Cod Almighty | Match Report

by Mike Worden

1 March 2008

Morecambe 0 Grimsby Town 4

Only half time in the paint pot encounter, so roll up, roll up for a spot of half-time entertainment in the shape of a league game. About 200 Town fans and 2,000 shrimpy people answered the call. The Town fans stood in their lucky positions on the terrace behind the goal. "I stood here on Tuesday night and so I'm going to stand right here again," said one.

Just before the teams came out, 20 shivering cheerleading girls formed a guard of honour to welcome the home side's new signing. Surely not another ex-Chester player? No - Christie the cat, the new mascot, was introduced to the crowd. Forgive me for being critical of a launch of a new venture, but shouldn't the Morecambe mascot be a shrimp or, even better, someone inside an Eric Morecambe suit complete with glasses at odd angles? The announcer said Christie liked eating fish. Get yourself to Cleethorpes on Tuesday night, little cat, as I can tell you categorically, you'll taste much better fish and chips than the ones from the shop next to your home ground.

As threatened Buckley decided to opt for a spot of rotation in anticipation of this Tuesday's rather important fixture. The star of last Tuesday night, our own cat, Phil Barnes, was relegated to the bench in order to avoid him being roughed up by the burly shrimpers. Danny North, Tom Newey, Peter Till and Rob Atkinson were given the afternoon off to go to Freshney Place. Peter Bore was handed a start, as was Justin Whittle.

Town lined up in the now favoured formation with Montgomery between the sticks, then a back five of Whittle, Fenton and Bennett with Heggggarty and Clarke at wing-back; Bolland, Boshell and Hunt were in the middle and Bore and Jones up front.

First half
The first real attack fell to the home side, who were kicking towards the Town fans. Hegarty blocked a shot; it went for a corner, which was cleared. From then on Town got the better of the game and enjoyed much more possession than Morecambe. The ball was worked across the midfield well and when the home side came forward the Town defence dealt with the threats comfortably. Bore was looking energetic and his running towards goal was causing some concern for the home side.

It took just six minutes for the first chant of '1-0 to the Mariners' to come from the away end. From the comfort of his coach the driver responded to calls for a wave. At Christie Park, the view from the supporters' coach in the car park is one of the best in the whole ground.

On the 10th minute, good play by Town resulted in Bolland putting over a high cross, which was headed clear by McStay for a corner. A minute or so later Whittle made a great tackle on the edge of the box and then Bennett blocked a cross from the tricky Thompson. Soon after, a Morecambe free kick was headed over the bar by Dave Artell.

Town were looking good going forward and a good Town move released Bore into the box but he put the ball over as Davies came out. At the other end Morecambe were unlucky to take the lead when Baker's shot beat Montgomery but not the post.

On 22 minutes Bore had a chance to atone for his earlier miss. Picking up the ball on the left he ran across the box before unleashing a shot into the bottom left corner of Davies' goal.

Three minutes later the score was doubled when, after great work by Town on the right, Jones' cross-shot was fumbled by Davies and Bore was there to head home from close range.

The second goal seemed to wake up the home side, who then enjoyed their best spell of the game and Whittle and Fenton both made important clearances. Thompson, the Shrimps' best player, got into the box and his shot hit the post. A little later Bentley's control of the ball with his hand as he ran into the box was not spotted by Mr Webster; fortunately his shot went past the post, and then Newby's theatrical dive in the box was not enough to fool the rotund official.

With just a few minutes remaining before half time, Baker delivered a good ball, which Hegarty put out for a corner. Fenton then headed the ball away but only as far as a Morecambe player, who shot well wide.

On the stroke of half time, a second ball appeared on the pitch. With play stopped, Fenton demonstrated his skills with the original ball, much to the delight of the away support, by balancing it on the back of his neck before flicking it up and volleying it up to Mr Webster.

Second half
In the second half Morecambe came out looking to get back into the game, but didn't create as many good chances as they had just after conceding the second. Montgomery saved a shot from Blinkhorn. Soon afterwards a Town corner was taken short and Bolland and Hegarty combined to set up Hunt for a cross, but Mr Webster adjudged Fenton had pushed a home player.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Town extended the lead through a bizarre goal. Bolland's shot hit the post and came back out to Bore, who headed towards goal at close range. Davies managed to block it before Hegarty smashed in the loose ball.

Boshell had a great run at the home defence but, instead of shooting, passed to Bolland on his right, who was tackled by the full-back. Then Bolland was involved again in another chance, with his shot parried by Davies and the linesman flagging for offside as Bore went to collect the rebound.

As Town continued the pressure, Morecambe substituted the injured Artell with Yates and then minutes later brought on Drummond and Twiss.

Gary Jones had a shot saved but the Lump had hurt himself in shooting and he was replaced by Butler as Town won a corner. The corner was headed downwards by Fenton straight to Butler who, with back to goal, spun and rattled a shot into the net with his first touch.

With this game lost, Morecambe's thoughts no doubt turned to Tuesday night. Bore was replaced by Jarman to link up with Butler up front. With seconds remaining Taylor came on for Hegarty and a late scramble in the Town box was the final piece of action before Mr Webster called time on a convincing and comfortable win for Town.

Buckley's rotation gamble paid off and a number of players who would normally have been on the bench put in some very good performances. His faith in them was repaid. Morecambe looked a world apart from the team of last Tuesday night and right from the start it was the visitors who were always in control. If only it could always be like this.