Late slip costs Imps on ice pitch

Were we playing on an ice rin today, with the amount of Southend diving, you'd think so. Southend dived all over the place, the final one getting them a penalty just a minute after City went ahead, it was slotted away and the Shrimps got a point they definatly didn't deserve.

Southend got the game underway kicking towards their own fans but City quickly gained the advantage with Asamoah bursting down the right, he cross forced the Southend defence to hurry into a clearance. The opening exchanges were otherwise fairly uneventful. Eastwood tried his luck from 30 yards on the 10 minute mark but it was easily caught by Marriott who didn't even have to move.

City almost took the lead on the 18th minute when McCombe headed down a Beevers free kick and after some decent control he shot and produced a rather good save from Flahaven. Lincoln were near enough camped in the Southend half with every Flahaven goal kick being quickly brought back down towards his goal. Asamoah had arguably the best chance but his tame shot was easily saved by the Southend keeper.

Southend had a chance minutes later when a Futcher clearance went out for a corner but nothing came of it. GTF then ran at the Southend defence splitting it but his shot from the edge of the area went quite wide.

The half slowed down again and the teams went into the break 0-0.

City got a corner 10 seconds into the restart when Beevers' run down the right was cleared. The resultant Sandwith corner which McCombe headed goalwards but it went just over. Gray had a reasonable chance seconds later but Marriott saved his shot reasonably comfortably. GTF then had the next chance when Yeo flicked the ball onto him but last season's top scorer could only see his shot go miles over the bar.

The game was seriously better than the first half and chances for both sides for a 10 minute period were either comfortably saved or didn't trouble the keepers. In the 64th minute, City appeared to have a perfectly good goal disallowed when GTF got past Pettefer and slotted home but it was disallowed for "roughness" despite the fact Southend had been putting this sort of approach into getting the ball of City players.

City gained a free kick half way between the 18 yard box and the corner flag when McCombe was elbowed but Sandwith's free kick was hit straight into the wall. It went out for a corner and from that corner, McAuley hit the post.

Southend had an excellent oppurtunity minutes later when Futcher apparantly brought down Bentley despite that he was 5 yards behind him and their was no possible way he could do anything to bring him down. The free kick hit the wall and after a bit of scambling, City got the ball clear.

The game calmed down a bit until 2 minutes from time. City got a corner and Sandwith's delivery was headed in by Futcher but everyone excepted the ref to disallow it for no reason (again) but he suprisingly let it stand and it looked like the Imps would pick up their first win in 4 games.

However, within a minute, Bently went down in the area under a supposed "challenge" from McCombe despite that the striker had already took a shot that was picked up by Marriott. It had been the story of the afternoon, Southend players blantently diving when no-where near and Imps palyer and it didn't really suprise anyone when the ref pointed to the spot which Eastwood converted.

SUMMARY