Notts County Rally For Draw
Lincoln City 1 Notts County 1

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5th August 2006

Notts County put their disappointing start to this match behind them as they managed to rally to claim a 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank this afternoon.

Lincoln City lined up much as predicted here, although since that article was written, The Imps have signed Ryan Amoo and Ryan Semple. This meant that Paul Mayo was given a substitute role to allow Amoo to play in midfield with Jeff Hughes slotting into the left-back role.

Lincoln began on the ascendancy with Lee Frecklington eager to send out a message: that he should have played more last season! Within the first minute, he showed that is likely to bring much to The Imps' midfield, when he neatly set-up Amoo, who shot wide of the post.

It was nervy start to the game as fouls and throw-ins dominated. When Lincoln did start to calm, they created several chances. The first of a batch came in the 6th minute when Amoo headed Hughes' cross over the crossbar.

A minute later, County goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington made the first save of the match, when he caught Scot Kerr's header. County briefly responded by winning an 8th minute corner. which they wasted.

Lincoln went on the attack, only to be stopped by Matthew Somner's foul on Hughes. This began the move that would lead to Lincoln's opening goal, as from that free-kick, Lincoln went on to win a corner. Hughes' delivery somehow bypassed everyone except Austin McCann, who blocked the ball on the line. Luckily, the ball fell to Adie Moses, who scored a debut goal via a right-foot shot into the net for 1-0 to Lincoln.

County were struggling to create anything, although Gary Silk did send a speculative long-range shot well wide in the 12th minute. Their frustrations came to the boil when former Imp Jason Lee received a yellow card for a 15th minute foul on Paul Morgan.

The most pleasing aspect of the first fifteen minutes was that Lincoln had scored their goal despite missing Danny Bacon for the majority of the period, as he required stitches to a facial wound.

In-between various free-kicks, Notts County did win a couple of corners but their delivery was poor. However, from a 22nd minute corner they did regain possession which led to Alan White heading wide.

Hughes was providing the best outlet of creativity for The Imps and his 24th minute cross reached Lee Beevers, who disappointingly volleyed his shot wide. Seven minutes later, Lee's foul on Hughes gave Kerr the chance to send in a free-kick, which Moses headed wide.

Lee almost redeemed himself in the 32nd minute when he headed David Pipe's cross over the crossbar. County did in fact finish the first half the stronger of the two sides. They came close to scoring in the 39th minute when Ian Ross' corner fell to Andy Parkinson, whose 18-yard shot went wide.

The half ended with Imps' goalkeeper Alan Marriott having to make his first save of the match, when he was required to catch Parkinson's 25-yard drive.

The second half began with end-to-end football as both Bacon and Jamie Forrester went close for City. Silk replied for County by sending a drive wide - all three attempts occurred before the 48th minute!

The game was more even, as Parkinson sent a 50th minute long-range shot wide, while Lincoln failed to capitalise on a corner a minute later.

The response from both managers was to bring on a substitutes. Lincoln were first to change as Bacon was replaced by Semple in the 51st minute. A minute later, Junior Mendes replaced County's former Imps' loanee Lawrie Dudfield.

It was County who benefited from the changes because two minutes later, they were level after Hughes diverted Ross' free-kick into his own goal to make the score line 1-1.

Lincoln came close to regaining the lead when Mark Stallard saw his 56th minute shot saved by Pilkington. In truth, it should have been 2-1 to County when they won a 59th minute throw-in. McCann's long throw-in found Lee, who sent a right-foot shot wide from 6-yards out.

That miss probably sealed Lee's fate, as seven minutes later, he was replaced by Tcham N'Toya. Shortly before, Lincoln had made their second substitution when Kerr was replaced by Colin Cryan. Lincoln's final substitution came in the 72nd minute when Forrester was replaced by Mayo in a tactical alteration.

As Notts County made their final change in the 79th minute - Ross being replaced by Tom Curtis - it appeared that both sides had settled for the draw. However, both suddenly rallied to end the match in an attacking fashion.

N'Toya almost scored a debut goal for County but Marriott was equal to the shot. At the other end, Pilkington opted to punch clear an 86th minute Lincoln corner. This launched County on the attack, and they won three corners in the closing minutes. Thankfully, Lincoln managed to hang on to their point to avoid a demoralising last-minute defeat.

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Lincoln City: A Marriott, L Beevers, A Moses, P Morgan, J Hughes, L Frecklington, S Kerr(62 C Cryan), R Amoo, D Bacon(52 R Semple), M Stallard, J Forrester(73 P Mayo)
Unused subs: S Rayner, G Birch

Notts County: K Pilkington, D Pipe, M Edwards, A White, A McCann, G Silk, I Ross(80 T Curtis), M Somner, A Parkinson, L Dudfield(53 J Mendes), J Lee(67 T N'Toya)
Unused subs: S Deeney, D Gleeson