Cod Almighty | Diary

Right timing is in all things the most important measure

16 March 2015

Miss Guest Diary writes: I think we've probably all heard it said that great comedy is all about timing. In trying to discover where that saying originated, I have realised that experts in all walks of life consider good timing to be essential for just about anything to work out well. It certainly holds true for perceptions about football results.

After all, at 5pm on Saturday, what Chester fan wouldn't have been pleased with a 2-2 draw after being 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go, probably seeing the result almost as a victory. Conversely for Town fans, letting a two-goal advantage slip made it feel more like a loss. After the four-game winning streak which started with the amazing display at Barnet, having to settle for a point was galling. But would we have been more content with an away point at Chester if Saturday's game had followed the defeats against Forest Green and Bristol Rovers? See, it's all about timing.

The consensus from fans seems to be that the manager seriously erred in his timing of the switch from 4-4-2 to the defensive 4-1-4-1 formation when Palmer was substituted for Parslow in the 72nd minute. From being in control of the game and looking like they might score a third goal, Town resorted to lumping the ball out of defence and seeing it come straight back at them. The outcome was almost inevitable.

It's a pity that Hurst wasn't man enough to acknowledge any misjudgement in the post-match interview with John Tondeur. I am sure admitting a mistake so publicly must be uncomfortable, but it would have gained him a lot more respect than trying to claim that his tactical switch had actually prevented Town from losing. Nobody is buying that one.

Curiously, the match report I have just read in the Grimsby Telegraph fails to even mention the match-changing substitution. Simply an oversight or a conspiracy of silence? We await developments.

Has Town's chance of gaining automatic promotion gone? Cod Almighty's Tony Butcher seems to think so. But Town are still only five points behind the leaders with 24 points left to play for. If we can beat Eastleigh on Saturday and get at least a point at Dover next week, that would be a good start. So I haven't given up hope yet, and I hope the players haven't either.

Whoever has been organising the excellent themed support for away games really needs to sort out what's happening next. I have seen nothing suggested for Dover. Maybe simply managing to get there on a Tuesday night – I understand the ground is a good two miles uphill from the main railway station – is effort enough. But wellies at Welling? They wouldn't be very visible, and are a real challenge to walk far in. Come on, guys... you can do better than that. Welling are nicknamed the Wings: maybe something around a Biggles theme would work? Chocks away!