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Lincoln 4
Barnet 1
14th January 2006
A superb second half performance by Lincoln City left
visitors Barnet shell-shocked, as they probably sensed a
comfortable victory for the earlier part of this game.
This was the first home match of the year for Lincoln,
which meant that it was the first time that the home
crowd were given an opportunity to voice their views over
the recent boardroom events. It was also the game that
marked Simon Yeo's return to Sincil Bank after spending
six months in New Zealand.
Imps' boss Keith Alexander made two alterations to the
side that drew 1-1 with Wrexham last week. The injured
Paul Mayo missed this game so Jeff Hughes switched from
attack to left-back, which enabled a recall for striker
Marvin Robinson. There was also a surprising recall for
Steve Robinson, who was given a midfield slot in place of
the rested Luke Foster.
It was a slow start to the game, with the first real shot
coming in the 9th minute, when Barnet's Nick Bailey shot
wide. Four minutes later, it was 1-0 to Barnet who
counterattacked Lincoln from an Imps' throw-in. City lost
possession in midfield to Dean Sinclair, who beat Gareth
McAuley before spotting the run of Giuliano Grazioli. He
was clear of Hughes, and Grazioli was able to send the
ball past Imps' goalkeeper Alan Marriott for 1-0.
Bailey sent a 17th minute shot wide for Barnet, as
Lincoln's fans saw a bleak outcome to this match. Their
spirits lifted slightly in the 20th minute when Yeo's
cross picked out Dean Keates, but the midfielder headed
wide. Three minutes later, Keates returned the favour
when his corner reached Yeo, but Yeo's hooked shot went
wide.
A 29th minute foul by Steve Robinson on Liam Hatch earnt
Barnet a dangerous free-kick. Ex-Arsenal player Paolo
Vernazza took the free-kick but Marriott was equal to it
and made the save. Two minutes later, Grazioli missed an
excellent chance for Barnet, when he headed wide from
6-yards out.
That miss proved costly for Barnet, as Lincoln enjoyed a
slice of luck to score the equalising goal. Good build-up
play from Scott Kerr saw him release the ball to Yeo, who
capitalised on a defensive error. Another stroke of luck
occurred when Yeo's shot took a deflection to send the
ball past Barnet goalkeeper Ross Flitney.
The score line remained 1-1 when the half-time whistle
sounded.
Hatch saw his 48th minute shot gathered by Marriott, as
both teams cancelled each other out during the opening
minutes of the second half. It seemed likely that the
next goal could prove the winner and fortunately, it was
Lincoln who scored it.
Seven minutes before the goal, there was a controversial
moment, which illustrated that Lincoln were starting to
take control of the play. A long ball forward was played
towards Yeo but somehow, Flitney caught the ball via the
help of his defender Anthony Charles. The home crowd
cried "backpass" but the officials were
unconvinced and play carried on.
So justices was probably done when Lincoln scored in the
63rd minute. It was created by Bailey's foul on Steve
Robinson, which earnt Lincoln a free-kick. When it was
eventually taken, Keates' delivery was met by the head of
Jamie McCombe, who scored to make it 2-1 to Lincoln.
Despite Barnet bring on Ben Bowditch and Damien Batt for
Vernazza and Ben Strevens respectively, they were
beginning to lose their confidence. Cautions for Hatch
and Ian Hendon soon followed, but so did two Barnet
corners that were easily dealt with by Lincoln's defence.
An incident in the 75th minute left Charles fortunate to
remain on the pitch. Charles flattened Steve Robinson
with a late challenge but the referee deemed it only
worthy of a yellow card. Even stranger was the referee's
decision to caution Keates for dissent before speaking to
Charles. Tempers were now fraying, as both sides began to
tackle wildly in the wake of Charles' challenge.
Luckily, two goals within two minutes meant that the
competitiveness went out of the game. The first goal was
created by Colin Cryan, who passed to Marvin Robinson.
The Imps' striker then showed the talent that saw him
play in the top flight with Derby County, when he
expertly curled the ball past Flitney for 3-1 to Lincoln.
Lincoln's supporters had no sooner sat down than they
were on their feet cheering a fourth goal. It was another
excellent goal, as Kerr sent a shot from 45-yards out
that sailed past Flitney, who was being distracted by
Marvin Robinson.
Little else happened - little else needed to happen -
although Ollie Ryan and Gary Birch were brought on in the
83rd minute for Yeo and Marvin Robinson. Three minutes
later, Keates was replaced by Lee Frecklington.
Overall, a superb victory for Lincoln and just what was
required to help banish the memories of this troublesome
time. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this victory
was that Lincoln played some good passing football.
Lincoln
City: A
Marriott, C Cryan, G McAuley, J McCombe, J Hughes, S
Kerr, D Keates(86 L Frecklington), S Robinson, F Green, M
Robinson(83 G Birch), S Yeo (83 O Ryan)
Unused subs: L Foster, N Brown
Barnet: R Flitney, I Hendon, B Fuller,
A Charles, A Gross, N Bailey, B Strevens(66 D Batt), D
Sinclair, P Vernazza(66 B Bowditch), L Hatch, G Grazioli
Unused subs: R Graham, L Soares, S Tynan
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