Another nail in the coffin of Lincoln City

Lincoln City's slow and inevitable death became a step closer after yet another defeat. City had generally been in control of the game but incompetent strikers meant that when Kettering scored with their first chance of the game thanks to an incompetent defeence, the game was effectively over before finishing 2-0.

The pre-season notes at Sincil Bank were clear, get a win and everything would start falling into place after that, kindly forgetting that City's last win has been followed by just one point in three games.

City started well with Barraclough winning a free kick when fouled by Taft, the Kettering man getting booked for his troubles. One of Lincoln's over-complicated free kicks eventually resulted in Power having a shot blocked. A similar free kick was also cleared before Noubissie was booked for a late challenge on Fuseini. A typical poor corner also followed for the Imps on 15 minutes.

Barraclough hit the side netting before Fuseini  forced a good save from Walker. Gowling hit over from the turn before Taylor hit just wide when he tried to lob Walker out on the right. Alan Power was then given the best chance of the game so far as he won the ball 30 yards out and had a clear run on goal, only to see his shot from the edge of the box easily saved to deny a third goal in four games.

Barraclough had another effort blocked by Walker before Taylor was also denied by the goalkeeper. Barraclough had an effort cleared off of the line to end a half that was dominated by the Imps.

Walker fouled Smith within 5 minutes of the restart when he jumped for the ball studs first and connected with the City striker, but it was ignored. Fuseini hit just wide from the edge of the box before two wasted corners. Cunnington and Bridges replaced Meecham and Clapham for the visitors and the physical Cunnington was quickly giving away free kicks and elbowing players.

The Imps had dominated, the ball had barely been out of the Kettering half and what happened soon was a characteristic of the Imps in recent years, Kettering's first shot from their first attack going in. Three City defenders failed to tackle a Kettering man before the ball fell to Marna and he smashed it in from 15 yards in.

McCallum and Perry came on for Taylor and Smith shortly afterwards but City's attacking portion of the game had effectively gone. Cunnington danced around 4 City defenders before being fouled by Christophe to give the visitors a penalty. Ashikodi slotted home to make it 2-0.

The final moments of the game saw Christophe sent off for a second bookable offence when he tackled Sekajja rather harshly.