Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 20 September 2003

20 September 2003

A good debut from Town's late loan signing Iffy Onuora and an excellent one from his not quite as late counterpart Nick Daws play a significant role in a morale-boosting 4-0 victory over a very poor Chesterfield side. Another "was it an own goal?" controversy is sure to surround Stuart Campbell's scuffed first-half opener; while a second-half rout follows courtesy of a super postage-stamp finish from Graham Hockless, a short-range poke by the lively Marcel Cas, and a deflected drive off of wotsisname Edwards (it says here, but I thought it was Cas again). Campbell's goal is immediately soured by a punch-up between Darren Barnard and Tony Crane, who still looks crap, but the confidence that flows through the team after Hockless' strike results in some very sexy attacking football indeed. A pat on the back is due, meanwhile, to the Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes public, who have rallied round their team magnificently, resulting in an attendance that is only the third lowest in the division today.

Speaking of public, that is the way the Diary would like to thank Mark Stilton for his splendid short-notice job here yesterday; but seeing as I can't afford a full-page ad in the Times, this will have to do. Cheers Markie.

Amid all this excitement, one story you might have missed this weekend - and that's what I'm here for, after all - is Jake Sagare's return to English football with Halifax Town. Yes! The American flop is excited to have been given a second crack at Blighty with the Conference side, telling Halifax Today: "In England 2,000 fans can sound like 20,000 while in America 10,000 can sound like 2,000." Sagare's career with the Mariners comprised one first-team appearance, which may explain why he failed to add that in Grimsby and Cleethorpes a population of 120,000 only sounds like 4,000 on match days.

The Diary has also unearthed a week-old report on the Footymad network of generic unofficial websites suggesting that the career of former Town hero Wayne Burnett may be rescued by the Mariners' second division counterparts Luton. The once-worshipped playmaker looked to have kicked his last after unsuccessful spells last season with non-league Woking and Grays Athletic I think it was; but Burnett's former Blackburn teammate Mike Newell, who controversially became Hatters manager in the summer, has allegedly given him a trial. "Burnett played in Luton's reserve team over Stevenage this week [sic] and will hope to further impress in training," claims the site; but before hurrying to drink a toast you may care to note that another report is headlined "Barnard set for Welsh start". Could you pass the salt, please?