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Rushden Preview

By: Richard Lord
Date: 02/03/2006

GRIMSBY welcome back top scorer Michael Reddy for the trip to Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday, knowing that a victory will put them top of the table if other results go in their favour.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Rushden (a)


The Opposition

Overview
Barry Hunter has endured a tough in his first full season as manager of Rushden, but they have shown some good home form of late and will fancy their chances against a Mariners side that has lost two of their last three away games. The Diamonds have struggled somewhat on the road this term, and after losing six consecutive games at Nene Park in the months of December and January, it left them staring relegation in the face. However, three wins on the trot in front of their fans has coincided with Stockport's own good form, and the two teams have dragged others into the relegation dogfight.

Their Squad
Former Tottenham midfielder Darren Caskey (left) joined Rushden in the transfer window from States side Virginia Beach Mariners. Caskey spent four years with Notts County and will provide experience from midfield. Fellow midfielder Gary Mills has been at the club since joining them as a trainee in 1999. Graham Allen has played most of his career at a higher level with Tranmere, and Ronnie Bull (top) will be facing his former team for the first time. Rushden have struggled up front, and three forwards have been loaned out to other clubs but they have two loan signings themselves - Ashley Nicholls (Cambridge) and Czech striker Petr Mikolanda (West Ham).

Key Player
Drewe Broughton, who has played for 11 different clubs in his ten-year career, scored the winning goal in Rushden's 1-0 victory over Macclesfield last weekend. The Hitchin-born striker has six goals to his name this season, and his height and physical presence will test the Mariners' defence.

Recent Form

TownRushden
WChester(h)1-0
LMansfield(a)1-2
WBoston(h)1-0
WNotts Co(a)1-0
LPeterborough(h)1-2
Currently 4th in League Two.
WMacclesfield(h)1-0
LCarlisle(a)0-5
LWrexham(a)0-2
WNotts Co(h)1-0
DBury(a)1-1
Currently 23rd in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownRushden
Michael Reddy13
Gary Jones8
Drewe Broughton6
Phil Gulliver 4

Team News

TownRushden

  • Russell Slade has the luxury of choosing from a fully fit squad. Michael Reddy, Jean-Paul Kalala and Gary Croft all return from suspension, while Justin Whittle and Marc Goodfellow have recovered from their injuries.
  • 'Keeper Scott Tynan is rated doubtful after seeing a specialist this week.

  • Defender Graham Allen is out with a hamstring injury.

  • Striker Lee Tomlin will undergo a late fitness test for an achilles problem.

  • Midfielder Neil McCafferty is still a long-term injury.
  • Probable Teams

    TownRushden
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    12Rob Jones
    4Ben Futcher
    20Gary Croft
    15Gary Cohen
    8Paul Bolland
    32Curtis Woodhouse
    11Andy Parkinson
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    42David Crane
    6Rob Gier
    24Magnus Okuonghae
    14Wayne Hatswell
    21Ronnie Bull
    46Tyrone Berry
    15Ashley Nicholls
    11Darren Caskey
    23Marcus Kelly
    9Drewe Broughton
    43Tony Stokes

    Subs

    TownRushden
    3Tom Newey
    6Justin Whittle
    18Ciaran Toner
    7JPK Kalala
    31Junior Mendes
    18Barry Hunter
    7Dave Savage
    28Simeon Jackson
    36Lee Tomlin
    10Petr Mikolanda

    Head to Head

    The Mariners share a very balanced record against Rushden and Diamonds, with both sides winning two and losing two of the five matches played. However, both Town defeats have come at Nene Park, and the only Mariners goal registered there was an Iain Anderson strike in November 2003.

    P 5 W 2 D 1 L 2 F 4 A 4

    Rushden Head-to-Head (46th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby recorded their first home win of the season against Rushden at the end of August. John McDermott got the ball rolling after eight minutes when he volleyed home from outside the area. Jean-Paul Kalala made the three points safe when he converted a penalty in the 51st minute - his first goal for the club.

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, Whittle, Rob Jones (Crane 89), Newey, Croft, Parkinson, Kalala, Andrew, Gary Jones (Gritton 63), Reddy
    Subs (not used): Ramsden, Downey, Barwick

    Rushden Team: Young, Nicholls, Gulliver, Okuonghae, Hawkins, Pearson, Bell, McCafferty, Kelly, Taylor (Chillingworth 58), O'Grady
    Subs: (not used) Dempster, Woodman, Grainger, Wark

    Attendance: 3,774    Report

    Prediction

    Although Rushden have shown some good form at home recently, the Mariners head to Northamptonshire with some key players back in the squad. A narrow victory would be greatly accepted!

    2-1 to the Mariners!

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Mansfield3-11-20
    Boston1-01-03
    Notts Co2-11-01
    Mansfield3-02-11
    Carlisle0-01-20
    Wrexham0-02-10
    Lincoln1-03-01
    Bury1-02-11
    Bristol R1-00-10
    Rochdale3-24-11
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Nene Park ( left).




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