Cod Almighty | Match Stats

Tuesday 4 March 2008

League Trophy (NF2)

Grimsby Town 0

Morecambe 0

Attendance: 7417

Clarke played his part in the second half, but Town were too exposed all night in the wide areas for one of the wing-backs to claim it. The team's inadequacies all night began and ended with poor movement off the ball, and so the whole £400,000 Wembley experience is ultimately down to the the back three (and Barnes' brilliant late save). Among them it was the blond bob of blond Bob Atkinson that shone the brightest. It's not a bob at all really, but we'll let him off for a fabulous, tie-winning, omnipotent performance on the night.

"It's good for the football club and it's good for the town. One of these days, they might think I'm not too bad, like!"

"I don't think anyone can deny that we had the best of both games, but tactically Grimsby were miles ahead of us and good luck to them at Wembley."

Hard-working, honest, give-it-everything players with not a whiff of pretension. None of your Stuart Campbells or even your Graham Hocklesses here. That Bentley, he's blooming massive! Morecambe are not the most sophisticated side you'll ever meet, but they pressed Town hard through every one of the 180 minutes of this tie, and did it without the cynicism of Notts County or Bradford. If they'd taken it to penalties or even won in normal time we could scarcely have complained. Former non-Leaguers? Aren't we all.

Mr P Taylor (Herts)
Still bloody rubbish after all these years. 3.5 out of ten.

As the last legitimate football club left in the competition, Town have already won the Football League Trophy regardless of the sideshow on 30 March.