Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 16 July 2003

16 July 2003

Originating in the north-east, hero-worshipped by Town fans, a bit inconsistent, and now injured more often than he's fit...with the news that he may miss the beginning of the new season, Alan Pouton is today confirmed as the new Clive Mendonca. The big bad Town midfielder hobbled out of yesterday's friendly against Lincoln after just 10 minutes with what looks like a recurrence of the knee trouble that forced him out of last season's run-in, explains today's Grimsby Telegraph. And with Simon Ford, John McDermott, Stacy Coldicott, Stuart Campbell, Phil Jevons, Mick Boulding and Darren Mansaram forced to sit out yesterday's game, the haste with which Town have brought in new players this summer is looking ever more expedient. "It's starting to highlight the depth of the squad," agrees Mr Paul Groves. "We need to strengthen it as much as we can." Ford may also miss the Plymouth game on 9 August.

As for the match itself, Town weathered strong first-half pressure from Lincoln to claim a third successive 1-0 friendly win with a goal on 52 minutes as Marcel Cas crossed for Matt O'Halloran, the Derby midfielder/forward in whom Groves denied an interest back in May. Maybe he was just down Meggies while the weather was nice and happened to overhear Paul and Graham discussing the injury situation.

Also among the trialists currently kicking their heels in the BP car park is Dave Savage, another young 'un not getting the chance at Charlton that he may get at Brigg this evening, where a further friendly will be contested by Town reserves, or given the number of reserves involved against Lincoln, by some sort of reserve/youth amalgam. McDermott and Campbell, though, are expected to play for half an hour, adds Town's official site, stretching a virtual hand towards the nearest wooden surface.