Grimsby were determined to finally lay the ghosts of the previous failed promotion campaigns and once again assembled a very good squad. They bagged Omar Bogle from the division below after a couple of superbly prolific seasons for the former Birmingham trainee, while Andy Monkhouse and Richard Tait were added to bring in promotion-winning experience. It was not the best of starts from the team as they managed to get just two wins in the first seven games and lost to some average sides like Altrincham and Macclesfield. But they started to get their act together as time went on and became extremely hard to beat over the course of the season. Indeed, they were defeat by only Cheltenham in the ensuing 25 league games, a real testament of their supreme drive and genuine quality. Padraig Amond emerged as the star man of the team as the Irish striker was chipping in with lots of goals and developed a brilliant partnership with Bogle. The backbone in midfield was provided by the excellent Craig Disley and the emerging Craig Clay while Aristote Nsila and Josh Gowling formed a defensive partnership so good that it kept the excellent Shaun Pearson out of the side. A run of seven wins in eight games in December was especially impressive and moved the team into the realms of the top two. Amond was only getting better and better as he went on a run of 13 goals in 12 games in the autumn. But just when it looked like Grimsby will keep on pushing and maintain their strong form, they began to drop too many points to lesser sides. Boreham Wood, Halifax and Guiseley all took points off them in disappointing outcomes. The team as not was watertight as earlier in the season and the midfield struggled at times too. The poor results were made all the more frustrating by the team’s ability to pull off superb performances like in the win away at Forest Green. Grimsby were still holding some hope of belatedly entering the race for the top spot but their form hit the rocks in the final month of the season. They won barely one of the last six and entered the play-offs as a side low on momentum and burdened with their history of failure at this stage from previous seasons. Indeed, it seems like the game was up for them after Braintree got the better of them for a 1:0 away win in the first leg. But the Mariners refused to accept defeat and managed to bend their tie to their will in the second leg, scoring a penalty 15 minutes before the end to force extra time and then grab the winner. It set up a final against a strong Forest Green side. Yet Hurst’s side showed more desire and determination and secured a brilliant 3:1 win at Wembley that booked a return to the Football League after six long years. It is no more than they deserve for the way they have competed in recent season, always being at the forefront of the table. Moreover, their sheer consistency and determination in the past season needs to acclaimed, even if their football was not always the most eye-pleasing. There was still one more game left before the end of the season as Grimsby also booked a place in the FA Trophy final. Yet there was some disappointment there as lowly Halifax denied them the trophy with a gutsy 1:0 win against the odds.
