Scunthorpe's Ex-Imps Hurt City
Scunthorpe United 4 Lincoln City 3 a.e.t

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23rd August 2006

Lincoln City's Head Coach John Schofield made one change for this game, which saw Simon Rayner replace Alan Marriott in the Lincoln goal. Although many supporters present believed that Rayner had replaced Marriott on merit, the official reason that later emerged was that Marriott was injured.

Rayner was quickly in the midst of the action when Scunthorpe won a 2nd minute throw-in. The ball reached Robbie Fry, who saw his shot blocked for a corner.

Lincoln cleared their lines on that occasion but they fell behind in the 6th minute. Billy Sharp's neat pass was met by Steve Torpey, who sent his shot high into the net for 1-0 to Scunthorpe.

Scunthorpe were in command, as apart from a speculative shot by Jamie Forrester in the 12th minute, Lincoln were unable to create any goal scoring opportunities.

The game's first caution was handed to Matt Sparrow in the 17th minute, when he was booked for a foul on Mark Stallard. Soon afterwards, Lincoln did create a decent chance but Lee Beevers headed Jeff Hughes' cross over the bar in the 20th minute.

Marcus Williams conceded a 28th minute free-kick for a foul on Beevers. Hughes decided to try his luck from the free-kick, bringing out a good save from Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

It should have been 2-0 in 31st minute when Hughes fouled Cliff Bryne to concede a free-kick. Dave Mulligan delivered the ball but Sharp headed wide from 6-yards out.

By now, neither side could create a clear cut chance, and as the half drew to a close both Sparrow and Sharp (twice) fired long-range shots wide. That was not the end of the half though, as it finished with Scunthorpe on the attack. Sharp saw a 42nd minute shot blocked for a corner, which was taken by Mulligan. Managing to head the ball at goal was Shane Paul - a summer trialist at Lincoln City FC - but his header was cleared. Scunthorpe regained possession to win another corner, but that too was cleared.

Neither manager made any changes at the start of the second half. Lincoln mounted an attack in the 48th minute that saw Stallard head Paul Mayo's cross wide of the post. Two minutes later, Sharp curled a shot over the crossbar.

Throw-ins continued to interrupt play until the 56th minute when the referee blew for a free-kick when Beevers fouled Richard Hinds. Mulligan set his sights and curled the ball direct from the free-kick into the top right of the goal for 2-0 to Scunthorpe. Beevers was also cautioned for the foul.

To their credit, Lincoln continued to try and press for a goal. Their reward came in the 67th minute when Ryan Amoo's cross was drilled low past Murphy by Stallard.

The goal prompted Scunthorpe to make a double substitution by bring on Cleveland Taylor and ex-Imp Ian Barraclough for Mulligan and Foy respectively.

It was now a case of shoot on sight for both teams, as both Stallard and Barraclough sent speculative shots wide within two minutes. However, Scunthorpe won a 75th minute corner that was headed over the crossbar by Steve Foster, to keep Lincoln in the game.

It took Lincoln just another five minutes to find the equaliser when Kerr saw his shot blocked to Lee Frecklington, who then fired past Murphy for 2-2. Both sides refused to over committ and the second half ended at 2-2, thereby meaning that 30 minutes of extra time would be required.

Lincoln required just ninety seconds of extra time to score their third goal. In retrospect, The Imps' goal needed to be ninety seconds before the final whistle! Andy Crosby had just been cautioned for a foul on Forrester. Lincoln retained possession from the resultant free-kick, which saw Kerr crossing into the penalty area where Beevers headed the ball via the post and into the goal for 3-2 to Lincoln.

Lincoln were happy to soak the pressure up and even had chances but Hughes drilled a shot wide in the 94th minute after he had been superbly released. Three minutes later, Beevers forced Murphy into a fine save to gather Beevers' long-range shot.

Just before the first period of extra time ended, Murphy was booked for kicking the ball away.

The break gave Scunthorpe time to regroup and they seemed more determined to score. Four minutes later, it was 3-3 after Scunthorpe made progress along the touch line via throw-ins. When the moment was right, Hinds crossed for Paul to prod the ball past Rayner for 3-3. How Schofield must have wished that he had signed Shane Paul during the summer!

A minute later, it was 4-3 to Scunthorpe when Rayner's punched clearance fell to Barraclough, who volleyed the ball into the goal. Alas, Lincoln were obviously demoralised by this goal and they failed to create another chance other than a corner in the final minute that came to nothing.

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Scunthorpe: J Murphy, C Byrne, A Crosby, S Foster, M Williams, D Mulligan(71 C Taylor), M Sparrow, R Hinds, R Foy(71 I Baraclough), S Torpey(23 S Paul), B Sharp
Unused subs: J Lillis, L Ridley

Lincoln City: S Rayner, L Beevers, A Moses, P Morgan, P Mayo, R Amoo, S Kerr, L Frecklington, J Hughes, M Stallard, J Forrester
Unused subs: A Marriott, C Cryan, R Semple, M Gritton, O Ryan