The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Wolves Report

By: Jeremy Bailey
Date: 03/10/2000

The night started well, four pints of real ale in 'The Great Western.' How I wish I'd stayed there (just like the last two seasons). I was given a free ticket from a Town fan I'd never met before, as I made my way to the turnstiles, so all was well with the world.

Wolves 2 Grimsby Town 0
02 Oct 2000, Worthington Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg

1st Half

Fairly cold, no wind and dry, the pitch looked good, if a little damp, Wolves kicked off towards the hardy 100ish Town fans, within 20 seconds we had stolen the ball, broken at speed, Allen's snap shot was on target and well saved by the Wolves keeper. This was to be the Wolves goalkeepers only save of the first half.

Wolves nearly scored after 4 minutes, on their first steps into our half, a fine chance, lifted over the bar, when a shot on target would have been easier.

Our plan was obviously to score early, and for the first 14 minutes we took the game to Wolves and some fine inter-play between Macca, Butterfield and Donovan almost produced chances on a couple of occasions, but didn't! Silky skills during the approach, but poor final balls, over hit or over ambitious, stopped any shots on goal.

Grimsby Town
Coyne
McDermott
Handyside
Groves
Gallimore
Donovan
Butterfield
Pouton
Coldicott
Jeffrey
Allen
Croudson
Bloomer
Buckley

 

Subs
Rowan
Clare
Croudson
Bloomer
Buckley

Ten minutes of pub football followed, even the ref joined in, Wolves however were now beginning to have more of a say. The first corner of the game went to Wolves after about 30 minutes, we somehow hacked it away.

Allen up front was running around trying to close people down and also hold the ball up for us when we went forward, try as he did, he got nowhere on either account. Handyside, still a bit slow, was driving forward (ish) and laying balls off well, but we were making no headway against a very poor Wolves side.

After about 35 minutes Wolves score, Groves mis-judges a ball out to our right and allows Branch? The chance to whip in a good cross, which is met by the unmarked Proudlock to head home from 6 yards in the middle of the goal.

From the re-start we go for goal, a free kick, just outside the area and to our right is played across to Galli, who makes great contact with the ball, but shoots it about a yard over the crossbar.

The rest of the first half is fairly even, but Wolves half chances are more dangerous than ours.

We (The 100) are pleased it is half time.

There's more, but it gets worse!

2nd Half

Half time Ent's was, 8 blokes stamping in divots, great stuff, almost better than what was to follow!

No changes at half time, so as you can guess, not much happened for a while. After about 5 minutes Muscat, the dirty, Aussie, Club Captain of Wolves was caught by a late Allen challenge (well done Bradley) and required treatment, he limped for a bit, but not long enough in my opinion.

It was now all Wolves, and after about 10 minutes, the second corner of the game, went to Wolves, again we somehow managed to clear it, after 14 minutes or so, Wolves nearly doubled their lead, a ball was whipped in from our right and both Wolves forwards dummied, the ball was going in, but Coyne had read the move well, and saved.

Galli somehow blocked a shot and we were now really under the cosh, second to everything and being bombarded by long throws from our right, we were diving in all over the place.

Groves was booked for a late tackle, then Allen for a tackle from behind, the resultant free kick was hit hard and low straight at Coyne, who held it well.

Branch, who was a problem all night now came into the match even more and we continued to foul all over the park.

It was obvious we were going to concede a second sooner or later, so when, after about 30 minutes Macca tripped Sinton (I think) in the box, Muscat hit home the penalty, we knew it was all over, and it was.

A double swap came straight after the penalty, a knackered Allen and Danny Butterfield, who lost his way somewhat tonight, were taken off. Clare and Rowan came on. We became more direct and almost exciting for a while, but that soon petered out.

Branch got booked for kicking the ball away after being caught offside, and we won our first corner of the game on 84 minutes.

Pouton hit a lovely half-volley, which was tipped over for our second and last corner of the game, and was also only the second time the Wolves goalkeeper had a save to make!

From the corner Wolves broke and could have scored again, Galli giving away a free kick while surrounded by Gold shirts, just enough time for another Wolves corner before Coyne hoofed the ball into touch (again).

Plus points: None, apart from no extra time to sit through.

Minus points: 1001.

Red Atlas.

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