Lincoln v Scunthorpe United

Monday, March 28, 2005

Football League Two

Lincoln :
Marriott, McCombe, Morgan, Futcher, McAuley, Butcher, Gain, Sandwith, Green (Asamoah 86), Yeo, Taylor-Fletcher (Bloomer 89)
Subs not used:
Carruthers, Hanlon

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Crosby (Williams 45), Byrne, Hinds, Sparrow, Beagrie (Taylor 64), Baraclough, Kell, Ridley, Torpey, Keogh (Hayes 64)
Subs not used:
Evans, Rankine

SULSESC REPORT

by Dave Pratt at Sincil Bank

FOLLOWING a cracking performance, if not result, on the Easter Friday, things looked well-set for a good result on the Easter Monday. These thoughts were then tempered by the realisation that it was Lincoln away, and that the better half decided she would like to come along too, despite the supposed all-ticket situation for Iron fans.

This proved not to be the case, with tickets readily being available from the Sincil Bank office, at 7.00 pm - the receptionist even obliging by swapping my ticket for two together!

Following the now seemingly customary claret, blue and yellow balloon whacking and bursting, we settled back as the Iron prepared to kick off. Seconds later, Green and Taylor-Fletcher combined before the latter hoofed a high ball up-field, in the general direction of Yeo. As a player who had scored 14 in the last 14 games, one might have expected a tight marking job, but no, we stood off him, let him take a touch, cut inside and then watched him unleash a 25 yard shot past Musselwhite into the corner. All within 30 seconds; even the lino on our side was still unfurling his flag and about 15 yards behind the play when Yeo struck.

It could have been worse two minutes later, as Futcher forced a smart save from Musselwhite. Our cunning game plan against a team of giants was thus obvious - give away as many free kicks around the box as possible, to assist them in their game plan of playing a silky, smooth, short, crisp passing game, along the ground. Things settled down a little, and after about nine minutes, a good break and subsequent cross by

Ridley found Torps, who won well in the air to head back across goal, a muffed half-clearance went straight to Baraclough, who managed to rifle over the bar from 12 yards.

The rest of the half saw us enjoying good possession without ever threatening. Keogh worked tirelessly and Baraclough covered acres of ground, but Lincoln looked more likely to add to their opener than the Iron did to equalise.

Following a lengthy stoppage for a head injury to Crosby, and another good save by Musselwhite to foil Green, the first 45 minutes ended with not one single meaningful attempt on goal by the visitors, who were some 17 points ahead of the Imps at the turn of the year.

Crosby failed to appear for the second-half, and two minutes later Sandwith brought a finger-tip save out of Musselwhite, again from a free kick. The writing looked on the wall, and even a double substitution in the 64th minute failed to alleviate the situation.

We never looked like being able to break their defence down, and even when we got into favourable positions, things continued to go pear-shaped.

Cue their second goal - a free kick to us, well into their half, easily cleared, swift break down the right, Iron outnumbered at the back, Taylor-Fletcher racing into the box and a superb chip beyond Musselwhite. Game over.

Uninspired and insipid. Rarely can there have been a local derby with so little passion, both on and off the pitch. Second in the table playing local rivals looking for a play-off place and only 1,400 taking up a ticket allocation of 2,300. Where now the 6,000 who went to Chelsea?

I hope it was as poor on Sky as it was live.