City go top for the first time in 9 years.

By Nathan Jackson
October 28 2006

Lincoln City top of the table for the first time since 1997 thanks to a Jamie Forrester goal that gave City a 1-0 victory. It was a game that City created few chances in and in all honesty, a draw would have been a fair result but it's City's 7th away win in 8 this year and long may it continue.

The home side kicked off the game but it was a slow start to the game with Jamie Forrester trying to cause un-rest in the defence by pressuring caretaker manager, Ady Williams into a headed back to the goalkeeper but Forrester came very close to latching onto it. Swindon however had the game’s first chance when Lee Peacock but his long range effort went well wide of the target. An interesting decision from the referee gave Swindon a free kick when Frecklington was jumped on by a Swindon player. Aaron Brown’s delivery was easily caught by Marriott.

City were struggling to get a foothold in the game and it was the 19^th minute before Jeff Hughes sent in a cross but like so many before it, it was easily cleared by the home defence. Andy Nicholas somehow escaped a booking when he stomped on the foot of Jamie Forrester. Pook went on to waste a great chance for Swindon but he fired a volley from a corner out of the ground.

Swindon then had the chance of the game when Brown got past Beevers and he pulled the ball back to Onibuje but he missed the ball completely with an open goal in front of him when pressured by Nat Brown for the Imps. Frecklington was booked a minute later for a harsh challenge before Mayo wasn’t a free kick as he hit it into the packed home end.

Approaching half time and Curtis West shot wide after Marriott’s poor goal-kick. Onibuje headed wide of the target before the referee allowed Kerr to be elbowed in the face without the referee giving anything despite having a near perfect view. That was the final noteworthy incident of the first half.

City started the second half well with Forrester shooting just wide after Stallard’s flick on. Onibuje again wasted a good chance as he shot from close range but hit it tamely into the arms of Marriott. The second half however was proving as uneventful as the first and it took until the hour mark for the next incident but surprise surprise, City wasted 2 corners. However, a few minutes later and City did take the lead.

A midfield battle eventually saw Stallard flick it forwards and out of no-where, Jamie Forrester found himself 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper and he calmly ran forward and smashed past goalkeeper Smith for his 8^th goal in October. However, it was very quickly level when Shakes sent a chip over Marriott and Paul Mayo rescued the Imps by heading off the line. The quick-fire action again set off a few seconds later as Weston fouled Amoo but the challenge sparked a brawl between both sets of players. Stallard and Weston picked up bookings for their troubles.

Frecklington should have doubled the lead when Hughes’ low cross found him at the edge of the area but he sent his shot over the bar and out for a goal kick. Swindon wasted a good chance when a free kick went well wide of the target but other than that, the end of the game was very very quiet at the game eventually petered out and it ended with 1-0 win to City, enough to take the Imps top.