Marriott costs City all 3 points.
By Nathan Jackson
October 22 2005
2 mistakes from Alan Marriott cost the Imps 3 points against a very average Wycombe side who left with a 2-1 win. Marriott's version of musical statues and being scared to touch the ball gave Wycombe 2 goals they never looked like getting on their own and they leave the Bank with 3 undeserved points
City kicked the game off but with 5 seconds, had lost possession to the visitors and they had little intention give squandered the possession and won a free kick after 50 seconds when Butcher fouled Lee, a foul that he was also booked for. Wycombe wasted the resultant free kick but the Imps seemed more than happy to constantly give the ball back to them as virtually ever pass, was hit straight to a Wycombe player.
Nathan Tyson, apparently once almost an Imp had the next opportunity but his long range effort went well over the bar out for a goal kick. 10 passes straight to Wycombe later and Gareth McAuley actually managed to find a City player with his pass and that player, was Derek Asamoah and the small striker sent a shot well over Talia’s goal.
The game was being controlled by the visitors but they couldn’t get passed City’s defence and were restricted to very very long range shots which all went considerable over Marriott’s goal. City did start getting back into the game and the first real opportunity came on the 24th minute when good work from Beevers had won City a corner. The former
City exerted some more pressure on the half-hour as Butcher sent an 18 yard drive straight at Talia before McAuley headed over from a Scott Kerr free kick. The half slowly drifted out but Tyson did have a great opportunity just before the half ended when he founded himself with just Marriott to beat from 8 years out but his shot was scuffed over the bar.
Tommy Mooney should have put Wycombe up early on in the second half when he burst into the box, only to see him final shot trickle wide when he quite literally had all the time in the world.
However, City eventually took the lead 6 minutes into the half when Butcher and Asamoah produced some good interplay and the Ghana international put a ball into the box which Talia seemed scared to try and claim the ball and Robinson made him pay as he got his toe to the ball sending it into the net to give City a very unexpected goal. Kerr should have doubled the advantage but his long range effort went just over the bar.
A penetrating run by Butcher was the next action to challenge Wycombe’s defence as the loanee midfielder went around several defenders before eventually sending his 20 yard shot over the bar. City were made to rue these two wasted chances when a free kick came in from the left and was headed goalwards by Williamson and Marriott stood there, the ball was taking it’s time as well and Marriott didn’t make any attempt to try and save it, he just stood there and watched as it eventually hit the post and went into the net. He didn’t even need to dive, just a small jump would have been enough but it was now 1-1.
The referee, who had been infuriating the Imps’ throughout, then decided to book Keates for having the audacity to be kicked in the groin area (studs showing) by Senda, the defender had gone in and pretty much karate kicked Keates and the ref booked the City man for it.
A slip by Beevers prevented the Imps’ from a possible second goal when he was rounding one of the Wycombe defenders and in his attempts to recover the ball, he gave away a free kick and the game appeared to be heading for a 1-1 but Marriott seemed to have other ideas.
Another Wycombe cross was sent in and Marriott caught the ball, however, he inexplicably dropped it on Senda’s head, Williamson sent the ball goalwards, it hit the bar, bounced on the line and McAuley then boots it into the net to give Wycombe, what was a generally undeserved win.