Month by month
August 2003
A new hope
September 2003
The Mariners strike back
October 2003
Return of the Geordie
November 2003
Great, kids - now don't get cocky
December 2003
All too easy
January 2004
Watch out for those fighters
February 2004
Stay on target
March 2004
The emperor's March
April 2004
Almost there
May 2004
Let's blow this thing and go home
About this series
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August 2003: A new hope
Mat Hare
8 July 2003
August in our imaginary 2003 sees Grimsby Town open the season with a match away at Colchester. Following that are ties against Peterborough (h), Hartlepool (a) and Rushden (h). Two of the promoted sides in the first month...interesting.
A 1-0 for Town at Layer Road gives Town the best possible start to the season, though it seems from the stats that Colchester had the better of the game. But a win is a win and three points for Town. A subsequent 3-0 win over Peterborough at Blundell Park means Town have maximum points so far and have yet to concede a goal. But that all goes tits-up in true Town style as we go down 1-4 to the Monkey Hangers in a match that looked quite even in all aspects bar the one that matters. The lads recover well to register a 4-0 win over Rushden the following week. They obviously had their shooting boots with them too: eight shots from Town players that match and all on target.
So nine points from a possible 12. Not a bad start at all, especially for the defence who kept a clean sheet in each of the victories. Surely this sort of start to a campaign must see us up there with the front-runners. And indeed it does: we end August in fourth spot in the table.
| |
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
+/- |
Pts |
| 1 |
Wrexham |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
| 2 |
Oldham |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
8 |
3 |
10 |
| 3 |
Port Vale |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
| 4 |
Grimsby |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
| 5 |
Hartlepool |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
| 6 |
Chesterfield |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
9 |
| 7 |
Notts Co |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
9 |
| 8 |
Colchester |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
| 9 |
Luton |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
-1 |
9 |
| 10 |
QPR |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
| 11 |
Brentford |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
| 12 |
Stockport |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
| 13 |
Brighton |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
8 |
| 14 |
Bournemouth |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
| 15 |
Swindon |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
-1 |
7 |
| 16 |
Bristol City |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
| 17 |
Wycombe |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
11 |
-1 |
6 |
| 18 |
Blackpool |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
-2 |
6 |
| 19 |
Plymouth |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
5 |
| 20 |
Sheff Wed |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
4 |
| 21 |
Rushden |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
11 |
-8 |
4 |
| 22 |
Tranmere |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
-2 |
3 |
| 23 |
Barnsley |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
15 |
-8 |
3 |
| 24 |
Peterborough |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
15 |
-11 |
0 |
Poor old Peterborough eh? It looks like Town weren't the only team to stuff them. The observant among you will have noticed that Town have a game in hand over the top three. That game against QPR could see either side top the table. Anything other than a draw will see a new leader.
How are things looking outside the most important division in England? The team that unites everyone have started as expected. Yep, Wolves are yet to win a match. They are joined in the bottom three by Everton and Manchester City. Chelsea top the Premiership with a 100 per cent record. In the first division Millwall's five wins see them lead the pack early on, five points clear of Sunderland in second. West Ham are proving the critics wrong by ending August in 24th position and without a win to their name. Joining them in the drop zone are Gillingham and Reading. In the third division perennial underachievers Hull are setting the early pace, a point clear of Cambridge and Torquay. Kidderminster and Mansfield are struggling at this stage and as we head towards September they occupy the relegation places.
So there we have it. That is how CM4 thinks August will go. A strong start for Town with the defence improving greatly on last season. But how will the season progress? Can we repeat the feat of the '97-98 season? Tune in next week and find out how the Mariners fare in September. You'll also be able to check up on how the overpaid poncy players are doing in the European cups.
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