28/07/2001 St Mirren 2nd Half

By: Tony Butcher
Date: 29/07/2001

TOWN made no changes at half time, though St Mirren took off Quitongo who was, to be honest, useless. He caused problems by drifting into excellent positions but was totally useless with the ball. Oh well, not our problem. Butterfield being in midfield was though.

Grimsby Town 0 St Mirren 0
28 Jul 2001, Pre-Season Friendly

The introduction of a proper midfielder (Burnett) swung the game Town's way, but Rowan added some extra movement. He worked well with Jevons, who transformed himself from Jeffrey to what everyone thinks Lester was. St Mirren was run ragged by this change to passing and movement. No longer was the ball wellied forward.

The forwards moved, the midfielders passed, spaces appeared and Town players popped up in them. Even Gallimore trotted forward. The best move of the match saw Burnett pick up a clearance, back heel to Pouton, who surged forward, passed to Campbell, who chipped the ball on to Rowan, about 40 yards out on the right. He bore down on goal with Jevons to his left. Whoops, little Johnny Rowan passed the ball tamely into the 'keepers arms.

Burnett side footed a couple of inches wide of the left hand angle of post and bar after a wonderful fast break. He then forced the 'keeper to make another spectacular save to his right with a header from about 10 yards out. Jevons glanced a firm header just to the 'keeper's right and Pouton forced another super save by curling a shot with the outside of his right foot from the right hand side of the area. The ball was parried away from the bottom right hand corner.

Coldicott was replaced by Willems with 15 or so minutes left and Willems looked a little rusty, though he did clobber three St Mirren players with tackles that would have been bookings in a real game.

In the last couple of minutes Groves headed against the post and Jevons just failed to slide in the rebound. The other major excitement was caused by Rowan wriggling past a defender on the left bye-line, his firm cross to the near post was diverted high and wide by the on-rushing Jevons. Right near the end St Mirren broke away and their substitute forced Coyne to make a low save at the right near post. The fat number 11 later headed a cross a couple of feet wide as the Town defence watched.

That's it. It ended 0-0, with Town eventually feeling annoyed at not winning by 3 or 4. It started awfully and finished interestingly. When will Lawrence learn that Butterfield is not a midfielder? As soon as he moved to his proper position, and Town had a proper midfielder in midfield, they dominated and played excellent flowing football. Rowan formed an exciting partnership with Jevons. It's a pity they were both terrible finishers.

First thoughts on Jevons - no good when the ball is pumped high and/or long. He didn't "gel" with the poor Allen, but suddenly looked good when Town started to pass to his feet and support him. He looked even better when Rowan came on and they started to make runs across and behind defenders. Raven got better and Butterfield looked competent and solid at right back.

Moral of this story? Play the right players in the right positions and Town are fine. Don't EVER play Butterfield in midfield. That's just stupid.

The defence does look capable of folding though.

Absent Nicko's man of the match - can only be Pouton. As usual he got the team, and the crowd, going.

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