Grimsby Town held in final Slovenia camp fixture
Grimsby Town finished their pre-season training camp in Slovenia with a 1-1 draw against Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk on Tuesday. The Mariners, who are 7th in England League Two with 78 points from 46 games, remain unbeaten in their last two outings after the stalemate.
What happened in the match?
The game ended all square after both teams traded goals in the second half. Grimsby struck first through a second-half strike, before Zorya equalised late on to deny the Mariners a winning finish to their camp. Manager Ian Holloway will now turn his attention to finalising his squad for the new season.
Why it matters for Grimsby
A draw against a side from Ukraine’s top flight provides useful competitive experience ahead of the League Two campaign. Grimsby have conceded 50 goals this season but sit with a +24 goal difference, showing resilience at both ends. Their recent form, however, has been shaky - they’ve taken just one win from their last five matches (0W-3D-2L).
The result leaves them nine points behind Bromley in the title race, with Holloway’s side needing to tighten up defensively if they’re to push for automatic promotion. Grimsby’s next step is to finalise their squad before the transfer window closes, with several deals still in the pipeline.
What comes next for the Mariners?
Holloway’s focus now shifts to the opening weeks of the new season. The Mariners kick off their League Two campaign on August 9 against Salford City - the same side they drew 2-2 with back in May. With 74 goals scored this season, Holloway will hope to keep the attacking momentum going while addressing defensive frailties. The transfer window remains open until August 31, and Grimsby are chasing a couple of late additions to bolster their options.
