Hannah - Sky Sports Expert

Not out of the woods

Well-earned point could kick start season

Posted: 02nd November 2009 16:30

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Not out of the woods

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro

We can take positives from Accrington game, such as Adrian Forbes' improved performance, the team's willingness to fight and to make challenges and the outstanding performance from young defender Bradley Wood.

Hannah Cawsey
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I know it's a cheesy title but please 'bear' with me.

A lot has happened since I last blogged on my beloved Mariners and I think my positive attitude has paid off. Read it and weep guys - one whole point!

Okay so maybe a hint of sarcasm there, but for once I can write a slightly more positive blog that can look to the future of Grimsby with a slight glimmer of hope rather than fear. Which is a shame because I was thinking of dressing up as Grimsby Town's future for Halloween because it's the scariest thought I've had all year.

The week started with news of a dodgy departure from Ryan Bennett. A move on loan to Peterborough with an obvious view to sign left all sorts of questions flying around. Such as who made the approach?

There are rumours that it was Ryan's agent, the guy who he announced on Radio Humberside that he had sacked when Newell turned up at Blundell Park. Who knows but good luck to him I say and lets hope he brings in a good fee when he signs for them in January - of which we can spend on getting players that are of a decent standard.

What's the point?

Although a point sounds like a pretty mediocre result for most clubs, for me it shows signs of a starting point for the rest of the season. The point can take us one of two ways: we can take the positives from the game, such as Adrian Forbes' improved performance, the team's willingness to fight and to make challenges and the outstanding performance from young defender Bradley Wood.

Or we can ignore and not improve on the bad points: Danny Boshell's half-hearted performances that unfortunately echo his 'my contracts not up for ages' style of play, along with Jean Louis Akpra Akpro's selfish showings that lead to him thinking of progressing his own career rather than that of the club's.

I know that sounds a little blunt but I can't help but think that this game really needs to be a stepping-stone. We had a referee that gave Accrington all the big decisions, our injury crisis continues with Proudlock and Jarman still on the sidelines, and yet we overcame those factors and grabbed an injury-time equaliser.

However special mentions in this game certainly have to go to Brad Wood, Peter Bore, Adrian Forbes and Baz Conlon who I thought all played well. And a big boo goes out to the Radio Humberside (Hull) presenter who laughed whilst saying that The Mariners have only managed 11 points from 15 games! With our licence fee paying his wages surely he could be a little more sympathetic and a little less pathetic!

Barry Conlon and his three hairs

I know it's obvious we're not out of the woods, still struggling and at the foot of League 2. But I can't help but think of Barry Conlon as some kind of hero in this whole story.

Although the connotation of woods can only conjure up thoughts of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and with no offence to Big Baz, I do not need the image of him in a skirt skipping through the woods after porridge and a comfy bed. However when he came on he did his job with a no nonsense goal that looked like he never doubted for a second it would go in.

What goes around comes around

I went to the game with my little sister, Lydia, who is a Liverpool fan but is desperately trying to be converted by my Dad into a fully-fledged Mariner. I paid £14 to get in to the Lower Smiths and Lydia got in for free in the 'Free babysitting at Blundell Park' (or Kids go free). Although I would have paid double that to prove to my sister that karma did exist.

It was a game where decisions all went Accrington's way; for instance yellow cards going to Grimsby players yet similar challenges made by Accrington players going unpunished. Not to mention the clear-cut penalty shout Town had turned down which was closely followed by the penalty and the sending-off that went in Accrington's favour.

So to my delight the referee got exactly what he deserved after 85 minutes when one of the Accrington players wacked a ball off his head. The ref went down for four minutes where he faced unsympathetic cheers from the Mariners' black and white army and chants of 'she fell over' - undeniable evidence that karma exists!

The final minutes of the game ended in the usual banter Accrington chanting 'going down' to which the Mariners reply was obviously 'going bust'. But the Accrington fans certainly went quiet when Baz scored a fantastic header in the 95th minute to earn the Mariners a point.

Hate to say I told you so

On a final note I would like to end on a high with a well-earned point for the Mariners and some real promising signs. I hate it when people say 'I told you so' to me but please anybody feel-free to go ahead and say it. Under Newell I never saw the players play with so much heart and conviction. The lads made decent challenges and played with heart and passion and there was definitely promising signs of a footballing side coming through, something we have historically been used to at Blundell Park.

Anyway I'm going to have to have a re-think of my Halloween outfit now. Any suggestions please feel free to comment.

Will Barry Conlon's late heroics against Accrington spark an upturn in fortunes for Grimsby? Can they grab a third away win of the season away to Northampton. Fill in the feedback form below and we'll publish the best of your views...

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Comments (1)

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Mez Redgrift (Grimsby Town fan) says...

Hi Hannah, couldn't make the game, but was relieved to hear that the performance was much imrpoved. Please feel free to chat about GTFC on the fishy, your opinions would be welcomed.

Posted 13:46 4th November 2009
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