Cod Almighty | Match Report

by Mike Worden

31 December 2005

Wrexham 1 Grimsby Town 2

Town's last visit to north Wales was Nicky Law's first game in charge. The difference between the performance and attitude on Saturday with those of 20 months ago was a measure of how far the side has moved on. On that day Town let in a goal and then caved in completely. On Saturday, as at Bury, conceding a first-half goal only strengthened Town's resolve, and it was this rather than skill that got them the three points. The side that passed the ball around and created chance after chance got nothing, whereas the side that fought and took its chances came away as victors.

Simon Ramsden stepped into the side to replace the injured Whittle; otherwise the team was the same as that which started the Lincoln game. Rob Jones took the captain's armband.

The first half was all Wrexham. Well, there was a Gary Cohen header over the bar, but most of the action took place in the Town half. Wrexham used the ball well and set up attack after attack on the Town defence. Fortunately they were poor in front of goal. Their set pieces were all 'Joneseque': all to the head of big Trinidadian and Toboggan (something doesn't sound right there) Dennis Lawrence. Hope you are noting this down, Sven.

When the ball came out of the Town half it was usually a pass to Reddy, who was too quick for the opposition. Not too quick, though, for Danny Williams to take him out on the halfway line and earn a booking, just as Reddy was about to turn him. After that Reddy became the subject of the home boo boys, just as at Bury on Boxing Day. Perhaps they just couldn't understand his selection of short sleeves and gloves. Darren Ferguson, annoyed by Reddy's trickery, continued the family tradition of whingeing to the referee.

Given the home side's dominance, there was no surprise when they took the lead just before the break. A long clearance from Ingram in the Wrexham goal was headed down and Mark Jones' low shot took a slight deflection and beat Mildenhall to his left. With Rob Jones obviously in discomfort and limping off at half time, discussions at the tea bar under the away end centred on how Town could get anything out of the game and who would play in Jones' place.

When the blue-shirted Mariners reappeared, it was Gary Jones who took up the centre-half berth alongside Ramsden. Of course. How could we forget those fantastic defensive displays for Tranmere. He was soon tested, and though initially turned easily he got back to make an excellent tackle on a red-shirted forward. Town fans were just starting to think that this was going to get interesting when Ramsden suffered a bad leg injury and was stretchered off. Who's that number 17 coming on? Downey? No! He exists? Now things are going to be really interesting.

And then out of nothing Cohen found Reddy, who bore down on the Wrexham goal. A clever chip past Ingram followed and Reddy was partying behind the goal with the Town fans.

Downey had gone to centre-back when he came on, but after some frantic arm-waving and shouting from Slade and Rodger, the tactic men imitating Tic Tac men, Downey and Newey were switched. Not a good sign of confidence from the management, but the elusive Downey had something up his sleeve for later.

Town made further defensive changes, with Croft off injured and Bolland going to help out at the back. Parky found himself playing in central midfield: not his best position. There was some desperate defending to do and the makeshift defence did some desperate defending. Mildenhall made an excellent save from Walters and numerous blue-shirted bodies were thrown in the way of a number of Wrexham shots.

With just a few minutes of the game left, Town were awarded a free kick, which Newey took. When the ball came into the box, up popped Downey to head home. "Ah, you lot thought I didn't exist, didn't you?" he shouted at the Town fans. OK, I just made that up, but you get the point.

And then, as is the tradition with end-of-year shows, a few laughs to send the fans home with aching sides. First Bolland and Holt collided and Bolland hit the floor seemingly injured. Holt must have said something like "get up you big fairy", at which point Bolland rose like Lazarus on speed and went to throttle the Wrexham player.

That was the first laugh. Then the referee, the appropriately named Darren Deadman, thought he'd get in to the comedy spirit too. He booked Bolland, presumably for ungentlemanly conduct, and then showed him the red card too. Bolland, who hadn't been booked previously in the game, complained, as you would, of course. Mr Deadman walked over to the fourth official, who confirmed that Bolland had not already been booked. Mr Deadman then went to speak to Bolland: "Had you going there for a minute, mate, didn't I?" The assessor, sat in the stand right in front of the incident, no doubt saw the funny side.

Reddy and Danny Williams were then booked for starting the new year kissing off a little too early. This being the second yellow for Williams, Mr Deadman was sure about showing his red card this time.

And that was it. 2005 had ended with a little light entertainment and a valuable three points. Not the best game but who cares when you're on a roll?