Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Sunday 20 July 2003

20 July 2003

If Town's official website were my parents, I'd have become a pregnant teenage crack addict and hurled myself to my doom from Fuller Street footbridge. Because that is the sort of thing that happens when the trust of an impressionable young person is betrayed by authority figures and official websites; and after Mariners Net spent nearly two months energetically trailing yesterday's friendly against Sunderland with the teaser Oster to return to Blundell Park, the Black Cats duly took to the field with the former Town winger and babe magnet nowhere to be seen. Given King John's Premiership saintliness, the Diary suspects that the player was busy brokering a peace deal in the Middle East or inventing and distributing a cure for Aids free of charge throughout Africa; but this may come as scant consolation for those 3,168 fans who shelled out seven quid in the hope of setting eyes on the Great One and basking in His glorious radiance.

As for the match itself, Mick McCarthy's side clearly suffered from the absence of their Welsh wing talisman and saviour of humanity, struggling to a 1-1 draw in the face of an encouraging performance from the Mariners. After a first half spent very much under the black and white cosh, the visitors took the lead from a Michael Proctor penalty on 55 minutes following a foul by Andy Pettinger on Tore Andre Flo. Town levelled with a quarter of an hour to go as man of the match Iain Anderson headed his second pre-season goal to finish a superb counterattack involving Graham Hockless and Jonny Rowan. Portsmouth wing-back Jason Crowe, who had been training with the Mariners this week, was missing presumed hanging out with Oster, as was Disco Des Hamilton; while notable presentees were Paul Groves, playing 87 minutes in midfield, Marcel Cas at centre-back, Aidan Davison returning between the sticks for the first half and former Hull defender Michael Edwards, who must be on trial or summat.

Simon Ford could make the trip to Plymouth on 9 August after all. The somnambulent centre-back had, like Alan Pouton, become an early injury worry ahead of the new season, but is hoping to return to training next week.

Mixed news this weekend for former Town players hoping to find new clubs in the next couple of weeks. Talented young keeper Steve Croudson, recently on trial with York, has been passed over as the Minstermen seek a more experienced custodian; while Oxford United could prove themselves easily impressed by handing a contract to Tommy Widdrington, who failed to point the way to first division survival for the Mariners in 1997 and was recently released by Hartlepool. The downwardly mobile midfielder featured in a friendly for the Us earlier this week and is said to be in with a shout of rescuing his career among the dreaming spires. Where is the justice?