A Year in Review : August 2010

August saw the start of the season and it wasn't a start to remember. Lincoln started with three defeats in a row in all competitions, as well as slipping to the bottom of the League, a slight improvement towards the end of the month gave hope, but it saw the end of Chris Fagan and Shane Clarke's Lincoln careers.

August started with the surprise news that Andy Hutchinson had been given a new extended contract. Despite being largely unimpressive since coming up from the youth team, Hutchinson was given a six month extension of his deal that was due to run out in January.

Lincoln’s first game of the season came away at the 2010 Playoff Final losers Rotherham. It’s safe to say City didn’t get off to a brilliant start, Rotherham taking the lead after 8 minutes through Le Fondre. Unlike the previous season though the Imps didn’t lay down and die, deservedly equalising through Carayol at the beginning of the second half and he wasted a golden opportunity minutes later, hitting it over from three or four yards out. Despite City dominating the rest of the game, it was the 88^th minute before Ryan Cresswell gave the hosts an undeserved victory. City would soon be meeting the Millers again though as the teams were drawn together in the JP Trophy.

A few days later and City’s early relationship with Yorkshire continued as the Imps made a trip to Leeds United in the Carling Cup. The newly promoted Elland Road won relatively comfortably, Howson opening the scoring in the second minute before Becchio scored in the seventh. Sam made it three on the 30^th minute before they rounded off a 4-0 win with a 72^nd minute penalty.

Ex Lincoln City goalkeeper Scott Loach received an international call up to play for England against Hungary.

Torquay United were the next to visit Sincil Bank and it was an early reunion between Carayol and his former hosts. The Imps and the Gulls had barely come out of their compensation battle over the Gambian when the clubs met, and it appeared as though City would go on to comfortably win as they dominated the first half with Gavin McCallum having a goal disallowed for office. Torquay then scored an undeserved opener just before half time before sealing a 2-0 win in the second half, both goals scored by Elliott Benyon. The defeat left City rock bottom of the Football League.

With goals still proving difficult for the “prolific” Broughton, Facey and Andy Hutchinson to come up with, Chris Sutton bought Ben Hutchinson on loan from Celtic. The striker had scored twice in a pre-season friendly against the Imps and Sutton was delighted about his addition to the squad, although it’s safe to say that Sutton’s judgement when it came to strikers was considerable more miss than hit. Hutchinson wouldn’t quite go on to be the prolific striker we had hoped for.

With the newly acquired goal-shy striker, the Imps travelled down to Gillingham’s Priestfield, the Gills having just been relegated from League One and the Imps opened the scoring through Cian Hughton. In typical Chris Sutton style though, the Imps completely sat back and rarely attacked during the rest of the game, although Delroy Facey and Drewe Broughton missed what would normally be considered easy chances. City moved up to 15^th, their joint highest position under Sutton.

The month ended with a home match against Crewe. Miller gave Crewe the lead before Albert Jarrett equalised just before half time. The goal would earn Jarrett an international call for the Sierra Leone national side.

August ended with Shane Clarke and Chris Fagan having their contracts mutually terminated, with Adifane Noussara signing a contract until the end of December, he wouldn’t play a single minute of football for the Imps though and would be released from his contract in November (although it wasn’t officially announced until December).