Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 28 September 2005

28 September 2005

"I don't believe you... you're a liar!" Now was that Robert Zimmerman at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, or was it most of Blundell Park to the referee's assistant who ran the line in front of the Findus during last night's first half? Either way, the bizarre disallowing of Martin Gritton's 'goal' ("Oh! You mean I have to put this flag thing up if it's offside? Right!") ended up a mere footnote in the Mariners' four-nil romp over one-time divisional pacesetters Notts County, with a pleasing first goal for Gary Cohen and another long-range jaw-dropper from Jean-Paul etc etc doubling the half-time lead established by Gritton and all-action hero Rob Jones. Early on County's pace up front had looked likely to cause Town a bit of trouble, but it was all over for the visitors from the moment Jones opened the scoring, and between then and half time in particular the 'Pies were pummelled into pastry crumbs by some of the most vibrant attacking football seen at BP for a good while. With second-placed Wycombe - who visit Cleethorpes a week on Friday - also winning heavily, the Mariners remain two points clear atop the fourth division on 23.

"Only 4 against 10 men," writes Loughborough Mariner in an email to the Diary. "Boooo Slades out! Now!" One assumes LM is taking an ironic potshot at Sorted It's erstwhile detractors, but Loughborough can have curious effects on workings of the human mind.

Tickets are on sale for Sir John McDermott's second testimonial or fund-raiser or party night or tribute event, whatever you want to call it, against Hull next Monday. Town's official website today starmaps the galaxy of stellar names from GTFC history who, it is hoped, will make some sort of appearance, including much of the 1998 Wembley teams as well as the revered likes of Clive Mendonca, Paul Futcher and the Italian stallion Ivano Bonetti. Lock up your hotel chambermaids.

Finally today, a Diary competition (courtesy of Séan Carr). If you can guess which spectator in the picture above is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur then you are not as daft as Andy Reid was made to look by John McDermott.