Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 14 February 2004

14 February 2004

Steve Livingstone and Paul Raven can rest assured in the knowledge that they left Grimsby for a bigger club after Carlisle United, sitting pretty at the very bottom of the Football League, draw a crowd almost twice the size of Town's. The Cumbrians' 1-1 draw with Hull is watched by 7,176 fans, while Mariners supporters display that famous old indomitable spirit and commitment to their club as 3,673 shuffle into Blundell Park for a 2-1 win over Brighton. A much altered Town side takes an early lead as debutant Isaiah Rankin converts a Darren Mansaram cross only for Trevor Benjamin to equalise on 18 minutes. Apparent midfield talisman Stacy Coldicott is taken off at half time but Phil Jevons, on as a 67th-minute substitute, barges Seagulls keeper Stuart Jones over the line for the winner - or gets to the ball first, depending on your point of view - with 15 minutes remaining. A last-minute fracas sees Aidan Davison sent off for an alleged headbutt but emergency replacement Des Hamilton is untroubled for the dying seconds. Other results keep Town in 20th place but the brown trouser margin is extended to four points. Paul Groves is not among the matchday 16; nor, interestingly, is Lee Thorpe.