retired_firoozeh

Saturday 1st December 2007

Blackpool v Lincoln
FA Cup 2nd Round

The 1st December turns out to be a day of mixed emotions, and many highs and lows. The day starts out well enough with the announcement of League 1 Manager of the Month...Me, 'bout time too. Once again the Imps remain unchanged from their last match.

The match is a fairly even affair, Blackpool have more possesion but we are the more potent force going forwards. The first 20 minutes are uneventful until Jon Parkin scores in the 21st minute to put us ahead. The dismissal of Markus Bean in the 54th minute for violent conduct puts us in firmly in the driving seat, and the players coast towards the final whistle. The lack of concentration proves to be our undoing as in the 84th minute Ahmet Brkovic scores the equaliser to earn 10 man Blackpool a replay at Sincil Bank.

Full Time
Blackpool 1 Ahmet Brkovic (84) - Lincoln City 1 Jon Parkin (21)

Sent Off: Markus Bean 54, (Straight Red- violent conduct)

retired_firoozeh

THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORT

The Sack Race!

Saturday afternoon saw the dismissal of no less than 5 managers from the English leagues. The victims were:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Andy Ritchie- Southampton
<LI>Colin Todd- Bradford City
<LI>David Hodgson- Darlington
<LI>Keith Alexander- Peterborough United
<LI>John Coleman- Accrington Stanley</UL>

FA Cup 3rd Round
The draw for the FA Cup 3rd round means either Lincoln or Blackpool have a potentially lucrative away day at Premier League team Charlton to look forward to.

****
The beginning of December sees Lincoln City FC involved in several festive tasks. Team mascot Poacher the Imp and player Paul Mayo head to the hospital, only for Mayo to dislocate his shoulder picking up a sack of presents. The injury requires specialist help and means a lay up of up to 2 months is on the cards. Team captain Michael Gault is asked to turn on the City's Christmas lights, and Owain Warlow is invited to start the festivities in his hometown of Pontypridd.

retired_firoozeh

Tuesday 4th December 2007

Lincoln v Blackpool
Coca Cola League 1

A close match is expected between these two sides after the weekend draw. Alas it is not to be, Blackpool look to have learnt from their recent game against us, scoring after just 8 minutes when Ben Burgess pounced on a rebound. The rest of the match is a fine example of attacking football as both sides engage in a battle to take the points. Despite having more of the ball, and more shots at goal we can't make any impression, and leave the match with nothing for the first time in 7 games.

Full Time
Lincoln 0 - Blackpool 1 Ben Burgess (8)
Man oif the Match Rhys Evans- Blackpool GK

****
In some ways this was a disappoitment, especially from an attacking point of view. 13 shots on goal, the most so far in any game for us, but only 3 actually forced a save from the Blackpool 'keeper. The firestation was in more danger than the Blackpool goal for most of this match, and that's off to the side of the ground! It looks like a lineup change and extra shooting practice is on the cards ahead of our away day to fellow ne boys Hereford on Saturday.

retired_firoozeh

Saturday 8th December 2007

Hereford v Lincoln
[i]Coca Cola League 1[/b]

Both ourselves and Hereford were among the preseason favourites for the drop, but both teams are currently defying all expectations and are well clear of the drop zone. A few changes were made to the starting lineup, Tomas Pekhart is back from international duty, Stuart Green starts in midfield and Kris Taylor returns on the left wing.

The match turns out to be fairly even in performance terms. Hereford's counter attacking style of play is foiled by a more defensive approach from the Imps which limits both teams attacking chances. Most of our play is concentrated in midfield, making Hereford work hard for the ball, but somehow we strike lucky and win 3-1. Jon Parkin nodded in from a free kick after half an hour, but Hereford pulled level through Clive Platt in the 42nd minute. The match is put beyond doubt in the second half when Jon Parkin grabs a second, and Stuart Green completes the rout.

Full Time
Hereford 1 Clive Platt (42) - Lincoln 3 Jon Parkin (29,61), Stuart Green (84)

MoM: Jon Parkin- Lincoln City SC

****
An even match which somehow went our way. 3 goals from 3 efforts on target is not a bad return, but the score could have been higher if our other three efforts had connected. The Christmas run-in looks quite easy, a cup replay against Blackpool on the 12th is followed by league games at home to Huddersfield (22nd place) and away to S****horpe (18th place).

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Wednesday 12th December

Lincoln v Blackpool
FA Cup 2nd Round Replay

What was expected to be a difficult game turned out to be an easy stroll out for the boys, Blackpool managed just 1 shot at goal for the entire match against our 9 efforts against goal. Once again Jon Parkin provided the breakthrough on 17 minutes. The rest of the match turned out to be dull and uninteresting.

Full Time
Lincoln 1 Jon Parkin (17) - Blackpool 0

MoM: Jeff Hughes (Lincoln City)

***
A dull match, but it means a potentially lucrative tie against Charlton at The Valley.

retired_firoozeh

Saturday 15th December

Lincoln v Huddersfield
Coca Cola League 1

This was another match that turned out to be an easy walk in the park for the Imps. Although there was only a single goal from Tom Wilkinson in the 62nd minute, Huddersfield never really looked like causing any problems. Despite only a single goal, the attacking performance was much improved from recent efforts, 9 shots at target forced 8 saves from the Huddersfield 'keeper.

Full Time
Lincoln City 1 Tom Wilkinson (62) - Huddersfield 0

MoM: Nat Brown (Lincoln City)

****
Another solid performance means morale is high heading into our next game against local rivals S****horpe.

retired_gabachitalinda

Good Start KUTGW

retired_firoozeh

Saturday 22nd December

S****horpe v Lincoln
Coca Cola League 1

Another game against an opponent from the bottom of the league that we were expected to win. However it was not to be, despite taking the lead in the 20th minute through Stuart Green, S****horpe pull level just 10 minutes later when Andrew Keoghscores. Just before half time Don Cowie puts S****horpe ahead. After half time we are unable to make any headway against a determined Scunny defence, and the game ends 2-1 to the home side.

Full Time
S****horpe 2 Andrew Keogh (30), Don Cowie (44) - Lincoln 1 Stuart Green (20)
MoM: Andrew Keogh (S****horpe)

****
Not a good performance from the lads today, whilst there were no truely bad performances the effort seemed a bit lacking in the match. Despite the defeat we remain in 2nd place going into the boxing day game against Hartlepool, a match I would hope to win, as they were another of this season's new boys.