Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 27 March 2013

27 March 2013

It must have felt like a reserve game, up in Hartlepool last night, where the Mariners managed to draw 1-1 against Gateshead in front of 351 fans to collect their first league point in three weeks. Although it came with a much improved performance, it still exposed the frailties of a squad desperately lacking in confidence - and experience.

But the fact that such a youthful starting XI - which included midfield trio Dougie Wilson, Tom Naylor and Andi Thanoj in a 4-3-3 formation - did so well on a cold and soulless night against a team battling for survival is a reminder to all Town fans that there does exist a dormant talent within the squad. The problem seems to be getting it out of them on a consistent basis by blending it with the experience of Captain Disley and Derek Niven (when they're fit, of course).

The late equaliser from a debatable free kick led Shorty to say some things you'd normally expect to hear from Shouty in the post-match interview. However, the disappointment of the late goal apart, it sounded like the team put in a proper shift and your West Yorkshire Diary feels that there was enough in the match last night to suggest that Town are about to emerge from their miserable March form (due, in no small part, to the fact that March is about to end).

There was a lot of love for Radio Humberside's expert summariser for the night, Robbie Stockdale, who got to see his former youth product Dayle Southwell given a rare run-out.Just a quick word on Southwell, at this point - having played reserve team games all season just to prepare himself for the day he was given a first-team start, his wish finally came true on the day Town's first team played in front of a reserve team crowd. Not that I'm knocking those brilliant fans who somehow found the courage and finances to fund the trip to Hartlepool when the rest of us were either still brooding about Brodie or watching the England game on the telebox. Their efforts are to be commended, as always.

Ah yes, don't mention The Brodie - I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it! Does anyone else feel like his departure is a weight lifted from their shoulders? After all, the correlation between Brodie entering The Building and Town becoming rather shit to accommodate his unique style of play is undeniable. If I'm feeling relieved as a fan, then just imagine what the players feel like.

Perhaps Liam Hearn will play in today's reserve game against Port Vale at Blundell Park (2pm kick-off, free entry into the Main Stand) and become available for our busy run-in. Perhaps the counter-productive criticism of Lenell John-Lewis and (more recently) Marcus Marshall will cease and we can all be friends again and pull in the same direction. Perhaps it'll stop being so bloody cold. Perhaps.