Rushden v Grimsby Team News

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 30/10/2003

GRIMSBY Town head to Nene Park for the first time in their history to face Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday, hoping to continue their unbeaten run. However, with possibly two first choice defenders missing from their line-up, Paul Groves will have to shuffle his pack.

Centre back Tony Crane is suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards this season, earning him a one-match ban. Utility player Jason Crowe is expected to get the nod from Paul Groves as his replacement, depending on other absentees.

Wales international Darren Barnard is a doubt at left back after suffering a badly-bruised foot in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Barnsley at Oakwell. Although he has not trained all week, Barnard is still hoping to play through the pain barrier at Nene Park.

Further up the pitch striker Phil Jevons scored a hat-trick for the reserves in midweek to stake his claim for a place in the starting line-up, although he may well have to settle for warming the bench again as Groves sticks to Boulding and Onuora up front. Jevons has yet to feature for Town since renegotiating his contract, despite several substitute appearances, but is inching ever closer to finally playing first team football again with Grimsby after an absence of over a year.

Northants outfit Rushden and Diamonds, who have been in existence for less than ten years, lie just one point below Grimsby in the league after winning the Division Three title last season.

Out-of-contract striker Paul Kitson is currently playing for nothing at Nene Park, hoping to be offered a new contract with Diamonds. Despite scoring three goals in the last two games, though, Kitson is expected to have to settle for a place on the bench with the return of Jamaican striker Onandi Lowe.

Goalkeeper Billy Turley is also expected to return after missing the previous game, a mid-week defeat at home to Wrexham.

Grimsby (from) Davison, McDermott, Crowe, Edwards, Barnard, Cas, Campbell, Hamilton, Anderson, Onuora, Boulding, Young, Mansaram, Jevons, Groves, Hockness

Rusden (from) Turley, Bignot, Edwards, Hunter, Underwood, Bell, Mills, Burgess, Gray, Jack, Lowe, Kitson, Evans, Dempster, Hall, Sambrook, Talbot, Story

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