Cod Almighty | Match Stats

Saturday 9 August 2008

Division 4

Grimsby Town 0

Rochdale 0

Attendance: 4213

Hunt and Heslop had a darn fine hour, clamping the dynamic Dalers superbly; LuluLlewellyn had moments; but the better part of the rickety rickshaw that is Town was in the defence. Rochdale had a few chances, but they came from breaks and ricochets, and mostly from distance. Hope and Heywood aren't fleet of foot, but know what to do and when to do it. It was their calm little graze headers when under pressure, facing their own goal, which were most comforting. It's got to be someone from the H-block; it could be anyone from the H-block; but it is Matt Heywood. A leader of men.

"We worked hard off the ball and we were hard to play against. We had to be like that against Rochdale who are very bright and have some good footballers. To keep a clean sheet against them is very satisfying."

"The only improvement we now need is in front of goal because I thought the performance merited more. If we were a bit more clinical in front of goal we should probably have won the game on chances created. In the second half their goalkeeper made one tremendous save and there were a few near misses, but we definitely made all the running -€“ most of the game was played in the Grimsby half."

Slick and quick, they'll score goals aplenty this year. Their central midfield was energetic and emphatic in tackling and their number 5, Patrick Kielty, or is it Clark Kent, eventually ran the game. Ah no, it's Clark Keltie. They pass, they move, they do it at speed, and will slaughter some teams away from home with their pace on the break. Given that it was against Town, it's hard to come to a conclusion about their defence, though it did look a little spaced out and prone to wobbling when pressed. They will be in the play-offs at least, if they carry on like that. The fact that they didn't score says a lot about us, rather than them.

Mr C Pawson (S Yorks)
Generally unfussy and exceedingly keen to let the game flow. He booked Stanton and Butler for an accumulation of nothings, and Hope for trying to rip the shorts off a little Daler as he was inelegantly turned on the halfway line. So nothing to rage against: he let the game be firm but fair, so he gets a fair but firm 7.7772.

I am, and so should you be. We have a defence! All hail the H-block.