Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 17 April 2004

17 April 2004

Town decide to distinguish this season's relegation from last by doing that whole keeping your hopes alive a bit longer thing, though it takes a late penalty to break the deadlock against a defence-minded Rushden side. This afternoon's visitors to Blundell Park, who had taken only one point from their previous six games, manage to keep the Mariners at bay until the 80th minute, despite the return of Isaiah Rankin, when a challenge on Stuart Campbell by Diamonds player-manager Barry Hunter (or, if you're Town's official website, Rodney Jack) results in a spot-kick, duly despatched by Phil Jevons for his first goal in 10 appearances. Chesterfield and Stockport claim unlikely points with 1-1s at Port Vale and QPR respectively, while rubbish Barnsley roll over at home for Brentford, whose resurgent form under Martin Allen looks like preserving their second division status. Rushden are now right down in the brown stuff, level on 48 points with Stockport and Peterborough: one ahead of Town, who remain in the final relegation slot at 21st place.

Down in the dungeon Hull somehow contrive to postpone their promotion party by stuttering to a poor draw at Macclesfield, while Lincoln maintain their charge to join the Tigers in the automatic slots with a 2-0 win at Carlisle. Boston's decent run of form comes to an end as Mansfield run out 2-1 victors at York Street, while the re-Lawsed Scunny hilariously go down 3-2 against nine-man Huddersfield after leading with just three minutes of normal time to play; and despite a favour from Lee Nogan, who puts through his own net to instigate York's 2-0 home defeat by Cheltenham, the Iron remain just three points above the Conference trapdoor. C'mon guys - hang in there and guarantee Town one genuine derby match next season...

That's all for another week with the Diary; thanks for reading, and if you're after a bit of light relief from the woes of the Mariners then Mrs Diary and I can strongly recommend a visit to the flicks to see the excellent Shaun of the Dead. Rumours that the film gave Town's back four a chance to supplement their miserly incomes by moonlighting as background zombies are yet to be started.