Fine Win for Town

By: Martin Copass
Date: 27/03/2002

AN UNUSUAL looking reserve side took to the field for their last home game on a sunny afternoon in front of a decent size crowd. With five trialists in the team, and one on the bench, it made for an unusual line up for the game against a table-topping Walsall outfit.

Town had five players on trial in their line up and one on the bench in the form of Carl Leaburn. Having so many in the team may have led to a disjointed performance, but this was not the case as the Mariners ended their home season in fine style with a 2-1 victory.

In the first six minutes however, Town could have been two goals down, as Walsall seemed to have left their shooting boots at home. They were made to pay for this, as Town took the lead after 17 minutes, when Willie Falconer scored from just inside the eighteen-yard box.

Despite it being an end-to-end game, there weren't too many real opportunities, and Town were not playing as well as they have in recent weeks. A lack of concentration in the defence led to Walsall equalising in the 36th minute, although Thompson did come close to putting Town ahead on the stroke of half time but his 30 yard shot was well saved by the visitor's keeper.

For the start of the second half, Leaburn came on for Falconer in a straight swap up front. The second half mirrored the first, as it was end to end without either team really threatening the score line. A howling error in the Town defence almost let in Walsall, but the effort cleared the bar much to Town’s relief.

Trialist keeper Hughes made a final double save on the hour mark, which kept the score at 1-1, but no more goals looked like coming until the impressive Darren Mansaram continued his scoring form when he scored from the edge of the box after rounding the keeper and placing his shot in from an acute angle.

It wasn't the best performance I have seen from the reserves this season, but considering the amount of trialists in the team it wasn't the worst either. Three more points towards to hopeful promotion to the premiership, and a chance to look at the trialists for manager Paul Groves. The one that impressed the most was Carlin Kunga who played up front; it may be worth having another look at him again in the remaining reserve games. I hope I have his name correct, I got it off the official web site!

The others didn't exactly over-impress, but it can never be easy to do themselves justice in just one game, and it will be up to manager Paul Groves as to whether they are given another chance.

Town. Hughes, Parker, Moran, Santry, Ward, Young, Thompson, Bolder, Falconer, Kunga, Downes.
Subs. Cass, Carchedi, Leaburn, Mansaram, Newton.

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