Form (last six): W-D-L-L-W-D
2002/03 Finish: League; First Division: 24th
FA Cup: Third Round
League Cup: First Round
2002/03 Top Scorer: John Oster, Steve Kabba, Stuart Campbell - 6
2002/03 Discipline: 69 yellow, 7 red
2003/04 Top Scorer: Michael Boulding – 7
Tuesday afternoon by the sea-side, fish and chips in a cosy little restaurant and seeing Marcel Cas playing look most likely to be the highlights of the afternoon as the Magpies travel to the East coast of
Last season clearly proved to be testing times for Mariners as they failed to cut it in the First Division, slipping into the Second tier of the Nationwide after finishing rock-bottom of the Division One with just 39 points. However, since they made the step down the Football League, they have still not enjoyed the best of form as they already lye 17th in the table; only 8 points ahead of the Magpies.
Although in all fairness to the Mariners, it is not been in the final-third of the field where there play has been inept, but a defence that greatly let them down after managing to concede 4 more goals than they themselves have been able to manage, leaking 22 goals in the opening 14 games of the campaign.
But going forward, the Mariners have looked promising, with a total of ten players finding the net for the Mariners this season as between them they have managed to chalk up 18 league goals this time round.
One man who has found humble goal-scoring form on a personal level is former-Notts County and Sheffield United winger, Marcel Cas. The Dutchman spent two seasons with the Magpies where, as we know, failed to find a consistent goal-scoring touch in all his time here at Meadow Lane scoring 8 times in his 49 appearances for County from the right of midfield.
The Dutchman was only recognised a few years before arriving at Meadow Lane where he was scouted playing for his local side before signing for RBC Roosendaal. Cas arrived at County in the summer of 2001 on a free transfer where he immediately established himself as a winger with energy to burn and skills to make any defender dance to his beat.
Whilst with Notts, it was feared that Oldham’s Ian Dowie was to make him his first signing at Boundary Park; but fortunately he stayed on before leaving Nottingham in February for Sheffield United as the Magpies tried to reduce their crippling wage-bill. Cas made three appearances for the Blades. He parted company with Neil Warnock and Bramall Lane for Grimsby Town in their bid to return to the First Division come the start of the 2004/05 campaign.
***Star Man*** - Michael Boulding
Boulding is currently in his second spell at Blundell Park following his departure to Villa Park after scoring eleven crucial goals in the Mariners in a relegation dogfight back in April 2002. With things not working out at the Villa, Michael was loaned out to Sheffield United before Paul Groves brought him back to Grimsby after unwillingly seeing the striker taken away from his beforehand.
At 27-years of age, Boulding possesses electrifying pace that could tear defenders to pieces:- and if his pace fails to beat them, then his skills will polish off the job to turn then inside-out and upside-down.
He has already found the net 7 times for the Mariners this season and will certainly be looking to extend his tally.
***Fancy a flutter?*** - courtesy of William Hill bookmakers [www.willhill.com]
Grimsby Town; 4/6
Draw; 12/5
Notts County; 10/3
Other Business…
Oppositions view returns Friday ahead of the home game with Brentford.