The Season That Could Of Been Part 2

Part two, to Tom’s season review.

With four games to go I think every Town fan could finally start to see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Attention turned to the Bank Holiday Monday fixture away to Notts County who now had nothing to play for.

Upon departing Market Rasen and our house funnily enough, I decided that instead of putting the Grimsby scarf outside the right window like I usually do I opted instead for the left side – lucky omen and all that. Driving through Lincoln, Faths decided to pop into ASDA at North Hykeham in search of a replacement football – my auntie`s dog had sabotaged the other one.

As we parked up in the car park we witnessed the most mixed up chav you have ever seen, something even the J20 advert would be proud of. He was wearing routine chav wear, burberry hat, skanky polo shirt but then surprisingly denim jeans. I knew from here on in the day would be littered with surprises.

As we rejoined the A46 to Nottingham, we passed four Grimsby supporter coaches all looking in a buoyant mood, yes even the buses were up for this one. Black and white decorated the motorway and much of Nottingham as we arrived to the sound of the radio, “Goal! 92nd minute of the game could this be it, promotion to the Championship for Leicester City” It wasn`t to be as they also needed MK Dons not to do better than a draw, they did delaying Leicester`s promotion celebrations for another week. Back to the more pressing issue of ‘Notts County vs. Grimsby Town`, the atmosphere hit me as we drove past the Town fans milling around Meadow Lane chanting ‘Mariners!` everyone in high spirits, even Faths.

However my jubilant mood was quickly too turn to one of tension and anxiety. Chester City were playing away at Accrington Stanley, they kicked off at 1pm. The score every Grimsby supporter wanted to see was a defeat to Chester which in turn at least gives us a cushion going into our game. But as my phone loaded up BBC Football/League Two scores/ it spelled out panic – Accrington Stanley 0 – Chester City 1 (L). This meant that as it stood Chester were on 36 points leaving the Mariners trailing in their wake short of 2 points (34 points) all I could hope for was that Stanley would come back and at least clinch a draw.

On entering the Jimmy Sirrel stand at Meadow Lane I was greeted by an almost carnival like atmosphere, everybody in the black and white of Grimsby, some ancient faces all looking to get behind the lads this afternoon. Me and Faths found two seats, which if you ask any Town fan who went to the game, seats were very much like gold dust meaning that any latecomers almost 300 of them were forced to stand. The Notts County stewards honestly did not have a clue, there were more tickets sold than there were seats available. Once again Faths uttered words of wisdom, “It`s a complete farce”. It certainly was.
As the game kicked off the Town players looked shaky and looked second to every ball, maybe wandering minds were still focused on the Chester game. However it would now seem Grimsby would need a win if they were to regain 22nd position as a Chester win was confirmed. The main highlight of the first half had to be keeper Wayne Henderson`s outstanding performance in the Grimsby goal, pulling off a batch of saves which certainly destines him to better things. Newell had started with an incomprehensive 4-3-3 formation which forced left sided Hegarty in to a left centre midfield position and striker Proudlock on to the right wing where to say he looked uncomfortable was an understatement. Surely Akpa-Akpro would have been better suited to the wide position as he could then utilise his pace. After resisting extensive County attacks half time arrived giving Mike Newell a chance to regroup his players and mould a few minds. Due to overcrowding the half time kiosk stopped serving alcohol and the use of the toilets was limited. This resulted in a few Grimsby fans getting a little aggravated, nothing like what the police suggested.
As half time ended, voices were once again found among the Town faithful who bellowed out ever popular Mariners chants, I had that good feeling again.

The second half began with no changes made. Almost instantaneously keeper Henderson put under pressure by a powerful strike from County player Jamie Clapham. Then on 52 minutes, Peter Sweeney delivered a text book corner which was met by the head central defender Rob Atkinson. 1-0 Town back on track and the fans once more vocally present. As much as County tried to get back into the game all they could manage were a few off target long range efforts nothing near the quality they had showed in the first half. Grimsby looked ever more likely to score as Proudlock and Boshell both had efforts saved. A lacklustre Akpa-Akpro came off and was replaced by Adrian Forbes who gave Town an extra outlet. Then with 12 minutes to go on loan Conlon fed the ball through the defence, the linesman`s flag initially went up for Forbes who was in an offside position, however it was Danny Boshell who received the ball and placed the ball beyond County keeper Pilkington to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead and another 3 vital points towards League Two safety.
On the same day Bournemouth lost at home to eventual Coca Cola League Two Champions Brentford 1-0, thus meaning that the Mariners were now on level points with the Cherries (37 points) only above Town due to goal difference.

This seemed to once again put a spring in Town`s step towards League football safety. I spoke to ex- Grimsby player Dave Boylen on the Friday before the game, pitch side at Blundell Park. He told me, “We need to make our own luck, and we`re back here now after getting a crucial victory against Notts County. It`s important that we get off to a good start tomorrow as Bournemouth are playing Chester, we need to get in there and get stuck in”.

We did just that, however because I was still travelling to the game at around 3pm due to leaving work late so it meant I didn`t enter the ground until 3.05pm. I missed Conlon`s early goal by a minute. Nevertheless Faths and I took our seats in the Main stand. The added injection of confidence that the goal had brought to the team was evident in Town`s play. Newell had dropped the 4-3-3 that so nearly cost the team against Notts County and re-employed the staple formation of 4-4-2. Nathan Jarman a player who has come on leaps and bounds over the course of the season looked at his liveliest in the opening stages of the game answering critics who believe him to still have fitness troubles. He looked quick down the right side and put in a number of crosses which in turn troubled Vale keeper Martin.
With just over 19 minutes played in the first half Town won a corner, it was quickly cleared but only as far as Hegarty, who was able to play a low cross which ran all the way through to Jarman who met the ball on the half volley and directed it into the far corner beating the Vale keeper to put the scoreline at 2-0.

Grimsby continued to make more chances with Nick Hegarty in particular coming close towards the halfway point. The Mariners ended the half nearly one down when Paul Marshall shot only to see his effort go wide of the post and confirm Town`s lead going into the break. 2-0 (HT).
The two teams once again returned to the pitch with no changes made by both managers. Vale were put under pressure straight from the off when a corner came in from Hegarty, Conlon made a connection with the ball but his header was parried by Martin, yet relentless Conlon dispatched the loose ball to send the Mariners fans into raptures. 3-0.

Grimsby keeper Henderson was nowhere near as influential as he was in the previous game against Notts County, mainly because he had very little to do. The only decent chance for Port Vale came on the 66th minute when substitute Thompson drove a shot from just outside the area only to be routinely saved by the Preston loanee.
As the 90 minute mark approached Town`s strong defence ensured no chance of a Vale revival, whilst Hegarty down the other end saw his shot go high of the bar.
The game ended seeing the Mariners gain another three priceless points in front of another massive Blundell Park crowd (6,511). And also with Chester losing to Bournemouth it meant that Town could breathe easier now knowing that cash strapped Chester would have to win both of their last two games to give them any chance of staying up.

On the 25th April the Mariners travelled 250 miles south to Bournemouth accompanying them would be a following of over a 1000 Grimsby fans hoping to see their team wrap up League Two football for another season. Eyes were simultaneously fixed on Chester`s match against Aldershot, all we needed was for them to either lose or draw and then it wouldn`t matter what did, as we would be virtually safe.

Grimsby started with the 4-4-2 formation which deemed so successful against Port Vale, but this time with the attack force of Conlon and Akpa-Akpro, demoting Proudlock to the bench. Jarman was kept on the right side of midfield after he impressed in the previous home game getting on the score sheet on that occasion. Bournemouth`s League Two safety would also depend on this game as they were level on points with the Mariners, meaning that if Aldershot beat Chester at home both Bournemouth and Town would be safe regardless.

The first half was certainly a matter of nerves with both teams; many Town fans resorted to nail-biting as Bournemouth had not one but two penalty shouts turned down. It took a matter of 13 minutes for Town to break into their stride. A Peter Sweeney corner was swung in towards Barry Conlon who was able to get a head on goal but it was cleared off the line to no avail.

Danny Boshell then received his first yellow card of the match which would prove to be crucial, when he kicked the ball away after a free kick was given against him. The minutes later another significant yellow card was given to Grimsby left back Joe Widdowson on loan from West Ham, after it looked like he would be sent off for an alleged elbow on Bournemouth favourite Steve Fletcher. However after much deliberation between the officials a booking against Widdowson was the eventual outcome.

The game once again reflected the tension on the pitch as it looked ever more likely that Bournemouth would take the lead. News of other games was coming in thick and fast on mobiles and blackberry`s alike. The score currently stood at 1-1 in the Aldershot vs Chester game, as it stood Grimsby and Bournemouth would be safe.
As it looked likely that a score line of 0-0 would remain going into half time, Akpa-Akpro made a darting run down Bournemouth`s left side, he was able to float a cross in which was headed down by Conlon into the path of Jarman who headed home, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL! The Town faithful were simply in heaven.

Yet the first half was not over, minutes before the interval already booked Boshell made a late challenge on Molesley then preceded in what looked like punching the Bournemouth player, he was given his marching orders much to the dismay of the travelling fans. However the mood among fans was still very high and familiar chants carried on underneath the stand in what was certainly a party atmosphere with a few who had dressed up for the occasion.
To compensate for Boshell`s sending off Akpa-Akpro moved into a left sided position moving Hegarty into the centre midfield role with Sweeney. Town`s lead proved not to be very long lasting as within minutes of the game restarting Bournemouth were level after Liam Feeney smashed in the rebound after Danny Hollands` shot had hit the bar. Bournemouth kept the pressure firmly locked on the Mariners, not allowing anything to be created closing everything down.

However minutes before the hour mark Aldershot took a 2-1 lead against Chester making it look even more likely that Grimsby would now stay up. As the news filtered through to Dean Court, Grimsby fans danced in delight and made their voices ever more present. Shortly afterwards James Hunt came on in midfield to replace an exhausted Sweeney. Yet minutes later Grimsby fans were left feeling the tension once more as the news of a Chester equaliser came through. This prompted Bournemouth fans to further taunt some of the Town fans who needed no excuse to walk towards them. Police thankfully prevented anything breaking out and order was quickly re-established.
Then with only 10 minutes of the game left, Bournemouth fired themselves in front after Fletcher`s shot ripped into the roof of the net giving Henderson no chance.

The Mariners fans would spend the remainder of the game with their minds focused on the game at Aldershot. But with minutes to play Joe Widdowson was shown his second yellow card resulting in his sending off after he fouled Boshell`s initial target Molesley, the sending off was hotly debated come the final whistle. The match ended 2-1 confirming Bournemouth`s League Two safety for another season. The Aldershot vs Chester match ended 2-2, virtually saving the Mariners, as it would take a milestone victory for Chester in their last match to leap frog Town on goal difference.
With the Mariners now safe it was back to Blundell Park for the last game of the season against Macclesfield Town a team who had clinched League Two safety a few games prior to the fixture. The game didn`t really show its colours until the second half where Grimsby thoroughly dominated the affair and were unlucky not to eventually go on and win the game. The game ended 0-0.

Full time saw the annual unauthorised pitch invasion, a sea of black and white flooded the Blundell Park pitch, which in the same week saw dedicated groundsman Mike Phillips receive the award for the best pitch in League Two. After around 10 minutes of waiting, the Grimsby players re-emerged from the Main stand where Player of the Season Ryan Bennett received a well deserved applause for an outstanding season as the Mariners captain.

This season has been one which no Town fan really wanted, but it happened. Buckley was sacked at a crucial point in the season a time where teams are really finding their footing and rhythm. It must be remembered that it wasn`t until December we registered our first 3 points at home. Morale was low, myself included feared the worst. But Newell is a dedicated manager, who travels up and down the A1 each week just with the hope of bettering his squad. Attracting players such as Conlon, Sweeney and Proudlock was a massive step for the club and I hope we can hopefully hang onto Conlon and also Sweeney, (The word is that if Leeds go up he will be coming our way) fingers crossed we can do.

With incoming players you have to also consider individuals who may see the exit. A big question mark has to be placed on Nick Hegarty and Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro, both of these players have shown different qualities which has seen the Grimsby faithful sing their praises many times during the season. However I just cannot look past how lightweight Hegarty is and also how unpredictable and docile Akpro can be at times. A striker is needed, someone who will be able to feed off Conlon and score plenty of goals for us.

My recommendation is Ryan Lowe, he is equally adept to play as a striker and as a right winger, he`s bagged 16 goals for Chester this past season and it looks like they will let him go considering their financial position. My recommendation for a left winger points me in the direction of Lincoln City player Dany N`Guessan it is looking less likely every day that he won`t renew his contract and in terms of location he can`t live very far away he is certainly a player who I would like to see turn out for the Mariners next season. If not then maybe Kevin Ellison Chester City`s current left winger he has looked superb in the majority of their games this season, someone like him would really give us that balance we have always desired.

It is important we keep the same attitude we have in the team at present if we can we definitely have a major chance in my eyes of achieving promotion through the playoffs or if we really get off to a strong start automatic promotion. Wait a minute, bugger it there is no reason why we can`t be crowned champions of League Two next season. Get in there!

On an ending note congratulations must firstly go to the manager, players and the Chairman, however I feel the fans deserve a massive cheer for their efforts, getting behind the team home and away singing their hearts out for the lads. The passion will never be lost and I believe Mike Newell shares this same view. Here`s to a successful season next year. Up the Mariners!