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Grimsby Town open League Two campaign with win over Exeter City

Harvey Rodgers scored the only goal as the Mariners claimed all three points at Blundell Park

[Action from Grimsby Town v Exeter City at Blundell Park on August 15, 2026]

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Action from Grimsby Town v Exeter City at Blundell Park on August 15, 2026(Image: Jon Corken)

Grimsby Town opened the 2026/27 League Two season with a 1-0 victory over Exeter City at home thanks to Harvey Rodgers first-half header.

Despite a flurry of chances late in the day at both ends, only Rodgers goal was there to separate the Mariners from their newly-relegated opponents in a close battle at Blundell Park.

Just one change was made to Towns first starting 11 of the league campaign from the Carabao Cup defeat to Blackpool last weekend, with Cian Doyle being the only summer arrival to start in place of Jamie Walker.

Joe Foulkes, Iwan Morgan and Josh Andrews remained on the bench, with the latest signing, Ryley Reynolds, also making the squad after joining on loan from Notts County on Friday.

Harvey Rodgers had an early sighter with his head as Charles Vernam whipped in a free-kick delivery from the left flank, with the ball looping just over the bar from the formers effort.

Rodgers then found Vernam with a switch of play from the opposite flank, allowing the latter to cut inside and get a shot away inside the box, but there was an Exeter defender in the way to block.

Exeters first big chance came 20 minutes in as Ed James got on the end of an inviting free-kick delivery from Reece Cole, with the attempt bouncing just wide with the thanks of a rooted Christy Pym.

There was not much for the goalkeepers to do in the opening half-hour, but Andy Cook asked the question of Jack Bycrofts alertness in the Exeter goal after the ball broke to him outside the area, firing a low shot down to Bycrofts right, which he stopped.

[The ball crosses the line to give Grimsby Town the lead]

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The ball crosses the line to give Grimsby Town the lead(Image: Jon Corken)

Town broke the deadlock soon after, with a well-placed corner delivery from Vernam landing on the head of Rodgers, whose header was deemed over the line before it was cleared away. Doyle put in the rebound, but the original effort was awarded the goal by the linesman.

Danger man Jayden Wareham had a quiet first half for the visitors, aside from a late opening as the ball was flicked on from a long throw, with the Exeter forward volleying over past a crowd of bodies.

Town were inches away from a second a few minutes into the second period as Vernams inswinging cross was headed closer to goal by Jake Doyle Hayes in an attempt to clear bouncing just wide of the far post for a corner.

Pym was tested properly for the first time when Exeter skipper Jack Fitzwater got on the end of a corner with the Mariners goalkeeper stretching to tip the ball over the bar.

Cook had a chance to run through shortly after as he nipped in to steal the ball from Vincente Harper on the halfway line, but the Exeter man had the speed advantage to recover and stop the former getting a shot away.

Amaluzor poked the ball wide after it fell to him in the box after a quick break down the left flank from Town, who were eager to gain a two-goal buffer in a tight contest.

Substitute Lakyle Samuel should have done better with his header at the back post as he ran free to meet a looping delivery, but he headed well over as Pym closed the angle.

Iwan Morgan was the next replacement to fluff his lines with what looked like a fairly simple header from a central position in the box as Jayden Sweeneys cross looped into his path.

He was then denied by a brilliant sliding block as the ball rolled to him just inside the area before Bycroft reacted well to stop a deflected effort from Jamie Walker.

Cameron McJannet then headed wide after the ball pinballed around the Exeter box, before Jayden Wareham fired over from close range under pressure in the last minute of normal time, as Town held on for the first three points on offer this season.

Starting line-up: Pym; Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney; Turi, Doyle (Morgan 68), Green (Walker 84); Amaluzor (Reynolds 68), Vernam, Cook (Andrews 74)

Unused subs: Auton, Foulkes, Brown

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