By theimps.tk
May 7 2006

Just 7 short weeks after being defeated 5-0 at Sincil Bank, Grimsby Town will return for the playoffs on Saturday lunchtime. After struggling for a long time, this is the first good season Grimsby have had since winning promotion in the mid 90s but injuries could be the difference between the teams.

Anyone who thinks that the Imps will stroll over Grimsby Town is highly mistaken. 5-0's don't come along very often and even less often against the same team. Many Imps' fans seem to have forgotten that just 3 months before we beat the Mariners 5-0 with a brilliant first half display, the Codheads beat us 3-0 with a brilliant first half display of their own. Never under-estimate a Grimsby Town side as they have proven in the past that they can go toe-to-toe with some of the best in the country and come out on top as they did in the 2nd Round of the Carling Cup in 2001/2 when they beat Liverpool at Anfield and guess who they beat in the first round, yep, you've guessed it, Lincoln.

After 2 straight relegations, last season was about consolidation for the Mariners and they achieved it but only just, however, this season was a far different story and for a very long time, were challenging for the title but relatively poor form in the middle of the season destroyed the dreams of that, however, around the same time that the Imps' fans were invading the pitch, Grimsby appeared set for automatic promotion because they were beating Northampton and Orient were only draw at Oxford, within 20 seconds, Northampton equalised and Orient took the lead at Oxford and Grimsby were consigned to the playoffs.

Grimsby are however suffering several key injuries as leading goalscroer Michael Reddy is likely to miss the rest of the season. Giant defender Rob Jones also joins him in the treatment room and the former Stockport man is also rated as doubtful to be back by the end of the season. Town also have 2 former Imps in their ranks, Cairan Toner and of course, everybody's friend, Ben Futcher.

Interestingly enough, since the 5-0 win for City on March 25th, both sides have faced 3 teams. Grimsby lost 1-0 at Carlisle 4 days after the eventual champions scored with their only realistic chance against the Imps. Grimsby drew 0-0 with Orient on Easter Monday and the Orient drew 1-1 at Sincil Bank the following Saturday. The only difference in comparison was Grimsby could only get a 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury whereas the Imps defeated the Shrews.

One thing's for sure and that is neither game will as close as their counter-parts in the League and the Imps will have to play really well to beat their county rivals.