Hughes and Marriott inspire second best City
By Nathan Jackson
December 30 2006
Jeff Hughes' second winning goal in 4 days was possible thanks to some superb keeping from Marriott as City beat Wycombe. City were second best for the majority of the match but some great saves, as well as some resolute defending from City meant we move 3 points clear of 4th place Swindon.
Wycombe started the game and they created the first chance when former Notts County midfielder, Stefan Oakes, took a huge run up and belted a free kick from 45 yards and it came close to going in but just had too much power to dip in time. The game wasn’t exactly fast paced and the wind was playing a huge part and almost gifted the Imps a lead. Ryan Amoo had the ball and tried crossing it in the box, the wind caught it and it floated towards goal and just clipped the top of the bar before rolling onto the top of the net.
Young was having an easy time in the Wycombe goal and Forrester’s weak effort on 15 minutes barely sent the keeper into a sweat. Mooney had a great chance when he headed Betsy’s cross goalwards, thankfully Marriott made a superb save to keep the ball out of the net. It was the first time in a very long time that the first shot that the opponents had on target, hadn’t gone in. Morgan headed over from a corner for the Imps.
Marriott again produced a fantastic save midway through the first half when he tipped Anthony Grant’s shot over, having to adjust his body as he was heading the other way at the time. On the half hour, he produced yet another save, this time it was another free kick from Oakes. Mooney headed wide with the half coming to an end before time stopped in added on time for an injury on Grant. That rounded off a fair from entertaining first half that had seen the Imps fail to get a shot on target.
The second half continued in the way that the first had ended and only a Paul Morgan tackle prevented Mooney from getting a free run on goal. Oakes fired over from 25 yards from another free kick. Ryan Amoo sent a shot just wide of the target with 5 minutes of the half gone. Marriott saved from close range from Betsy’s header. The game was so slow that the next incident didn’t happen until the 66th minute and that was Nat Brown get booked for an apparant foul. The referee seemed only too happy to blow for Wycombe free kicks but you got the feeling that our players would have to be shot to win a free kick.
Oakes had another chance cleared. With just under 20 minutes of the game remaining, it seemed destined that the game would end 0-0, however, good work from Stallard saw him release Hughes, he ran one-on-one with the goalscorer and he scored with City’s first shot on target. He was booked for his celebrations.
Easter and Grant, two of Wycombe’s better players on the day, made was for Anya and Stonebridge and within a minute, Wycombe came within a few strips of paint to equalise as another long range Oakes shot hit the cross bar. Anya wasted another chance as he headed wide despite having an open goal. Mooney found himself in space but then also saw Marriott at his feet. Hughes was replaced by Nicholson for City.
In injury time, Wycombe had two great chances but both were splendidly blocked. City managed to see out the rest of the game before the referee blew to confirm City’s 5th win in December.