A very impressive first-half display by the boys in red-and-white stripes netted the Imps another valuable three points whilst at the same time holing the Mariners’ hopes of survival in the Football League leaving Michael Jolley’s boys with a certain sinking feeling; that’s now five points from the last 51 for Town, a less than 10% return on their last 17 games and with just eight games to go, I don’t much fancy their chances.
As predicted in the match preview, Danny Cowley elected to start the game with the same eleven as began last week’s fine win at Chesterfield, keeping the 4-3-3 formation going. It was very pleasing to see both James Wilson and Danny Rowe on the bench; both will have very important parts yet to play as City seek a second successive promotion, so it is excellent that both are back to full fitness. Special mention here for the stunning display on three sides of the pitch as the players came out, well done to all concerned. The Imps kicked off towards the South Park End with a strong, blustery wind at their backs and in front of City’s biggest crowd of the season 9,774 including a very healthy following from Grimsby of 1,696 to add to the atmosphere. Neal Eardley and Jordan Williams produced some fine crosses into the box early on but without seeing a final breakthrough. Grimsby went closest, however, when a long free-kick from Fox looped high into the box and was only partially cleared by the City defence. Cardwell’s headed effort hit the corner of bar and post and the rebound was smashed against the same post by Woolford only for the ball to bounce clear of the goal. A near thing for City. Then as the snow came in hard, an Eardley throw-in level with the Town 6-yard box saw Matt Green take the ball before back-heeling it to the thrower who put in an excellent cross to Matt Rhead who toe-poked it back into the path of Scott Wharton whose shot was well saved by ‘keeper McKeown diving low to his left.
Lee Frecklington in action against Grimsby Town.
Minutes later, a good run by Green resulted in him beating his man down the right before unleashing a shot which was deflected high over the ‘keeper to land on top of the net. Sam Habergham took the resulting corner from the right and curled the ball in. It was headed out, but not very well as the ball came down in the path of Lee Frecklington who volleyed the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net from just outside the box, although the ball appeared to take a deflection off a defending knee. That was the 31st minute and just three minutes later, it was 2-0. Habergham, Elliott Whitehouse and Frecklington who combined well down the left and the latter’s deft flick back off the by-line saw Whitehouse take the ball into the box before releasing a pin-point pass to Green who couldn’t miss from two yards out. Soon after and it could have been three as another attack came down the left-hand side involving Habergham, Green and Williams combined well to allow Frecklington to lob the ball into the path of the onrushing Rhead whose cross back into the box was met by Whitehouse, but his right-footed shot bounced just wide. The City faithful didn’t have to wait long for the next goal, though as yet another in-swinging corner by Habergham again wasn’t cleared giving Wharton the chance to smash home his second goal in successive games from close to the penalty spot. 3-0 and the Bank was rocking! Three goals in eight minutes had certainly warmed the home fans up as Beast from the East 2 was baring its teeth.
As the half came to a close, a rare Town attack saw an excellent strike from distance from Wharton equally dealt with by Ryan Allsop who tipped the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, Whitehouse was adjudged by referee David Coote, who was having a very creditable game, and Davies smashed the ball into the net from the penalty spot. It looked like Allsop got something on the shot but it was far too powerful for him to keep it out.
Half-time: Lincoln City 3 Grimsby Town 1
In comparison to the first period, the second-half produced few real chances; Allsop saved a shot from Town’s Matt who had turned well in the box to fire goal-wards and the Frecklington had an effort go well wide before McSheffrey tried a volley from distance which went well over. Ollie Palmer came on for Rhead with 30 minutes to go and was soon involved in a move with Williams whose eventual shot was well saved by McKeown. Palmer was causing all sorts of problems to the Town defence and he fed Frecklington, but his shot missed by very little. Soon after, Anderson replaced Green and he produced a couple fine runs down the right side which, sadly, didn’t produce anything and the only remaining event worthy of note was Wilson coming on to bolster the defence with ten minutes remaining as he replaced Lee Frecklington, who many though had his best game for City since his return.
Ollie Palmer in action against Grimsby Town.
City, then, continue their unbeaten run which is now extended to three games with the last two both yielding important and confident 3-1 victories which certainly gives us fans belief that we will reach the play-offs at least. Grimsby, on the other hand left Lincoln on a continuing dismal run stretching back over three months and staring at a second exit from the Football League.
As for referee, Coote, I thought he was probably the best we have seen at Sincil Bank this season; his experience of Championship football certainly helped him control the game with aplomb.
Writer: Impalex
If you haven’t already had a go at the quizzes, they can be found here: Quiz No.1, Quiz No.2, Quiz No.3, Quiz No.4, Quiz No.5, Quiz No.6, Quiz No.7, Quiz No.8, Quiz No.9, Quiz No.10 and Quiz No.11.
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photographs!
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