A Solid Start for Town

By: Pete Hirst
Date: 26/08/2010

SEVEN points from 12, two away wins from two and seventh in the league. It may not be the spectacular start to the season many Grimsby Town fans wanted, but let's face it, it could be a lot worse.

Neil Woods's side returned from Darlington last night with a fully deserved three points, stand in skipper Steven Watt nodding home a second half corner for the only goal of the match.

It was the perfect return from the players after Saturday's shock loss to Hayes and Yeading at home, a performance which instilled confidence in the fans, that not only can the team hold onto a narrow lead, but they can keep creating chances until the final whistle.

Now obviously we don't want to get carried away with the side, we have begun the season very well with three very impressive performances against teams which are expected to be nearer the top end of the league this year.

The team seems to have a nice balance too, with experience at the back, a blend of strength and speed in midfield whilst up front Alan Connell already looks a class act.

Whilst there have been several claims by fans and even the manager for a creative central midfielder, you can argue there is already enough creativity down the flanks and up front, especially with Lewis Gobern and Rob Eagle looking promising on either side.

In fact what the side could really do with is the right partner for Connell up front. He is the perfect target man, winning the ball in the air, has a solid first touch and gets a few headers on target in the box.

What he needs, is a strike partner who plays on the defender's shoulder, a quick player who can beat offside traps and in glimpses last night we saw that in Charlie Ademeno.

We know the ex-Crawley man is still coming back from injury and may not be totally fit for another few weeks but that looks like a potent partnership, if they can both stay fit.

It was also good to see last night, that Neil Woods isn't afraid to give some of the younger players in the squad the chance, last night Tom Corner and Bradley Wood were given first team experience and neither disappointed.

So four games into a solid if not unspectacular first season in the Blue Square Premier, the Mariners faithful have something to be encouraged by.

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