Cod Almighty | Diary

Alarmingly positive CA article - expect trouble

15 April 2014

Win tonight and Grimsby may need just two points from our last three games to make sure of a place in the play-offs. If we were to lose, the worst that could happen is that we would have a two-point advantage over both Gateshead and Braintree, with both needing to overhaul us to deny us a place in the top five. Our last three games are against teams who have two wins between them from their last five matches.

What exactly is the problem?

Our visitors tonight are Halifax, one of the form teams in the division? Excellent. It means they are bringing a large following, generating a good atmosphere and giving our players a decent test in an environment where a win would be nice but is not essential. Newport, remember, we trounced at the end of the regular season last year; it didn't help us in the play-off.

We might have to play our second leg semi-final away from home? That's no issue. Our away form is, if anything, more solid than our record at Blundell Park and the one thing we can be sure of this season is the ability of the Mariners' away support to out-sing any other group of fans in the Conference.

We might have to play Cambridge in the semi-final? Whoever turns out to be the best of the play-off contenders, we'll have to play them and beat them sooner or later to get promotion.

If it all goes wrong, it goes wrong, whether in the remains of the regular season, the play-off semi-final or at Wembley. Let's worry about that if it happens. Tonight has the makings of a great occasion. As usual, your Middle-Aged Diary won't be there, but tonight even more than most I really wish I could be. As my great aunt on Grimsby Road used to tell us as we set off for Blundell Park: "Give them a cheer from me."