Its not often that I get to watch a premier league match as a neutral observer so i was really looking forward to the Grimsby V Middlesborough encounter.
The game got off to a tentative start with both sides testing each other out but never really getting out of defensive mode after this initial cut and thrust m/boro finally scored the first goal, from that point on the resembled the CHELSEA ARSENAL football match in fact needn’t have bothered watching the game on TV as it completely mirrored the hockey game I watched MIDDLESBORO playing pretty controled roller hockey without going anywhere while GRIMSBY had a Didier Grodba in Mark Waddingham who not only brought grimsby back into the game he took the match away from middlesboro the only time Middlesborough’s game changed was when Jon Jones was on trying to raise the teams game but the rest failing to respond playing there pretty build up hockey without putting Eddie Reville the Grimsby goalkeeper under any pressure
The Grimsby team to a man worked hard for the team and defended as though there life depended on it and to steal a quote from Arsene Wenger “The Chelsea (Grimsby ) players team new how to foul without attracting the officials attention!”
Though in now way do I wish to over criticise the team teams or the officials the game was an entertaining spectical with two teams on paper very equally matched but it was the Grimsby players day and after a final score of 6-3 in Grimsby’s favour it must have been an obivious to Middlesborough if you don’t create enough chances or for that matter you don’t convert your free hit and penalties you cant hope to win
I always access the the referee’s by asking myself did they doing anything that adversely affected the result or did they fail to do anything.
On both accounts it was a No there was a three minute period where they lost some control but both referees quickly got back into the game.
Finally the question everyone wants to know are Grimsby going to go all the way and finally be the team to dethrone HBU they have a young well balanced side with a veteran goalkeeper with enough enthusiasm for the whole team saw they have a good chance.
Paul Colton
