Cod Almighty | Diary

In which we have a go at local news journalism

6 October 2016

Welcome to this afternoon's in-depth state-of-the-world analysis...

...of course not, but if Exeter's local rag can nick the Telegraph's interview with Paul Hurst from after the Hartlepool defeat, and dress it up as an "Opposition scouting report" then why shouldn't Middle-Aged Diary dress up whatever words I can get out after a work meeting spectacularly over-ran in any way I like?

The rest of the Express & Echo's headline – "Long way to go before Town are contenders" – is based on Hurst's own comments, rather than the informed view of an actual scout. Change 'Town' to 'Labour' or 'Corbyn' and it does make our manager sound remarkably like a backbench member of the Parliamentary Labour Party. If you are off to St James' Park on Saturday, watch out for Hurst arranging a press conference at half time to say we've no hope of beating Exeter unless the Mariners support immigration controls.

There was a midweek match against Leicester... 19 years ago when they were the League Cup rather than the league title holders. The team they brought was as strong as injuries would allow. Ian Marshall (their goalscorer), Tony Cottee, Robbie Savage (a better footballer than you might think) and goalkeeper Kasey Keller feature prominently in the highlights.

The match was broadcast on Radio 5. Even on the radio, the raucous atmosphere as Town turned a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 3-1 win was palpable. All three of our goals were scored by substitutes.

If we can find it in our hearts to at least give Scott McGarvey a hearing, then there is a generation of fans who owe Kevin Jobling a pint and an apology. There was a time in the late 80s when he was the scapegoat of choice. He was actually playing at right-back when he scored the equaliser against Leicester, and a very fine goal it was too. A run from well outside the penalty area, an exchange of passes, then the time and the calm to adjust his feet before sliding the ball past Keller into the bottom corner. If Lionel Messi had scored it, it would be all over YouTube.

The player we remember from that game, though, is Steve Livingstone. He was the least characteristic Alan Buckley signing it is possible to imagine; his main attribute was his physical presence and we set a club record transfer fee to sign him. Livingstone's introduction against Leicester meant a switch to 4-3-3. Buckley was rather more tactically flexible than his detractors – even than the great man himself – tend to remember. The football that second half mixed the usual triangles with uproar. If Jobling's goal was a small demonstration of pass and move, Livvo's goals were not.

In truth, he can't have known much about either. Our third came from a corner, when he deflected Peter Handyside's shot. The second was pure havoc. A ball pumped high into the area, Keller trying to punch it away but colliding only with his own defender and the ball looping down to strike Livvo's bum and roll towards the goal. Nor did the fun stop there. Jack Lester scampered after the ball to make sure it went in. He made no contact with the ball but he did make sure another Foxes defender was crunched against the post. It was a goal that counted treble. Not only did it put the Mariners in front, but it crocked two of our opponents.

You still get games like that today. But not if we let Shaun Harvey get his way.