Cod Almighty | Match Stats

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Conference Premier

Grimsby Town 2 Thompson (28), Duffy (64)

Cambridge United 1 Wylde (30)

Attendance: 2616 (138 away fans)

Everything Town lacked in central midfield under Woods, Newell, Buckley (mk3) and the rest, Disley seems to provide. In particular, his willingness to drop deep and receive a pass from Kempson provided the foundation that Town's passing game was built upon. Hard work and sensible too.

Can't find the quote now, but one of them told John Tondeur after the game that his team had done quite well and Braintree was distant history. He also rather irritably admitted that Messrs Makofo and Duffy had quietly been removed from the transfer list at some point recently.

"I was told at some meeting that we're not supposed to talk about referees or criticise them so, as I can't find anything positive to say, I'd better not say anything."

Not bad, actually. Not bad. Town created a lot of chances, and mostly eschewed the big hoof in favour of passing sideways and then watching Serge Makofo run past two Cambridge players. He nearly always lost the ball once he'd run past them, but it got people excited. Defending set pieces, and covering the counterattack after Serge lost the ball, we still looked shaky as hell. But one thing at a time, eh.

Cambridge, the Ghost of Town's Christmas Future, showed little tonight to suggest a return to the Football League any time soon. That said, there were some stout individual performances, and after Dunk was dumped they were playing a containing game. So who knows? There's no Crawley this season, after all, which can only be a good thing in so many ways.

The crowd was down by a third on the opening home game against Fleetwood, but those who remained were mostly sipping from a goblet that was 50 per cent replenished.

Mr S Smith (Co Durham)
Not overwhelmingly consistent, and seemingly harsh to have banished poor Harrison Dunk. But people must expect harsh treatment if they insist on having surnames where their first names should be. Individual instances of whatever aside, Mr Smith Controlled The Game and deterred serious on-field violence in a way many of his colleagues at this level significantly do not. "If only we'd had him for the Fleetwood game," lamented many who were present. For that alone he deserves 7.8 out of 10.

We're only three points off the play-offs.

The defence rests.