City made to pay for defeat

By Nathan Jackson
February 27 2005

A Guinan goal from Cheltenham's only shot on target was enough to give the Robins a victory. It was even worse news for the Imps as every team above them except for Scunny lost meaning the Imps are 5 points off the 4 teams on 60 points but 3 above 7th placed Northampton.

Cheltenham kicked the game off and could have gone ahead straight away. They built play down the right because a Devaney cross was missed by McCombe, Guinan reacted well but his shot from just inside the area was extremely hasty and he blasted it well over the bar. City reacted by gaining 3 quick corners but from the 3rd, Cheltenham broke away. The ball was hoofed over the Imps denfence and Paul Morgan decided to leave it for Marriott but Gillespie was quickly on his tail and Marriott had to race out to barely beat the on-loan striker to the ball.

It was an extremely open start to the game with Butcher firing wide after a failed free kick, for an example of the free kick, see the Kevin Sandwith guide to free kicks from the Leyton Orient report. Green then caused mild problems when providing a cross but his cross was sent wide by GTF. Yeo tried his luck 2 or 3 minutes later but he failed to trouble goalkeeper Higgs. On 9 minutes a Hanlon corner was cleared easily cleared. Gillespie fired a 11th minute shot wide and then Hanlon's 30 yard effort was caught by Higgs.

The game slowed down desperatly after a really quick start. A 30 yard shot from Gain on the half hour was easily saved with Higgs being the considerably more busy keeper, infact, Marriott didn't have a single shot on target against him in the first half. THe half ended with a corner for Lincoln, it was easily cleared (as per usual) and the half came to a close.

City started the second half like Cheltenham had started the 1st but GTF headed Green's cross wide. The 2nd half turned a bit dull with a midfielder battle taking control of the game. Lincoln's lack of quality created the ultimate price. Gain gave away posession which released Gillespie, Marriott managed to get the ball off Gillespie but the ball fell to Guinan who whacked the ball in from 5 yards out. It was almost 2-0 just seconds later but McCombe made a last ditch tackle before Gillespie could shoot.

Infact, that goal was the ONLY shot Cheltenham had on target during the entire game, it says it all really however, City should have made they pay for not at least getting more shots on target just minutes later. A backpass from McCann was intercepted by Yeo who raced forced but his shot hit Higg's right foot. Cheltenham held out for the win.