Cod Almighty | Diary

Five outfield players in long-sleeved shirts and five goals

28 November 2018

When given the opportunity to write a weekly missive, Thunderdiary chose a Wednesday, with part of the logic being there might be something to discuss after a midweek game.

Well, where to start? We've got Our Harry's first goal for his home-town club, beautifully constructed down the right and expertly steered into the corner. There's the Hand of Cod - a decision so laughable it makes up for all of the refereeing injustices through the years (there's the obvious (Joyce) but for me it will always be Brian Hill against Bolton in 1990). Five goals - all scored by different players in different circumstances - through balls, crosses, scrambles and penos. The ability to - again - come from behind against a top 10 team using a change of formation/tactics and a newly-found resilience. And let's not forget that five outfield players strutted their stuff wearing long-sleeved shirts.

It was a great evening and one that could fill the rest of the week's diaries. We are starting to see the beginnings of something special: some passing and movement (both their goals were breakaways after over-passing) and a real team ethic. Yet Jolley was apparently one game away from the sack. Heaven knows where that would have left Town.

The most impressive thing last night? A starting 11 with seven players 25 or under: an average age of 24.8. Jolley trusts youth, trusts the energy and innocence of players who are learning their trade. Young men who will make mistakes but are discovering the art of bouncing back.

We were desperate to see youth blooded during the Conference years. Too many prospects out on loan to Wilderness Town whilst nameless 30-somethings failed to make an impact against Guiseley. Hurst never trusted it and neither did Slade. His last team averaged 27.5 in age with 5 players over 30. Last night, one 30 something started. The 11 ending the game actually had a lower average age than the ones on the pitch at 7.45.

Last night was the fifth midweek league game of the season with three wins and one draw: nearly half our points gained with an evening kick off. It seems these youngsters can cope with staying up late.