By theimps.tk
May 6 2006

For the 2nd time in 4 years, the Imps will face local rivals in the playoffs in a 2 legged affair with Grimsby Town. It promises to be an exciting 180 (at least) minutes after the 2 league games this season and with several vital members of the Grimsby squad injured, it could get interesting.

3 years ago, the Imps drew Scunthorpe United in the playoffs and 2 enthralling matches, including arguably the best game ever seen at Sincil Bank, saw the Imps make the final after a 6-3 aggregate win over the men from Glanford Park and City even had 3 goals disallowed over the two legs. However, City went on to lose the final to Bournemouth. In 2003/4, the Imps went out to eventual winners Huddersfield with an aggregate scoreline of 4-3 and last season, the Imps made the final again, beating Macclesfield 2-1 on aggregate but losing out 2-0 to Southend in the final after extra time in a match the Imps dominated.

Grimsby apparantly have major injury problems and key players, Rob Jones and Michael Reddy are rated as unlikely to play again this season but that might not be much of a change for the Imps as when Jones came on at Sincil Bank, his side were already 4-0 down. Reddy was anonymous at best in that game. It will also see the return of Ben Futcher who had a nightmare of a game against the Imps as he was within 5 yards of each goalscorer when they scored and the 5th went in with a deflection off of him.

However, we should not take Grimsby likely and they proved at Blundell Park that they are no mugs, they beat us convincingly at their ground and anyone who thinks that they will be as bad as they were at Sincil Bank is having a laugh.

The fixtures will be played on Saturday 13th (12:05pm kick off) and Tuesday 16th (7:45pm kickoff) and the winner over the 2 legs will face the winner of Wycombe vs Cheltenham. There are also no away goals rule in the playoffs so the tie could easily head into extra-time and penalties.