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Gritts: Starts Again
Gritts: Starts Again

Shrewsbury Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 29/09/2005

THE top-of-the-table Mariners are on the road again this weekend as they travel to Shrewsbury's Gay Meadow seeking yet another away victory to add to the four already achieved this season.

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


Town travel to Gay Meadow while the Shrews are hitting a bit of form, with Gary Peters' men earning a hard-working 2-2 draw with Barnet on Tuesday night, despite having 10 men for most of the second half. This was after gaining impressive 2-0 victory over Peterborough last weekend. However, the Mariners are doing even better at the moment, but know that they must avoid complacency if they are to stay at the top of the division

The Opposition

Overview
The Shrews had a long hard season in 2004/05 after finishing 21st, but will hope for a more stable season this campaign with Gary Peters (left) in his first full season in charge following his appointment last November. Peters took over from Jimmy Quinn who guided Town back to the league after just one season in the Conference in 2003/04. Despite having a shoestring budget this summer, Peters has wheeled and dealed, and will hope to build on a good start which sees them in 11th place.

Their Squad
In goal for Shrewbury is highly rated stopper Joe Hart, who at the age of just 18 is turning out to be a fine goalkeeper, earning rave reviews for the Shrews so far this campaign. He is currently keeping out the more experienced Glyn Thompson who is having to settle for a place on the sidelines. Experienced centre half Dave Walton is back at Gay Meadow for a second spell. After leaving the club in 1997 he played for Crewe, Derby and Stockport but is back at the club and is very much the backbone of their defence. Former Scunthorpe player Kevin Sharp was snapped up in the summer and has played at both left back and left midfield already this term. Stuart Whitehead has experience is this league with Carlisle United, making over 150 appearances for the Cumbrians between 1998 and 2002. Former Crewe and Macclesfield midfielder Neil Sorvel is another summer signing as Mark Stallard who knows how to score at this level, with 132 career goals. However, despite 12 starts this season, he will be disappointed to have only netted one. Meanwhile, ex-Hull man Duane Darby (left) leads the line well when called upon and scored at Peterborough last weekend.

Key Player
Colin McMenamin (left). Certainly the find of the summer so far for Gary Peters. The Glaswegian striker has netted five goals already this season and looks a real find. The 24 year old has scored goals in Scotland for Livingston and Falkirk, but this is his first shot at the English game, having played only as a trainee for Newcastle at the start of this decade.

Recent Form

 

TownShrewsbury
WNotts Co(a)4-0
DBoston(a)1-1
WSpurs (LC)(h)1-0
WTorquay(a)3-0
WPeterborough(a)1-0
Currently 1st in League Two.
DBarnet(h)2-2
WPeterborough(a)2-0
LSheff Utd (h)0-0 (3-4p)
WNotts County(h)2-0
LTorquay(a)1-2
Currently 11h in League Two.

Top Scorers

 

TownShrewsbury
Kalala5
Reddy3
Gary Jones3
Rob Jones3
McMenamin5
Denny2

Team News

 

TownShrewsbury

  • Striker Gary Jones is still battling for fitness following the ankle injury that he sustained during the win against Spurs. Therefore Martin Gritton will almost certainly start in attack again after a fine performance on Tuesday.

  • Gary Croft and Justin Whittle received knocks during the game against Notts County. Croft's knee was extremely sore while Whittle has a bruised calf. Both should start, but Simon Ramsden and Tom Newey will step in if needed.

  • Midfielder Paul Bolland came off on Tuesday and required stitches to his nose, but it is not broken and will play in midfield again.
  • Town will welcome back Kelvin Langmead into the squad following his recent suspension. The former Preston forward has missed the last three games following his dismissal against Notts County a few weeks ago.

  • Duane Darby will hope to keep his starting place ahead of Mark Stallard after the ex-Notts County man was recently dropped.

  • Gav Cowan is back in training following a fractured cheekbone but is not fit enough to be included in the side. The same goes for Dave Edwards who is a few weeks away from a return following a groin injury.

  • Jamie Tolley will be suspended following his dismissal on Tuesday evening, so Stuart Whitehead or Kelvin Langmead will deputise.
  • Probable Teams

     

    TownShrewsbury
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    20Gary Croft
    4Rob Jones
    6Justin Whittle
    28Simon Francis
    7JPK Kalala
    8Paul Bolland
    11Andy Parkinson
    10Martin Gritton
    9Michael Reddy
    1Joe Hart
    12Ben Herd
    5Dave Walton
    25Richard Hope
    11Neil Ashton
    8Kelvin Langmead
    21Jay Denny
    6Neil Sorvel
    3Kevin Sharp
    18Duane Darby
    7Colin McMenamin

    Subs

     

    TownShrewsbury
    14Terry Barwick
    4Simon Ramsden
    3Tom Newey
    15Gary Cohen
    19Gary Jones
    10Ben Smith
    14Glyn Thompson
    9Mark Stallard
    2Stuart Whitehead
    17Steven Hogg

    Head to Head

    Town have five more wins over the Shrews than they have over us, with fixtures dating back to 1959. There haven't been many draws between the two teams, one of eight came last season in the game at Gay Meadow. Town's last defeat at Shrewsbury came in 1986, when we lost 4-1.

    P 42 W 20 D 8 L 15 F 66 A 60

    Shrewsbury Head-to-Head (23rd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Connections

    Kevin Jobling (left). Utility player who made 282 appearances for the Mariners between 1988 and 1998. Signed by Bobby Roberts in 1988 as a midfielder, Jobling played most of his games at left back, although also played in midfield and at right full back too. Was a regular player in the successive Buckley promotions of the late 80s and early 90s as well as playing a part in the 1997/98 season. Was unlucky to be released by Alan Buckley at the end of the Wembley season, which led to his capture by Jake King at Shrewsbury. "Jobbers" played over 70 games for the Shrews until a move to Telford in March 2000.

    Last Meeting

    A poor match at Blundell Park - Town lost 1-0 following a Shrews goal after just 26 minutes through Jake Sedgemore. Neither team dominated affairs, Town were lacklustre in front of goal in a game of few chances. Town lined up in a 4-4-2 formation for one of the few times that season, with Graham Hockless given a rare start.

    Grimsby Team: Williams, McDermott, Ramsden, Forbes, Bull, Parkinson, Fleming, Pinault, Hockless, Reddy, Gritton
    Subs (not used): Crane,Downey,Ashton,Young,North

    Shrewsbury Team: Howie, Moss (Ridler, 59), Whitehead, Walton, Challis, Aiston (Edwards, 72), Tolley, Sedgemore, Ashton, Rodgers (Lowe, 85), Langmead
    Subs: (not used) Grant,Hart

    Attendance: 4,781    Report

    Prediction

    2-0 to Town - back to winning ways away from BP!

    2-0

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Notts Co1-04-01
    Boston2-11-10
    Spurs1-21-00
    Torquay2-23-00
    Peterborough1-01-03
    Chester1-12-10
    Stockport3-21-30
    Barnet2-21-00
    Derby0-31-00
    Darlington2-00-10
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Gay Meadow (left).

    Pubs

    Click on the link for pubs close to Gay Meadow.




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