Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 26 November 2005

26 November 2005

After their tremendous undefeated away run ended at Wycombe a week ago, Town display great bouncebackability to return to winning form on the road with a 3-2 victory at Oxford. Early in the second half the Mariners looked like the lost generation after Scott Fitzgerald equalised Andy Parkinson's early strike, but the game turned on the 58th-minute sending-off of Chris Hackett for a two-footed challenge on Parky. Shortly afterwards Paul Bolland put Town back in front with a peach from the edge of the box, and after Gary Cohen made it three from close range at the end of normal time, Steve Basham's late, late penalty was all in vain.

A good win at Carlisle puts Wycombe three points clear at the top, with the Mariners second on goal difference from Leyton Orient, who could only draw at Macclesfield. Town remain to the fourth division title race, then, as plain flour, salt, mixed spice, ground cinnamon, butter, dark brown sugar, black treacle, marmalade, vanilla essence, eggs, mixed dried fruits, chopped mixed peel, glacé cherries, almonds and brandy are to a Christmas cake: very much in the mix.