2-2 draw away at Cheltenham Town on Saturday, extending their unbeaten start to the League Two campaign. David Artell's side found themselves two goals down at the break but fought back with strikes from substitutes Mark Shelton and Kieran Green to claim a point.
This result leaves Grimsby 11th in the League Two table with six points from four games, having won one and drawn three. Their recent form reads DDDW, and they have scored five goals while conceding four, giving them a +1 goal difference. The draw also means they remain three points behind early leaders Bristol Rovers in the title race.
How did Grimsby Town stage their comeback?
The first half belonged to the hosts. Cheltenham's Charlie McCann opened the scoring in the 12th minute, finishing off a move assisted by Jake Evans. The home side doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 41st minute after an incident involving Cameron McJannet, with Andreas Weimann converting past David Harrington. Grimsby manager David Artell responded with a half-time substitution, introducing new signing Mark Shelton for his debut.
Shelton made an immediate impact, scoring just two minutes into the second half. Harvey Rodgers provided the assist for the midfielder's debut goal, injecting belief into the Mariners. Grimsby continued to press and found their equaliser in the 82nd minute. Jayden Sweeney delivered a corner that was met by the head of Kieran Green, sealing a hard-earned point on the road. You can review the full squad contributions on our squad page.
What does this mean for Grimsby's season start?
This match was Grimsby's fourth successive draw, a run that shows both their resilience and a need for greater cutting edge. Preserving an unbeaten record through the opening fixtures provides a solid platform, but converting draws into wins will be the next challenge for Artell's team. The comeback showed the squad's depth and fighting spirit, particularly through the contributions of players introduced from the bench.
The point keeps Grimsby firmly in mid-table, and their defensive record of just four goals conceded is a positive foundation. Their next opportunity to climb the standings comes in their upcoming fixture, which you can find on our fixtures schedule. The current league standings show a tightly packed division where a couple of victories can propel a team up the table rapidly.
Who were the key performers for Grimsby?
Mark Shelton's debut could hardly have gone better. Coming on at half-time, he scored a vital goal that changed the momentum of the game. His introduction was a tactical move by Artell that paid significant dividends. Fellow substitute Kieran Green also delivered, scoring the important late header to complete the comeback.
In defence, Harvey Rodgers provided the assist for Shelton's goal, while Jayden Sweeney's delivery from set-pieces proved decisive for the equaliser. The team showed character to recover from a difficult first-half performance, a trait that will serve them well throughout a long season. For more detailed individual contributions, our stats page offers a breakdown.
The match report was supplied by PA Media and published by the BBC. Grimsby Town's next League Two fixture is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th, 2026.
