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Diary - Wednesday 27 July 2011

27 July 2011

Your Guest Diarist has drawn the short straw to stand in for the original Mr Diary today, who is out and about singing the praises of the Mariners to whoever will listen. I couldn't afford the petrol to get to that Winterton game last night but the folk who went were as dismissive as they usually are about the team performance. Town won 3-1, dominating but without making enough clear-cut chances, I'm told.

And as for debutant Elding, well, he was outshone by the busy Hearn and the master of the unexpected Mr Makofo, whose pre-season is going well. In terms of rampaging solo efforts anyway. Defenders just don't seem to have a clue what he will do next. And neither, I suspect, do his teammates. Serge the surge. But come on, give Elding a chance - his pre-season has been in fits and starts, I suspect, and he needs a couple of weeks to get fitter and get to know the squad.

One of the managers has reminded the squad and the Town fans via the Telegraph that neither starting team nor preferred formation are anywhere near settled yet. And I view that assertion positively - we've got new players, old players, in the-process-of-a-comeback players and young lads trying to break through. The managers are right to give every player a bit of a chance, especially as there are relatively few of them who we can our hang our hats on as nailed-on certainties to get picked. Hang on, sorry, I think I just accidentally nailed my hat by accident. Damn.

So, another friendly match tonight away against Barton Town Old Boys, whose website has very good directions to find the place. The superb new official website claims that the only injured person is McKeown and that a strong side will turn out. Barton lost 2-0 "to a strong Lincoln side" last week, you will note. The quiet manager says they have been working on a few things in training this week. In order to "get the ball in to the right areas", I expect.

I've run out of news now, gentle reader, so let's waste time together thinking about the plight of Straight Peter Bore, who has been spurned by Bournemouth this week. The six-foot clubless heterosexual is leaving it late to find a club. Whether he has knocked on the door of neighbours Bournemouth Poppies, who play in the Wessex League, seems unlikely. Bournemouth doesn't really have a 'scene' unless you can play afternoon Scrabble or like tea dances. Aah, but Alan Connell must have told Peter that 'Bourney is a top place' and worth a 600-mile round trip. And Bore's polite interview with the local rag down there proves it. Folk who delight in weird footballer names should definitely read to the bottom of that last article, by the way. Jordace Holder-Spooner. You couldn't make it up could you? See yer.