The era of Thursday Night Football is upon us as Town travel to Forest Green Rovers for a Premiersportstv TV treat. Come ye merry mariners there is much to enjoy. Gather ye to at Mcmenemey`s or share the £6.99 fee on Channel 433.
Ten goal Connell is walking tall for the Mariners and eager to show Bournemouth the error of their ways. FGR, many could argue are just pleased to be here after financial woes at Salisbury granted them a last minute relegation reprieve.
Creepy Crawley may appear to be running away with it but the Mighty Mariners, men of the sea by birthright, look as if we are at last coming to grips with the blue square and beyond. Steve Evens best remember the world be round not flat, so he best beware of things coming back to bite him with a tackle from behind that makes de Jong look positively Christian.
Oh ye ho ye spread the word for the Town are coming and Connell the less than barbarian has a killer touch few can fail to appreciate. Who knows a good look at Grimsby a crew on a mission to mount a Blundell Bounceback, could well stoke up the passion that all good Grimbarians have this last millennia shared.
Vital Quotes:
An audio link from BBC Radio Humberside for Neil Woods pre match pearls is HERE
Forest Green Rovers Team News:
—————–38 O’Donnell————–
19 Wood 5 Kempson 6 Garner 3 Ridley
2 Bore 8 Cummins 28 Wright 29 Eagle
———-18 Carlton 17 Connell———
Player to watch: Cod King Connell the Conqueror
With 9 goals in 8 games Connell the Conqueror is on a vein of form that gets better and better after a brace last time out. The consummate striker is prepared to chance his luck from anywhere with the quality suggesting his aim is as true as a contract killer.
Grimsby Town Team News:
—————————-1 James Bittner (G)—————————-
20 Gavin Caines 2 Jared Hodgkiss 5 Luke Jones 26 Chris Flood
——-8 Michael Fowler 16 Lee Fowler 23 Curtis McDonald ——-
———-25 Ben Watson 9 Reece Styche 18 James Norwood ——-
Subs
21 Zak Jones (G) 14 James Baldwin (D) 22 Jamie Grimes (D) 4 Ian Herring (M) 17 Jon Else (M)
Player to watch: Free Spirit Fowler
Lee Fowler is the livewire in the FGR ranks who makes them tick. Yan Klukowski and Reece Styche may be the leading scorers with 3 apiece but with 5 assists and three yellows he knows how to put himself about.
Match Facts & Stats
Grimsby Heroes & Villains
Home Record 5th
Away record 8th
Overall 9th
Biggest Home Win 2-0 Luton Town, 2-0 Newport County
Biggest Away Win Crawley Town 0-1, Darlington 0-1
Heaviest Home Defeat 1-2 Hayes & Yeading, 1-2 Fleetwood Town
Heaviest Away Defeat Rushden & Diamonds 4-1
Highest Score Rushden & Diamonds 4-1
Goal Machines
10Alan Connell
2 Steven Watt
1 Peacock, Cummins, Hudson, Bore
Assists
Peacock 3
Eagle 2
Gobern 1
Hudson 1
Keepers Corner
Kenny Arthur
Games 5 Saves 17 Clean sheets 3
Richard O’Donnell
Games 6 Saves 26 Clean sheets 3
Steve Croudson
Games 1 Saves 7 Clean sheets 0
Yellow Cards
4 Steven Watt,
4 Eagle
3 Gobern
2 Hudson, Kempson
1 Cummins, Connell, Coulson, Ridley, Bore
Red cards
Kempson
Ker-Ching
Highest Gate 5037 York City
Lowest Gate 2532 Histon
Average Attendance 3470
Total Turnstile Clicks 20820
FGR’s Form
Home Record 22
Away Record 21
Overall 23
Biggest Home Win 3-0 Wrexham
Biggest Away Win Hayes & Yeading 3-4
Heaviest Home Defeat 0-2 Kettering Town
Heaviest Away Defeat Darlington 3-0, Barrow 3-0
Highest Aggregate Score Hayes & Yeading 3-4, 3-4 Eastbourne Borough
Heroes & Villains
Goals scorers
Yan Klukowski 3
Reece Styche 3
Ian Herring 1
Gavin Caines 1
Curtis McDonald 1
Luke Jones 1
Keeper Corner
James Bittner
Games 13 Saves 68 Clean Sheets 3
Assists
Lee Fowler 5
Lee Smith 2
Reece Styche 1
Yellow Cards
Reece Styche 6
Ian Herring 3
Curtis McDonald 3
James Norwood 3
Michael Fowler 3
Lee Fowler 3
Red Cards
James Norwood 1
Lee Fowler 1
Scott Bartlett 1
Gavin Caines 1
Ker – Ching.
Highest Gate 1464 Bath
Lowest Gate 709 Eastbourne Borough
Average Attendance 1019
Total Turnstile Clicks 6114
Match Prediction:
Having come through choppy waters the tide appears to have changed for Woods and what on paper now looks a complete side. Carlton and Wright have added what was missing to a classy attacking side. 4-1 Town tonight. I await the cannon ball amidships with relish.
