City win without leaving 1st gear

By Nathan Jackson
March 20 2005

To say City weren't troubled in the game against Shrewsbury would be an understatement. The relegation threatened side were awful and City could afford a very relaxed performance to give us a bit of breathing space over 8th place with a great chance of moving up furthur on Friday night.

City kicked off and immediatly went on the attack but after 7 seconds, the game came to abrupt holt. Lee Beevers went up for a header and immediatly collasped to the ground, he didn't move for several minutes but eventually got up, obviously dazed and continued with the game. Shrewsbury created the game's first chance when they won a corner but it was easily dealt with by City's defence.

However, on their first attack, City proved much more deadly. Sandwith put Yeo into play who sent in a right footed cross-come-shot which came back off the upright and across goal where it was met with Francis Green's head to give the striker his first goal since the away game at Cambridge in October.

Asamoah could have made it 2-0 in the 11th minute but his shot went wide after making a fool of Shrews defender Challiss. City were dominating the game without needing to go into second gear. Green sent a shot wide on the 14th minute before in the 17th, it did become 2-0. Beevers sent in a long throw, a Shrewsbury defender headed it to Yeo who took his time before placing it through a very crowded area and past Howie to make it 2-0.

Asamoah was yet again proving dangerous, 3 minutes after the goal Asamoah again made mince meat out of Challis but again sent his shot wide. Hold on a minute, something odd has happened, do my eyes decieve me??? no, Shrewsbury has a shot. However Langmead's effort was easily saved by Marriott.

The game was scrappy but Lincoln were definatly having the better of the play and very rarely this season have we looked so comfortable and so untroubled. Even Gain giving the ball away countless times didn't mean anything but Shrewsbury just wasted it as quickly as Peter had. Yeo almost scored minutes later but his shot went just over and good work from Butcher and Beevers to provide him with some work down the right. Green headed over from Sandwith's cross.

The second half began with an incident that would be good but in a bad way.  Yeo went for the ball but as soon as he made contact with the Shrewsbury attacker, he collasped to the floor holding his leg and having it twitching. After 3 minutes he was finally stretchered off. Now, I know what you're thinking, where's the good in that? Well the person who came on for his was youngster Ollie Ryan who was about to get his longest run out for the first team yet. It's good to see Keith bringing the young team players such as Hobbs, Ryan, Mettam and Frecklington through to the edges of the first team squad.

The 2nd half was a drab affair. The first chance came in the67th minute buy as usual, Shrewsbury wasted it and City easily cleared. The play eventually came to Gain but he shot wide. Ollie Ryan then had a great chance to score when a cross fell to him but he panicked and his shot went a fair way over the bar.

To say that Lincoln were comfortable in this match would be an understatement, we dominated the game without going out of 1st gear. Shrewsbury didn't have one clear cut chance. Shrewsbury did have one or two LONG range shots that went well over or wide towards the end of the half but City held on to record their first win in 5, first clean sheet since in 6 and to increase the Imps goal difference to +14, higher than anyone else outside the top 3 and are now in a position to start securing a playoff place and possibly (although very unlikely) sneaking that 3rd spot. City's next game is at Rushden on Friday night, no matter what happens City will only at worst move down to 8th if they lose because Wycombe and Northampton are playing each other but a win could see the Imps go 5th.