Gareth heads Imps into Cardiff showdown


By Nathan Jackson
May 21 2005

Gareth McAuley headed a 15th minute goal in the 1-1 draw with Macclesfield to send the Imps to the playoff final. McAuley gave the Imps a 2-0 aggregate lead before Harsley pulled one back but it proved irrelevant as City will not be aiming to make it 3rd time lucky.

Macclesfield started the game shooting towards the Silkmen Terrace which was packed with Imps fans. City had the first chances of the match. The first of which came when Gary Taylor-Fletcher had a shot deflected and out for a corner. McCombe headed Sandwith’s delivery over from the corner,

 

Ex-Imp Mark Bailey made a very hefty influence on the opening stages when he sent a 12 yard shot sailing out into the streets behind the Silkmen terrace. The opening stages were slow but Yeo did force a corner on 15 minutes. Gary Taylor-Fletcher sent the ball in and Gareth McAuley headed the ball against the post and into the goal despite the efforts of Fettis to keep it out. Macclesfield players protested saying the ball hadn’t crossed the line despite that the arm Fettis threw the ball out of the goal with was nearly touching the back of the net. So it was 1-0 to the Imps on the day and 2-0 on aggregate so City were firmly in the driving seat.

 

The game continued to be slow and the next incident came 6 minutes later when Morley was given a yellow card after arriving late on GTF. McCombe was lucky to escape punishment a few minutes later after pushing Parkin. Morley took the resulting free kick and it went just over the cross bar.

 

Townson almost got a goal for the hosts when his low drive tested Marriott. Sandwith and McAuley quickly entered the referee’s handbook for fouls on Bailey and Townson. Macclesfield were failing to make any decent chances for themselves.

 

Just before half time, Yeo stormed into the box before his blocked shot fell to Butcher who drilled a shot just wide. Parkin was lucky to escape the referee’s book just minute when after being fouled by McAuley, he appeared to kick out at the Imps defender. Parkin fired the free kick wide but McCombe joined in the yellow card frenzy for descent. In stoppage time, Macclesfield’s Tipton should have been booked for a blatent dive when running into the area but surprise surprise, nothing happened.

 

Macclesfield forced 2 quick corners in the 2nd half but City had the first real chance when Green fed Yeo through with a beautiful pass but Fettis quickly killed of the attack with a fine example of the goalkeeper rushing out. Parkin again failed to produce from a free kick minutes later as he hit the ball straight at Butcher.

 

John Miles replaced Kevin Townson and almost made an immediate impact but his shot went just wide when he had broken through the Imps defence. Whitaker replaced Bailey for Macclesfield as they looked for a more attacking presence in the 65th minute.

 

City almost had a 2nd through very fortunate circumstances when Barras passed the ball straight to Yeo who ran one on one with Fettis. Yeo rounded the former Hull and York stopper but chose to do a quick right footed shot then taking his time to control the shot and get it on his left foot. Those little kids playing on the street behind the Imps fans had yet another ball to play with.

 

With 14 minutes to go, Macclesfield got back into the game when Paul Harsley sent a good left footed shot around Marriott from the edge of the box and all of a sudden, the Imps were far from comfortable.

 

City very rarely got out of their own half after that with a Parkin free kick and Miles effort testing Marriott. However, City were able to hold out to go through for their 2nd playoff final in 3 years.