Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 4 December 2002

4 December 2002

Neil Woods' GTFC youth team can hold their heads up high today after a battling display against their Chelsea counterparts in the FA Youth Cup last night. The closely fought fourth round tie was decided by one goal from the southern kids early in the second half, resulting from an error by Town keeper Paul Fraser. But a good crowd of around 500 - including scouts from Nottingham Forest, Birmingham and others - was impressed by several of the Mariners' young prospects. (Thanks from the Diary to Keith Collins for his account of the game.)

One rung higher on the wobbly ladder of footballing progress, the reserves have this afternoon won away against a strong Notts County side featuring former Town target Darren Caskey, with a first-half strike from Chris Thompson being enough to separate the sides. Defender Steve Chettle - hoping to defy the overly doomy prognosis given in yesterday's Diary and continue the fightback against his terrible back injury - played 60 minutes of the match.

The Mariners' duo of Premiership loanees, John Oster and Jason Gavin, have both signed for another month, definitely definitely, according to Town's official site. One game Gavin won't feature in, however, is the FA Cup third round match on 4 January, as his club Middlesbrough don't want him cup-tied. This is not an issue John Oster and Sunderland will have to consider, at least for the moment, as the magic winger's new loan expires on 2 January.

And finally today, the Diary would like to wish its mum a very happy birthday.