The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Is football a business or a sport?




Bolland: MOM
Bolland: MOM

Grimsby 0 Scunthorpe 0

By: Rob Salt
Date: 15/07/2005

AT last, it may only be pre-season but football was back at Blundell Park. The first thing I noticed that was different from last season were the goal nets. We have opted this season to go for very European style goal nets - hopefully this is to help us score more goals. Any help is appreciated!

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Reports > Scunthorpe (h)


We also noticed that we had a trialist in goal. As expected our new number one keeper Mildenhall was not going to play, but why we had a trialist in goal and did not give some first team experience to our number two, the young John Lukic, is a mystery. Surely this was a very good chance to give him some first team experience? The decision baffled us and those around us.

Town kicked off towards the Pontoon end but it was 15 mins or so before we had our first chance, a free kick floated in was knocked down for Parky to control and shoot narrowly wide.

Prior to that our trialist 'keeper had made some dodgy decisions by staying on his line and not claiming any crosses that came in with some iffy handling that would have made Anthony Williams look like Gordon Banks!

As the first half progressed Scunthorpe were trying their luck from long range, however their shooting was very wayward and never looked like trouble for our 'keeper. Town were trying to pass the ball around and create some openings but the impressive Butler and Crosby in Scunny's central defence seemed to have Town under control.

Scunthorpe did have the ball in the net at one stage but this was ruled out for offside.

Shortly before half time the best chance of the match fell to Town. After good work by the impressive Bolland (his play and style very similar to when Town had Nicky Daws on loan from Rotherham) Parky put Reddy through on the right hand side. However with just the keeper to beat, the Irishman put his effort wide and high of the Scunthorpe goal.

Then came the most exciting part of the first half. Just before half time Rob Jones and Steve Torpey both went for a high ball with Torpey feeling as though he had been fouled and shoving Jones; Jones shoved him back.

Man mountain Crane then produced an excellent tackle on Torpey only for Torpey to retaliate. There then came a bit of push and shoving with Jones and Crane getting booked and Crosby, for Scunthorpe, getting a yellow card. Somehow the instigator Torpey got nothing!

In the second half Town replaced man of the half Bolland with trialist Lee Fowler in midfield. Although not the biggest of players he seemed very quick and was able and prepared to take players on.

Shortly afterwards Gary Cohen replaced Martin Gritton, Cohen showed one or two touches and was able to hold the ball up well.

The second half was quite a dull affair as neither team showed they wanted to win or create any chances. For Town the players that stood out for me were Bolland in midfield, Newey as left back and Tony Crane at centre back.

However the midfield needs to be involved more and create more chances for the forwards. There seem to be too many pattens of play similar to last season for my liking.

In the end Town lost on penalties. However, the way Newey took his penalty at long last may mean we have somebody able to score form the penalty spot!

Town: Brown, McDermott, Newey, Ramsden, Crane, Jones, Bolland, Barwick, Parkinson, Gritton, Reddy.
Subs: Lukic, Whittle, Fowler, Toner, Cohen.

Scunthorpe: Musselwhite, Byrne, Williams, Butler, Crosby, Taylor, Hinds, Sparrow, Corden, Keogh, Torpey.
Subs: Johnson, Stanton, Rankine, Parton, Capp.

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