Rushden v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 27/08/2010

ANOTHER win away from home we'll start getting a reputation. Could we get three on the trot? Town travel to Rushden and Diamond with the hope of doing so.

Their History

In 1992 Rushden Town merged with Irthlingborough Diamonds because they god damn felt like it! It was a masterstroke - in fact the club were promoted to the Conference in 1996 and were then promoted to the Football League in 2001. It didn't stop there the club under the stewardship Brian Talbot and work of Garry Butterworth, Andy Burgess and Paul Underwood most notably continued to move up the league table. Within two seasons of promotion to the league the club were walking out at Wembley to face Cheltenham in the Play-off Final. Unfortunately like we know all too well Cheltenham were victorious. It wasn't long though before the Diamonds could celebrate another promotion the very next season that the club tasted the joys of League One. It didn't last long the club were relegated on the last day of the season a year later. Brian Talbot their excellent had left and under a handful of new managers the club struggled in League Two relegated in 2006 back to non-league where they have stayed ever since.

Last Season

Rushden came so close last year. The club only fell to Oxford in the play-off semi-final who were just too strong in the second half of the second leg of their contest and though losing to the eventual victors is hardly a word of comfort, the club can still be proud of what it achieved. The club only lost by more than one goal twice throughout the entire season, once on the very first say of the season and then on the very last in the play-off semi final. It was Rushden’s inability to hold on to a lead which proved the clubs stumbling box too many times did the team draw or even lose when taking the lead all which led to the clubs inability to clinch the Championship and finishing 4th overall.

This Season

The club have yet to find its stride so far with a win against Wimbledon on Tuesday their only 3 points of the season. Apart from that the club are looking mostly for stability away from home. After having lost to Bath 2-1 away they then preceded to lose 2-0 to Barrow a team they beat 6-1 in the corresponding fixture last season. Hopes of promotion will all but die out if they don't find the away form which helped them to the play offs last time around and as for not conceding after taking the lead, they were 1-0 up against Bath. They lost 2-1 come full time.

Key Player: Rene Howe

The 23-year-old's 25 goals helped Kettering to the Conference North runners up position in 2007 and Rushden will hope he does the same after been loaned out again by Peterborough. Howe has spent a large amount of time skipping between League One relegation contenders and League Two also rans over the last two years after signing for Peterborough. Rochdale, Morecambe, Lincoln, and Gillingham all have had the privilege of his services since then 24 goals in total out of 92 appearances aren't exactly startling but when you factor in settling in to a new club a new way it is a rather impressive total. This season Howe has just opened his account after poaching the winning goal against Wimbledon. Quick and one of the main stays of Rushden’s attack he will be crucial if they wish to win.

Prediction

Wins away from home are something new to us all. Town will be facing the second team to have played in last year's play-offs as well as Darlington who were relegated along with ourselves and one of the favourites in Crawley. A win or even a draw against Rushden really is a fantastic start by the team and if Hayes and Yeading is to be the one blip so far I can except that.

Rushden 1-2 Grimsby

We can hope

Grimsby

1 Kenny Arthur
2 Peter Bore
3 Lee Ridley
4 Mark Hudson
5 Darran Kempson
6 Scott Garner
7 Lewis Gobern
8 Michael Cummins
9 Charles Ademeno
10 Lee Peacock
11 Michael Coulson
13 Nick Colgan
14 Michael Leary
15 Dwayne Samuels
16 Steven Watt
17 Alan Connell
19 Bradley Wood
22 Mark Gray
24 Nathan Dixon
25 Robert Atkinson
28 Josh Fuller
29 Robert Eagle
Scott Garner

Rushden 1 Dale Roberts Goalkeeper
2 Justin Miller Defender
3 Kurt Robinson Defender
4 Max Porter Midfielder
5 Jamie Stuart Defender
6 Curtis Osano Defender
7 Donovan Simmonds Striker
8 Aaron O'Connor Striker
9 Craig Farrell Striker
10 Rene Howe (on loan from Peterborough ) Striker
11 Jamie Day Midfielder
12 Neil Cousins Striker
13 Joe Day Goalkeeper
14 Alan Power Midfielder
15 Joe Keehan Midfielder
16 Michael Corcoran Defender
17 Sam Smith Striker
18 Matt Johnson Midfielder
19 Ryan Charles Striker
20 Shane Huke Midfielder
21 Aynsley McDonald Defender
22 Nabil Sharif Striker
23 Max York Midfielder
24 Lewwis Spence Midfielder
25 Dominic Green (on loan from Peterborough ) Midfielder
26 Nathan Koranteng (on loan from Peterborough ) Striker

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