The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Saltergate
Saltergate

Chesterfield v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 30/09/2009

TOWN travel to that there Derbyshire in the hope they can add to their improving away form and make it four games without defeat.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Chesterfield (a)


The lack of a killer instinct cost Town two points at the weekend as 10 men Darlington were able to prise a draw from the jaws of defeat. The fact Darlington were able to find so much space for their equaliser when Grimsby had one extra man on the pitch was just as infuriating as The Mariners quite believable ability to squander so many chances. On Wednesday night Newell’s men have a chance to vanquish those memories with a victory and good performance against a Chesterfield team who seem to have given up on their Grimsby Town tribute band they so proudly covet.

Overview

Their History

One of the oldest clubs in the Football League Chesterfield was formed in 1867 by Chesterfield Cricket Club of course, who had yet to discover the delights of 20/20 cricket. Originally formed as Chesterfield Municipals they moved to Saltergate in 1884 where they stay till this day. Rumours that Saltergate has yet to have been improved upon, cleaned, painted, checked or scrubbed since the opening day are obviously unfounded as it had to be painted for that film a few months ago. The crummyness of Saltergate aside Chesterfield have bobbled hitherto and back again in the lower leagues for years and of course I have to mention FA Cup, Elleray, Ball, line, over, awwww.

Last Season Was

Disappointing for the Spireites after splashing a bit of cash around Chesterfield were one of the favourites for promotion until a bad start with just 3 wins in 11, one of which was unsurprisingly against ourselves. After falling to 15th in October Chesterfield rallied and managed to stay comfortably a few places higher up and always threatened to snatch a play off place, that dream died a death on the penultimate day of the season with a defeat away to Accrington. Chesterfield managed to fill the huge loss left by talisman Jamie Ward who left for pastures new and well just better in January. Ward packed his bags and was last seen sprinting out of the town heading just down the road to the lovely city of steel which I'm sure the Spireite faithful don't mind one bit. That aside last season was deemed a failure and as such that lovely cock of a man Lee Richardson was kicked out of the front door which was most probably still sporting a Derby County sign above it which had yet to be removed after the filming had finished.

This Season Is

Starting out pretty much like the last. Even with £4million invested in the club for the year by chairman Dave Allen. Chesterfield only have a point more then ourselves and though undefeated at home the kings of the Spire have yet to win on their travels in the league collecting just one point away from Saltergate and amassing a goal difference of -8 already on the road. At home its story Chesterfield are undefeated with only a draw against Morecambe a blot on their copybook.

Their Ground Is

A beautiful reminder of days gone by, when men with flat caps gathered on terraces, with woodbines clinging to their worn fingers. The sound of mills echoing down in the valley and the distinctive smell of tobacco filled the air. Where men were men, women looked like men and children dare not speak for been hit with a shovel or a BETA video thing whatever the hell one of those is. Nevertheless this bastion of archaic football, the museum of a bygone age is nothing more then a decrepit cesspit, which makes Blundell Park look like the Palace of Versailles. And which will most likely blow down anytime soon when a wind over gale force ability hits the top of that windswept hill. Chesterfield know this most probably due to the fact that doors are held up by plastic guitar strings bought from Argos and will hopefully move to a new flat pack stadium any season soon or if they were Town sometime before those damn dirty apes takeover the world.

Famous Players

Steven Ogrizovic who despite what you might think because of the name was born just across the way in Mansfield shooting to notoriety in Coventry and holds the record for the most caps there, the keeper who also played for Liverpool started his career at Chesterfield in 1977 he retired in 2000! Another great keeper to graced Saltergate was a little known keeper called Gordon Banks who if memory serves me right made an alright save against a team who play in yellow and blue, think it was Torquay. Also to play for Chesterfield was good old Pineapple Head Jason Lee and many other former Mariners recently of course including Martin Gritton, Peter Till, Jack Lester and Paul Warhurst but you can keep him.

Key Player

I usually go for Jack Lester it seems certain one day he will score against us and it’s becoming slightly unnerving that he has yet to do it. I'm fully expecting some double hat trick performance where he manages to re-enact those great dives of yore to perfection winning countless penalties as we all look on in disbelief knowing we should have known better. He’s quick sharp got a cheeky grin and if only he was back here with Jevons as a fellow striker. So yes I'm going super Jack and the current feeling of doom growing in my stomach.

Recent Form

TownChesterfield
DDarlington(h)1-1
WTorquay(a)2-0
WHereford(h)1-0
LPort Vale(a)0-4
LAldershot(h)1-2
Currently 21st in League Two.
LBradford(a)0-3
WMacclesfield(h)4-1
LDagenham(a)1-2
LRotherham(a)1-3
WBurton (JPT)(a)5-1
Currently 24th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownChesterfield
Conlon3
Lowry6

Team News

TownChesterfield

  • Goalkeeper Nick Colgan will return for Grimsby after the departure of Josh Lillis to Scunthorpe.

  • Right back Robbie Stockdale (groin) will be missing for a further three weeks, which means Bradley Wood will continue in his place.

  • Midfielder Danny Boshell has returned to training following a hamstring injury.

  • Newell may well change his front two, after all the missed chances on Saturday. Danny North may well be dropped in favour of Conlon or Proudlock.
  • Ian Breckin and Drew Talbot are both missing through illness.

  • David Niven (leg), Alan Goodall (ankle) and Aaron Downes (knee) are all sidelined.
  • Squads

    TownChesterfield
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    4DFRyan Bennett (captain)
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jar man
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    25DFRobert Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GK Tommy Lee
    2 DF Phil Picken
    3 DF Gregor Robertson
    4 DF Jamie Lowry
    5 DF Robert Page
    6 DF Kevin Austin
    7 MF Mark Allott
    8 MF Derek Niven
    9 FW Martin Gritton
    10 MF Darren Currie
    11 MF Paul Harsley
    12 DF Alan Goodall
    14 FW Jack Lester
    15 DF Aaron Downes
    16 DF Ian Breckin
    17 MF Lloyd Kerry
    18 DF Danny Hall
    19 FW Scott Boden
    20 MF Dan Gray
    21 FW Jordan Bowery
    23 GK Mark Crossley
    24 FW Donal McDermott (on loan from Manchester City)
    25 FW Drew Talbot
    26 MF Wade Small

    Head to Head

    Town have a reasonable record against Chesterfield in recent years, although Chesterfield did the double over them last season.

    P 93 W39 D25 L29F148A121

    Head-to-Head (23rd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Chesterfield 2 Grimsby 1 (Wed 11th Mar 2009)

    The Mariners huffed and puffed but couldn't manage a point after going 2-0 down.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    Last season The Mariners came close to grabbing a deserved draw here and hopefully that will come to fruition on Wednesday a win on the other hand would catapult Town in to the heights of 12th!

    Chesterfield 1-1 Grimsby

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