City's poor run continues with defeat at Barrow

Lincoln City's Blue Square Premier season is already turning into a relegation battle (despite what Steve Tilson thinks) after yet another defeat. Just like the win over Telford, last week's win over Gateshead has proved to be a false dawn with the Imps barely managing a shot in the 1-0 defeat to the Cumbrians.

City kicked off the match and within seconds a ball into the box saw Smith crash a header against the post. The tall striker required the physio a few minutes later after colliding with first. Boyes had the host's first effort on goal with a long range effort before Fuseini and Gowling both hit efforts wide. McCallum hit a shot wide of the target from distance.

Robin Hulbert had to go off after an injury, being replaced by James Owen. Cook headed a Mackreth shot wide. City won several corners but neither provided any danger as Russell and Nutter kept doing their impression of the Chuckle Brother (to me, to you, to me, to you) without once trying to get the ball into the box.

Fuseini was booked for a foul on Almond before Hone had to head over his own bar. The corner was sung in and a Lincoln defender heavily barged into a Barrow attacker and the referee gave the penalty. Barker stepped up and beat Anyon to end the half.

The referee ignored an elbow from Andy Cook on Danny Hone at the beginning of the second half before Anyon saved brilliantly from a low Almond shot. Paul Smith had a long range effort deflected behind. Barrow were now dominating and whenever Lincoln did get forward, the Chuckle Brothers acts re-emerged and nothing came of any of them.

Cook, who had been fouling City players all night, went in with a very late challenge on Josh Gowling to earn himself a red card. Sinclair and Barrow's Smith were booked for the resultant melee that followed.

Substitute Nelson headed just wide with a few minutes to go, but other than that City didn't manage to find what would have been an undeserved equaliser.