Grimsby v Fleetwood Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 17/09/2010

THE Mariners return home after a dismal trip to the Midlands hoping to get their promotion push back on track with a much-needed win against Fleetwood Town.

Their History

Fleetwood Town was officially established in 1997 but have links back to 1908 when Fleetwood FC lurked in the very competitive Lancashire Combination League. The club through its many different guises have gone under more names than Prince. Fleetwood F.C., Fleetwood Wanderers, Fleetwood Freeport F.C., and Fleetwood Town have all had the pleasure of being the club's name for a while. In its current form the club took just 9 years to reach the Conference North and sealed promotion to the Conference at the end of last season. This is the highest the club has ever been in any of it’s different formats, while in cup runs a Second Round proper defeat in the FA Cup to Hartlepool United is the most success the club has head nationally.

Last Season

The Cod Army (catchy name) couldn't have really had a better season. Most impressive was the club's form at their home Highbury - the club went 15 games undefeated at home in all forms and competitions till losing to Dover in the FA Trophy. While in the league it took till the very end of February for the club to record its first defeat on home turf, even then that was the club's only defeat at home and Fleetwood dropped just 11 points out of a maximum of 60 in their own back yard in the entire season. The club narrowly missed out on automatic promotion with Southport clinching the league title by just a point meaning Fleetwood had to overcome Droylsden and Alfreton in a play off.

This Season

Fleetwood are currently in dreamland: the team assembled by Micky Mellon who once graced teams such as West Brom, Bristol City and local rivals Blackpool has continued to produce through the busy opening period. They have continued their fine form at home being defeated just once against Luton while away from Highbury sporadically picking up points to boost the tally. Impressive wins against Mansfield, York and most recently Kettering (4-1) mean the club are continuing to use the confidence gained from last season and if continued may well be in the mix come May.

Key Player: Magno Vieira

No other player could be more threatening to Grimsby then the current league top scorer. Vieira currently on 8 goals and unlike many others in the top 10 list including Connell none of his goals are attributed to penalties. He’s fast he’s strong and in front of goal he has great composure be very afraid.

Prediction.

A win would have the grumblers confused and in need of something to grumble about.

Grimsby Town 1-0 Fleetwood

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

Fleetwood

1 England GK Daniel Hurst
2 England DF Shaun Beeley
3 England DF Alan Wright
4 England MF Anthony Barry
5 England DF Steve McNulty
6 England MF Nathan Pond
7 England MF Sean Clancy
8 England MF Ian Craney
10 Brazil FW Magno Vieira
11 England MF James Mullan
12 England DF Junior Brown
13 England DF Simon Grand
15 England FW Lee Thorpe
16 England GK Scott Davies
17 England FW John Miles
18 England MF Jamie McGuire
19 England FW Gareth Seddon
20 England DF Paul Linwood
23 England DF Joe Camozzi
24 England FW Adam Warlow
25 England FW Wayne Curtis
26 England DF Peter Cavanagh
27 England FW Mark Beesley

Team News

Darran Kempson is serving a one-match ban after his red card in last week's 2-1 defeat at Tamworth. Scott Garner is likely to replace him, although Rob Atkinson is back is contention after a long injury lay-off, but is more realistically going to be on the bench.

Striker Michael Coulson is a probable returnee after withdrawing from the England 'C' squad this week with a foot problem.

'Keeper Kenny Arthur is back in training and could get the nod over Sheff Wed loanee Richard O'Donnell.

Fleetwood Midfielder Jamie McGuire is serving a one-match ban after getting sent off against Kettering last weekend.

Defender Alan Wright who has recovered from a calf problem.

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