Mariners boss Neil Woods call for calm heads ahead of trip to Tamworth
GRIMSBY Town boss Neil Woods has called for calm heads ahead of the tricky trip to Tamworth after his side's superb home win over Luton Town.
The Mariners again showed they can more than match the Blue Square Bet Premier's other big boys with an excellent 2-0 victory over the Hatters on Saturday.
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Town players celebrate Alan Connell scoring from the penalty spot – but the Luton bench look none too pleased after a controversial spot kick decision in the Blue Square Bet Premier clash at Blundell Park.
And the victory – against the pre-season title favourites – rockets Town up to fourth in the Conference table, just three points adrift of top side AFC Wimbledon.
But despite the euphoria around Blundell Park after the final whistle – from both fans and players alike – Woods was keen to play down the significance of the result.
The Town boss said: "It wouldn't have been the end of the season if we'd lost and nothing's achieved by winning it.
"It's good for confidence and it's lovely to get two on the bounce at home as well because the supporters do come here in numbers and it's nice to reward them, particularly with a good performance.
"It's just one game like Histon was one game, but it can't do our confidence levels any harm."
Town's ability to lift their game for the 'bigger' matches was again evident as a first-half Alan Connell penalty and 71st minute Micky Cummins header gave them all three points.
But Woods believes the previous Monday's stuttering home win over Histon was just as crucial.
He said: "If you look at the games so far – Darlington, York, Crawley, Luton – the big games we have performed very well in, which is very pleasing.
"But we've just spoken in the dressing room and however big the three points are today, it shows how valuable the three points against Histon were.
"All right, the performance wasn't what we wanted but it's now six points from six.
"It's about winning games. We took some stick and rightly so because the Histon performance wasn't right. But it was a good result, especially now we've backed it up against Luton."
Bar a tricky opening period where Richard Money's side began like a train, Saturday represented probably Town's most accomplished performance of the season to date.
"We knew it was always going to be a test," explained Woods.
"It was always going to be a little bit more like a Football League game, but I think we had a lot of people out there who relished it, they enjoyed it.
"We knew whichever team could stop the other team playing the best would be on top in the game. I thought we were very solid and the longer the game went on we started to move the ball around better.
"I'm very pleased with the performance and very pleased with the attitudes of the players."
Referee Jeremy Simpson's decision to give a 30th minute penalty after Luton's Shane Blackett handled in the box was perhaps the game's biggest talking point.
And Woods had some sympathy for the visitors: "If I'm being honest I'd have been very disappointed if it was given against me.
"I think it hit his hand but when someone smashes a ball from about three yards away from you I don't really know how you get out of the way.
"Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't – if I'd have been Richard (Money) I'd have been very disappointed with it."
Woods also reserved a special mention for on loan goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell, making his Mariners' debut after joining on an initial one-month deal last week.
"I thought he looked extremely confident," he said.
"He looked very composed, his kicking was excellent and even though he didn't have a lot to do he wasn't flapping around and causing uncertainty, and the players were very comfortable with him."
11 Comments
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by prd, gy
Monday, September 06 2010, 11:28PM
“now now ladies, we're all town fans at the end of the day.
I sometimes criticise the set up at the club on here. But praise where praise is due, and paying fans are also entitled to voice their grievences without resorting to insults. Its better fans air their frustrations on here rather than at the game, which is counter productive.
I think woodsy hasnt done a too bad job, weve had good results and bad, but its certainly an improvement. I still think our problems lie with the chairman but hopes he proves me wrong.
See you all at Tamworth
UTM”
by MarinerMac, Cleethorpes
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:13PM
“Oh and also Marinerpete I think you might need to lay off people not getting your name right as you cannot even spell 'PRAT'!!!!”
by andy carr, humberston
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:06PM
“Seems i'm not alone with my views marinerpete!!! Why don't you let me know where you can sit at the match and let me come and see you for a chat face to face?? Don't panic i'm not violent!! Though i might pinch your bottom!!!”
by MarinerMac, Cleethorpes
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:00PM
“Marinerpete, you claim to be a town fan yet all you ever do is critise and whenever anybody confronts you about it, you go and use unneeded verbal abuse, I don't think you'll be happy until you become manager of Town, but mate football manager does not class as real life.”
by andy, Humberston
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:43PM
“Clever idiot arn't you Pete!!! My opinion is i don't have to respect the drivel you write!!! Personally i don't give a damn whether you respect my views or not!!! You come on here with constant critisism but never ever comment on something good when it happens!!! I know your type you sit there at the match moaning and whinging and are not happy unless you are doing so. Better off without you!!”
by marinerpete, stallingborough
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:31PM
“Andy Carr. Now now Andy i think you are the PRATT, you are not able to get my name right(dick Head). Any way there is no need to call me names just because i have expressed my opinion. I hope Woods will prove me wrong but i have doubts over his ability thats all. So come on Andy respect my opinion just as i do yours. UTM.”
by Dave, Gy.
Monday, September 06 2010, 5:38PM
“I got my train tickets to Tamworth when the fixtures came out (cheaper to buy in advance). The ground is only half a mile south from the rail station.
Tamworth's main stand is the same size as the Findus lower. I gather they have around 100 seats for away fans, but that's presumably first come first served. If you don't get a seat, it's standing in a bus shelter behind the goal.”
by Barry, gy
Monday, September 06 2010, 1:29PM
“Andy, they never comment when we win, they only like to moan. Really impressed with what woods is doing. And were still missing Atkinson, Ademeno and Coulson, argably three of our best players. Still missing a ball winner in centre mid but thats the only position i have concerns about. But Cummins and Hudson looked better on Sat, and Gobern seems to be improving so will wait to see if they can do the job with killer balls to the strikers. Happier days. Lets all get to Tamworth Sat and cheer them on. UTM”
by Andy Carr, Humberston
Monday, September 06 2010, 12:23PM
“Not a bad start at all to the season. Still more work to be done but considering a large % of the squad was not here last season you can't expect everything to gel straight away. Just wondered were John Clee is and that other prat Stallinbroughpete is!!!!??? Not so noisy at the moment are you!!!!
UTM!!!!!!!!!”
by Kris, clee
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:50AM
“No sign of alll the doom mongers and "woods out" brigade today. This result will have really upset some town "fans". We're winning games without playing to our best, so i'm confident there is more to come. Teams are beating each other every week, We've had good results against the bigger teams already. And the likes of Histon and Hayes & Yeading have already had good results, so this is going to be a very difficult league to get out of. Play offs for town this season. UTM”