Cod Almighty | Diary
Black and White For You
31 March 2022
Morning Mariners!
Over on that Twitter, occasional Cod Almighty contributor Lloyd Griffith is asking for 15-16 season nostalgia in advance of the forthcoming McKeown/Pearson/Disley event at Docks Beers this Saturday. For me, the opening day Kidderminster trip with an inflatable aquarium away end, the other Nathan Arnold goal (at home to Gateshead), and that Orphan Boy tune accompanied by Lloyd's er...unique dancing in the video.
Back to the present day. Nine games left in the regular (non)league season, and things are delicately poised: four against fellow play-off/title contenders; five not. We could win ALL NINE remaining games and theoretically not reach the play-offs, given Boreham Wood's games in hand. But unlikely. I mean, BHW haven't won in their last five, let alone us going on a crazed winning streak....Naturally, we want to win all nine, but three wins and one draw brings more points than nine draws. Crikey, that sounds like I've been infected with a Hurst-esque soundbite. Sod it, let's attack, attack, attack, win the next three and see where that leaves us!
A couple of weeks back, I pondered how many sides could win the title (three) and labelled the top 12 as play-off contenders. Since then, Southend have drifted away a bit, so I'll say now that 11 sides remain; everyone from Torquay upwards as it stands. Just 16 of the 23 play this weekend, with Stockport, Wrexham, Dagenham, Bromley and Torquay among those NOT active. The Mariners' trip to Chesterfield thus sees us travel to the highest-ranking non-league side in action this weekend. I shall be there, for just my second away trip of the season (I blame: geography, families, work, the apathy mentioned below).
With the return to action of Jordan Maguire-Drew, multiple acquisitions also strengthening the squad (Messrs. Cropper, Holohan and Jones (J)), squad numbers are looking positive. We should get an indication of some team news later today or early tomorrow. I'm not expecting much radical though. Will Efete be back? Will J Jones make the match day squad for the first team? Nice to have some options, though I fully expect a rather samey side to last Saturday's. Opposition team news? Nah, sorry. I confess to very limited Chesterfield knowledge, not unique, as I have a constant and severe apathy towards all other teams in this division.
Anyway, assuming I return here in a fortnight perhaps I'll be armed with more news, more inspiration, more memories in the making. At least let us hope another contender has fallen out of, er.. play-off contention. Ideally Bromley, more realistically Yeovil.
UTM