Passion Found

It was all round the radio time with what was left of the Easter Eggs.

With Morgan physically fit yet unavailable, read of that as you will; City had some changes to make brought on by Browns 3 match ban. Add Frecks and Jamie to the absentee list and the management really had some decisions to make. Beevers, a city man we can rely on, made up the middle with incoming Mayo, preferred there instead of Green who returned to left back.. Holmes replaced Frecks in the centre, back came Amoo with Stallard partnering Dani.

Not surprisingly we started nervously and at a low tempo. This has been our problem; we get sucked in to a slow game like a chess or darts player, that we are rubbish at. The counter offensive then starts slow giving the opposition time to regroup and break us down. We haven`t been worked out we have slowed up. Backed by the Imp army who out sang the home crowd throughout, we were typically uninspiring in that first half. Relaxed, comfortable, perhaps content for a playoff birth, and then we let in a goal. Joachim, all of 6 inches off pigmy status scoring from a header. A sensational point blank save from Mazza kept us in it. But things would have to change, as Stallard would not be able to do it all on his own. Dani, low on confidence and rusty had the first touch of a bouncer combined with a rawness that will come good.

Fortunately we now have a captain who is up for it. Kerr motivating, clenching his fists rolling his arms, leading by example and rallying to the flag. Half time got this across but still some needed a further kick. Amoo seemed to come out as if this would be his last game, yet lethargy and a woeful waste of our first two corners had you wondering. Deehan came down; Dani was sacrificed for Jamie, Amoo moved inside Holmes making way for Mendez. Green swapped with Mayo and both looked comfortable. Deehan and Schoey were out singing the pockets of Darlo fans on their own.

Suddenly we had passing at pace and passion for the cause. The last 25 minutes were all Lincoln. A Hughes corner for once beat the first man and there was Beee-verrrrs to power home. Mendez was causing all sorts of havoc fanning the flames of Amoo who laced through for Jamie who skipped his man and hit a screamer from 8 yards that keeper Sam Russell got a hand to somehow. Then Hughes put in another proper corner for Beevers to dent the post with a bullet header. Hughes then turned two to feed Mayo whose shot was blocked on the line. It was all Imps! Then Hughes twisted and turned and let fly, the block fed Mendez for what should have been his first for the club and the deserved winner. The ball bounced into the net but was cleared. The ref looked at yet another cretinous assistant who despite being in line was clearly elsewhere. They went up the other end and nearly scored whilst we celebrated the goal that wasn`t.

Darlos empty cavern come white elephant holds 29,900 people. It would have been 30,000 but they had to take 100 seats out for the biggest screen in the football league. Imps stayed behind to see the highlights on the 48-foot jumbotron after the game. Naturally they didn`t show our winner that never was. That`s the trouble with technology you always get finger trouble.

Two draws out of this weekend writes off our auto chances. We have however got two things out of our system. One is the idea that we can just show up, qualify for the playoffs and expect new contracts for next season. The second is that the Morgan issue is now out in the open. Indeed he will be out of the changing room. Although his influence is gone sadly he is not completely out of the door and will continue to be a huge drain on resources until he goes. That will probably free up two wages for two people proud to wear the shirt next year. A great servant in the past, who, though he no longer wants to play is quite happy to pick up his money.