“He was strong and imposed himself in midfield.”

Views from UnbelievableJeff following Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at home against Oldham Athletic in Sky Bet League Two: “Mini Jeff was substituted by his sister last night and it was Mini Jeffette’s first ever game of football and her first experience of the Red Imps.

Their first experiences of watching Lincoln could not have been more different. Mini Jeff was a 1-3 home defeat by Torquay, when Nat Brown was sent off for a ridiculous handball decision. That was in front of a sparse crowd. His sister was in front of a bouncing crowd, for a team to of the table.

Before the game, she said that she would not stand, cheer or indeed even sing.

Twenty minutes into the game, she was doing all three.

It was a slow start, and we struggled to start the car. Eventually, we found out how to get the car off the drive. There were a few judders and bunny hops, but after half an hour we took the lead.

We should have had two by then, Akinde missing from four yards when it would have been easier to score. It reminded me of a similar miss by Neil Matthews, exactly in the same position, but on Boxing Day 1993 vs Scunny. A nightmare for forwards….one of those where the excuse of “it bobbled” is uttered.

Then came the bone-cruncher that the late great Butch Wilkins would have been proud of. Ouch. Bit of handbags followed, and by now Mini Jeffette was fully committed to the cause.

The second half came and I am sort of pleased that Bruno’s swirling shot didn’t go in, for one reason only. I was tentatively pouring out the hot chocolate from the thermos. I nearly thought about recording it as a near miss. Ouch.

A brilliant second came shortly after and that back heel from Harry was sublime. It was a quality finish from Rowe, who got MOM from Thommo.

My MOM was O’Hara. He was everywhere. He was strong and imposed himself in midfield as the tough guvnor we’ve been missing of late.

It was a great game and we had control. See above with respect to O’Hara. It was a great game to introduce Mini Jeffette to the Imps. One more now has the bug and I am made up about that. She is now fighting with her brother as who gets to go now. A good position to be in.”

More views from the Match Thread:

JT_LCFC: “We needed a game like that tonight, although in fairness first 10-15 minutill-disciplined might find it hard work as they used the extra man in midfield well.

After we scored you sensed we were playing a team that were ill disciplined and one eye on the summer holidays – proven by Baxter’s reckless challenge.

After that despite playing in the head wind second half we were never threatened and really should have scored 3/4/5. I felt it could be a pivotal night, where as we remain our normal consistent self our rivals eventually wobble.”

Snats: “A very satisfying evening. We managed the game very well after the red card and completely dominated the second half, just a shame we couldn’t score more but it wasn’t for want of trying. Toffolo, Pett, O’Hara and Rowe were all brilliant, and the second goal was one of the best we’ve scored all season.

Avoid defeat at Mansfield next week, and things are looking very rosy indeed”

Red Wimp: “Well that was a game of 2 eighth’s. As in 1st 10-15 minutes hardly got a kick, Oldham knocking the ball around, Gilks made a couple of decent saves. Then for the next 75 minutes, we more or less were in control. Not sure whether we stepped up or they ran out of steam/ideas. Nice to see plan A & B on display quite clearly, played some good stuff, should have had more goals, but actually if that is a fault we’re not the type of team who very often go on to a convincing win (odd exception Port Vale etc.).
Not our concern, but I thought Oldham had a poor attitude for most of the game. Although their keeper probably MOM for them it was kind of him to keep giving the ball back to Gilks in the 2nd half (I don’t think he learned at all).”

"He was strong and imposed himself in midfield.":https://t.co/qDT20wEa0K#ImpsAsOne #OAFC #Oldham

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 14, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2099186826784218

Lincoln City				Oldham Athletic
Toffolo 30', Rowe 58'
Gilks				Iverson
Eardley				Hamer
Bolger				Clarke
Bostwick				Edmundson
Toffolo				Hunt
Anderson				Lang
O'Hara			82'	Maouche			64'
Pett				Missilou
Andrade				Nepomuceno			64'
Rhead			45'	Baxter
Akinde			89'	Afolayan			44'
Substitutes
Vickers				Iacovitti
O'Connor			82'	Dearnley			44'
Wilson				O'Grady			64'
McCartan				Vera			64'
Rowe			45'	de la Paz
Roberts			89'	Benteke
Watkins				Sylla

Game Statistics
18	Goal attempts	3
6	On Target	3
14	Corners	2
8	Fouls	16
0	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	1
55	%	45