Imps Injuries Mount Ahead Of Plymouth Tie

Paul Farman sustained a knee injury during the week that cost him his place against Welling United and with Plymouth Argyle on the horizon the Imps injury woes have mounted during the last week. Keeper coach David Preece was more than competent against Welling and would not let the Imps down should he be required to deputise.

Fox Mulder investigates

 

Connor Robinson sustained a horror challenge that has thankfully led to just bruising, but Todd Jordan – coming into his own over the last 3-4 games – is carrying a hernia that will require an operation. He battled on yesterday and should be able to play against the Pilgrims, although Connor is unlikely to feature.

The talented Danny Rowe is still sidelined with an ankle issue that sees swelling whenever he tries to run on it in training.  The Imps have missed him although hopefully he could be back for a tough run in the League during November. Lincoln face Southport and Forest Green away, before home games at in-form Alfreton and Hereford who beat us thanks to a poor example of refereeing. Rowe could be the difference between three points and ten from those four games.

Adi Yussuf does appear to be over a career threatening complaint that leads to pain and strains, but he needs match fitness in order to be considered. The Manager has been hampered in his attempts to get him a loan due to The FA Trophy competition.  According to Simmo there are two rounds coming up meaning the player might only get just the one outing when a 3-4 week loan really needs to see him endure 360 minutes on the pitch.

Welling United 1 Lincoln 0 Jolly Unlucky Imps Deserve Better

Welling United conceded almost everything statistically to the Imps except what really counts – goals. Bitter perhaps but then the side deserved better as the following report will illustrate.

For the benefit of Welling fans visiting STMI for the first time , first the Teams & schemes then a blow by blow followed by more stats than you can shake an Imp or Wing at, thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs.

 1 V 0 

H/T 0-0

scorers  53 Gallagher

Attendance  746   (579 Wings 167 Imps)

Ref Mr Martin

Day Goes 4-1-4-1 (4-1-2-3)

18 Butcher

2 Fazakerley 5 Franks 14 Hudson 19 Obersteller

15 Dyer

8 Clarke   (Y-77)            4 Gallagher

           7 Hughes-Mason                                                              33 Healey                                          

9 Guthrie

*****

Substitutions

65 Lafayette on for Hughes-Mason, 73 Bergqvist on for Dyer,

On the bench

 17 Webb, 6 Bergqvist, 13 Turner, 26 Cargill,  10 Lafayette

*****

Simmo 4-3-3

Preece

Miller Brown  Boyce  Newton

Jordan Foster

Jackson  Power Dixon

Tomlinson

*****

Substitutions

62 Fairhurst on for Foster, 75 Wright on for Dixon,

On the bench

Fairhurst, Wright, Sheridan,  Nolan, Gray, 

*****

To the game fellow football fans to the game……………

The Imps kicked off on a rain-sodden surface with Power and Jordan working the ball to Jackson’s but his ball to Tomlinson is poor. Fazackerley gets forward well, beating two but Brown clears the cross with ease.  Good work by Dixon forces a corner, the first of three but Franks and Hudson show their credentials as one of the best centre-back pairings in the division.

Lincoln continue the bright start with Miller getting forward and playing in Tomlinson who unloads from the edge of the box only to be denied by the heroics of keeper Butcher.  Fazakerley again roasts the Imps left flank sending over a peach that Guthrie puts wide from 6 yards.  A twenty-five yard free-kick from Heely forces a fabulous parry from Preece and he claims confidently at the resulting deep corner.

The game is open and end to end with Jordan continuing his great and creative form with a super cross to Jackson, but his goal-bound effort is palmed away by a full-length save from Butcher. Left-back Obersteller gets beyond Miller and sends in a cross for Hudson but his header is also saved by Preece. Guthrie shoots wide from the edge of the box before Preece again saves a fierce free-kick from Dyer on the half–hour.

A series of niggly fouls disrupt what has previously been an evenly contested but lively game before a through-ball from Jordan finds Tomlinson who shoots wide. Jackson’s effort from the edge of the box is saved by Butcher with the ball slipping through his gloves for a corner.  Newton then sends a twenty-five yard free-kick just a fiver’s breadth over the bar.

Second Half 

Both managers keep the faith as Preece brilliantly and bravely gathers at the foot Guthrie. Power gives to Newton on the overlap who hits a hay-maker but Fazakerley blocks at the expense of a corner.  Eight minutes into the half Heely sends in a great ball, the defence fails to deal with it and Gallagher, unmarked in the centre of the box, beats Preece with a drive into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Imps respond and take the initiative,  Jackson conjures a cross for Tomlinson but he can only head it wide.  Dixon is caught offside before Heely fouls Miller allowing Newton to curl another free-kick just  the wrong side of the left-hand post.  On the hour Fairhurst is brought on for Foster as the Imps continue to go for the equaliser and he forces our seventh corner of the game.  Moments later Fairhurst has an effort that almost ends up in the flats behind the goal.

The Wings also look to regain the tempo of a first half that seems to have withered in the second period as Lafayette comes on for Hughes Mason. The lull continues until Bergqvist, also on his way back from injury, replaces Dyer and an Obersteller free-kick finds Franks but his header is saved by Preece. After a knee injury to Farman our number two has had a competent display that bodes well.

With 15 minutes to go Nick Wright replaces Dixon with the Imps sending four up front to chase a share of the spoils.  Clarke gets a card for a trip on Jordan but Marlon Jackson’s free-kick is too high to trouble the keeper.  Butcher is however called on to parry a header from Nick Wright with the Imps winning two further corners to hit a milestone of ten for the match compared to the hosts 2 that equate to three for the contest. Alas none led to shooting opportunities as the fruitless run and poor luck in front of goal continues.

The side do deserve better but 13th place considering the size of the budget and the last few years is well worth keeping the faith for.  There is also the Cup game against Plymouth to look forward to, which means the rare visit of a League side at reduced admission prices to boot (just £15 / £8 (cons) or a fiver for kids).

Stats

Note:

shots on includes  goals and saves includes crosses claimed

*****

 V 

51% Ball 49%

6 Shots on 9

4 Misses 6

5 Saves 6

3 Corners 10

5 Offside 4

9 Fouls 11

1 Yellows 0

0 Reds 0

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS
1	Cambridge United	17	11	5	1	25	7	+18	38
2	Kidderminster Harriers	17	10	2	5	28	18	+10	32
3	Luton Town	17	8	7	2	30	16	+14	31
4	Grimsby Town	17	9	3	5	25	17	+8	30
5	Braintree Town	17	8	5	4	24	15	+9	29
6	Barnet	17	7	7	3	26	18	+8	28
7	Welling United	17	8	4	5	27	22	+5	28
8	Alfreton Town	17	9	1	7	29	27	+2	28
9	Salisbury City	16	8	3	5	20	17	+3	27
10	Nuneaton Town	17	7	6	4	25	25	0	27
11	Gateshead	17	8	2	7	25	21	+4	26
12	FC Halifax Town	17	7	4	6	28	28	0	25
13	Lincoln City	17	6	4	7	17	17	0	22
14	Forest Green Rovers	17	6	3	8	30	29	+1	21
15	Southport	17	6	3	8	17	22	-5	21
16	Wrexham	17	5	5	7	23	25	-2	20
17	Macclesfield Town	17	5	5	7	21	23	-2	20
18	Dartford	17	5	3	9	18	28	-10	18
19	Hereford United	16	4	5	7	15	18	-3	17
20	Tamworth	17	4	5	8	16	25	-9	17
21	Woking	17	3	5	9	17	27	-10	14
22	Chester	17	3	5	9	12	25	-13	14
23	Aldershot Town (-10)	17	6	5	6	21	19	+2	13
24	Hyde	17	0	3	14	14	44	-30	3

Stats & Table Welling United 1 Lincoln 0 Gallagher Grabs Glory

Welling United won this one with a strike from Gallagher, who thumped down the middle after finding himself unmarked on the edge of the box. But in truth the game could have gone either way with Lincoln failing to take their chances in the first half as the Imps stay 13th.

thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs.

 1 V 0 

H/T 0-0

scorers  53 Gallagher

Attendance  746   (579 Wings 167 Imps)

Ref Mr Martin

Day Goes 4-1-4-1 (4-1-2-3)

18 Butcher

2 Fazakerley 5 Franks 14 Hudson 19 Obersteller

15 Dyer

 7 Hughes-Mason  8 Clarke  (Y-77) 4 Gallagher 33 Healey

                9 Guthrie

*****

Substitutions

65 Lafayette on for Hughes-Mason, 73 Bergqvist on for Dyer, 

On the bench

 17 Webb, 6 Bergqvist, 13 Turner, 26 Cargill,  10 Lafayette

*****

Simmo 4-2-3-1

Preece

Miller Brown  Boyce  Newton

Jordan Foster

Jackson  Power Dixon

Tomlinson

*****

Substitutions

62 Fairhurst on for Foster, 75 Wright on for Dixon,

On the bench

Fairhurst, Wright, Sheridan,  Nolan, Gray, 

*****

Stats

Note:

shots on includes  goals and saves includes crosses claimed

*****

 V 

51% Ball 49%

6 Shots on 9

4 Misses 6

5 Saves 6

3 Corners 10

5 Offside 4

9 Fouls 11

1 Yellows 0

0 Reds 0

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Cambridge United	17	11	5	1	25	7	+18	38
2	Kidderminster Harriers	17	10	2	5	28	18	+10	32
3	Luton Town	17	8	7	2	30	16	+14	31
4	Grimsby Town	17	9	3	5	25	17	+8	30
5	Braintree Town	17	8	5	4	24	15	+9	29
6	Barnet	17	7	7	3	26	18	+8	28
7	Welling United	17	8	4	5	27	22	+5	28
8	Alfreton Town	17	9	1	7	29	27	+2	28
9	Salisbury City	16	8	3	5	20	17	+3	27
10	Nuneaton Town	17	7	6	4	25	25	0	27
11	Gateshead	17	8	2	7	25	21	+4	26
12	FC Halifax Town	17	7	4	6	28	28	0	25
13	Lincoln City	17	6	4	7	17	17	0	22
14	Forest Green Rovers	17	6	3	8	30	29	+1	21
15	Southport	17	6	3	8	17	22	-5	21
16	Wrexham	17	5	5	7	23	25	-2	20
17	Macclesfield Town	17	5	5	7	21	23	-2	20
18	Dartford	17	5	3	9	18	28	-10	18
19	Hereford United	16	4	5	7	15	18	-3	17
20	Tamworth	17	4	5	8	16	25	-9	17
21	Woking	17	3	5	9	17	27	-10	14
22	Chester	17	3	5	9	12	25	-13	14
23	Aldershot Town (-10)	17	6	5	6	21	19	+2	13
24	Hyde	17	0	3	14	14	44	-30	3

Wings V Imps Teams & Schemes

Welling Utd  have surprised a few but loans from AFC Bournemouth and Cambridge confront us today along with Loick Pires, a player we Imps would worship on the wing.  Leading scorer Ross Lafayette could also be back to partner Guthrie to ruin an already tricky away-day.  However if the Imps keep it tight we can hurt them, with our tails up we are a match for any side on our day.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

 V 

Saturday 2nd Nov 2013 KO 3PM

What Are They Saying –  FANS Forum      Ground guide      Away ticket prices    

The potential Teams

The Imps will have to keep a very potent passing side quiet today if we are to have any chance of pinching a point or three. Left-back Obersteller is fit again setting up a poser for in-form Miller who will also have Pires to deal with. The Wings wide-boys turn a midfield quartet into a trio in the blink of an eye with Guthrie a tasty target man in the absence of Lafayette who looks likely to spring a late surprise and play.  That could change things to 4-4-2 with Boyce and Brown at full stretch.

In the middle  Captain Clarke is also back with Dyer or Day next to him, but the return of Nolan and no nonsense Foster should nullify the threat from deep down the middle at least.  Newton will have an interesting tussle with right back Fazakerley, but should have the beating of him on his forward forages at least suggesting more rich pickings for Tomlinson.

Jackson, Dixon  and Tomlinson could all play as the one as well as change flanks to add to the confusion for the Wings back four.  With Obersteller fit again the on-loan Cambridge centre-back Blaine Hudson will move from full-back to his normal centre-back position next to Cargill (on-loan from Bournemouth) with Franks free to go between centre-back and holding midfielder.  He is one of the best in the division suggesting a tough day for Power unless he can realise the potential so many see in him.

Mind you best laid plans can change in an instant during the course of a match warm up as the managerial mind games continue before during and after the referee wakes up the pea. ………………………..

Day Goes 4-1-4-1 (4-1-2-3)

18 Butcher

2 Fazakerley 26 Cargill 14 Hudson 19 Obersteller

5 Franks

8 Clarke     15 Dyer 

33 Healey                                  11 Pires 

9 Guthrie

Simmo 4-3-3

Farman

Miller Brown  Boyce  Newton

Nolan Foster

Tomlinson  Power Jackson

Dixon

For those who missed the stats…………………….

Gary Simpson	Manager	Jamie Day
4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3	Formation	4-4-2 / 4-1-4-1
13	Position	9
22	Points	25
17	Goals scored	26
16	Goals conceded	22
34	Yellow cards	28
1	Red Cards	0
16th	Position 2012/13	Promoted from BSS
Play-offs	Forecast	Mid-table
3-0 V Hyde (H)	Biggest win	5-2 V FGR (H)
1-4 Harriers (A)	Heaviest defeat	0-3 V Halifax (A)

Ker-ching

19,473	Turnstile Clicks	6,562
2434	Ave Gate	820
2748 v Aldershot	Hi	1017 V Barnet
1879 V Southport	Low	452 V Forest Green

Heroes & Villains

Heroes	Goals	Heroes	Goals	Results
Lafayette	6	Tomlinson	7	Halifax	3
Clarke	5	Dixon	3	Welling	0
Dyer	3	Fairhurst	2	Harriers	4
Pires	3	Nolan	2	Lincoln	1
Healy	3	Miller	2	Welling	2
Bergqvist	2	Boyce	2	Tamworth	0
Fazackerley	1	Rowe	1	Lincoln	0
Beautyman	1	Wright	1	Aldershot	1
Day	1	Power	1	Braintree	2
Heroes	Assists	Heroes	Assists	Welling	3
Obersteller	3	Newton	7	Lincoln	0
Guthrie	3	Power	3	Tamworth	0
Lafayette	3	Miller	2	Welling	1
Healy	3	Brown	2	Barnet	1
Fazackerley	2	Boyce	1	Nuneaton	2
Gallagher	2	Tomlinson	1	Lincoln	2
Dyer	2	Nolan	1	Macclesfield	2
4 players	1	Fofana	1	Welling	1
		Jordan	1	Lincoln	3
Villains	Yellows	Villains	Yellows	Hyde	0
Gallagher	6	Tomlinson	6	Welling	1
Clarke	3	Nolan	5	Aldershot	0
Butcher	2	Newton	4	Hereford	1
Franks	2	Miller	4	Lincoln	0
Bergqvist	2	Power	4	Hyde	0
Guthrie	2	Jordan	2	Welling	1
Pires	2	Foster	2	Luton	3
Hudson	2	Rowe	2	Lincoln	2
Healy	2	Boyce	2	Welling	5
Obersteller	1	Yussuf	1	Forest Green	2
Fazackerley	1	Gray	1	Lincoln	1
Dyer	1	Sheridan	1	Southport	0
Day	1			Southport	2
Lafayette	1			Welling	2
Villains	Reds	Villains	Reds	Barnet	1
		Power	1	Lincoln	1

Current & Overall Form

Form
	G	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Rank
Welling (H)	8	4	3	1	13	7	6	15	9
Lincoln (A)	8	1	3	4	8	13	-5	6	15
Lincoln (H)	8	5	1	2	9	3	6	16	7
Welling (A)	8	3	1	4	13	15	-2	10	9
Last Five	G	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Rank
Welling	5	2	1	2	7	8	-1	7	12
Lincoln	5	1	2	2	6	7	-1	5	16
Overall	G	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
Welling	16	7	4	5	26	22	4	25	9
Lincoln	16	6	4	6	17	16	1	22	13

Historic Tale of the Tape

The sides have only met once, in the 1st Round of the FA Cup back in 1999/2000, The Imps won the game at Sincil Bank 1-0.

Season	Date	Home	Score	Away	Competition
1999/2000	Sat 30 Oct	Lincoln City	1 – 0	Welling Utd.	F.A. Cup

Newton & Tomlinson plan to plunder A While Yet

Ben Tomlinson’s comments about Newton’s quality of delivery helping him to get a move have been taken out of context in some quarters. The Imps leading scorer is fully focused on adding to his seven goal haul again today with agent provocateur  Newton continuing to assist him in his quest.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

 V 

Saturday 2nd Nov 2013 KO 3PM

Sean Newton has been a revelation this season, with many comparing his and Millers sensational wing-back contribution to that of Bimson and Bailey in the golden era under the late great KA. Keith Alexander knew how to feed the forwards and the same can be said of Simmo who has incouraged them to get down the flanks.

No	NAME	St	Sub	Mins	G	On	M	Ass	F’s	F’ed	YC	RC
2	Miller	15	0	1350	2	4	1	2	10	11	3	0
3	Newton	18	0	1602	0	7	6	7	15	6	4	0

Newton leads the assist charts with 7 at the moment and Miller has delivered two, but both have seen plenty of their quality crosses go unfulfilled.  The two have had fantastic seasons and will be missed for a game shortly with the duo on 4 cautions so far this season a one match ban is almost inevitable.  Tomlinson has returned from his own ban with a vengeance and a brace against Worcester to set up a Cup tie against Plymouth that has everyone laughing all the way to the bank.

If Tommo can continue to grab goals at the rate he is he could end up with 19 this season and perhaps even join the exclusive 20 goal club. That book has not been dusted off since Yeo did it in 2004/5 almost a decade ago, but the way Ben battles you fancy him to be amongst the goals every game. Therefore it is inevitable that a Football league side will come in for him with the Imps unlikely to want to stand in his way. Ben was 24 on Thursday and, with him tied down to a two year deal, the Imps will be able to cash in on a forward that is destined to play higher and with the best years of his career still in front of him.

No	NAME	St	Sub	Mins	G	On	M	Ass	F’s	F’ed	YC	RC
11	Tomlinson	17	0	1292	7	23	12	2	34	13	6	0

Here are the current heroes and villains stats with a Ben’s biopic at the bottom.

Goal Machines		Card Collectors
Goals		Yellows
Tomlinson	7	Tomlinson	6
Dixon	3	Nolan	5
Fairhurst	2	Newton	4
Nolan	2	Miller	4
Miller	2	Power	4
Boyce	2	Jordan	2
Rowe	1	Foster	2
Wright	1	Rowe	2
Power	1	Boyce	2
		Yussuf	1
Assists		Gray	1
Newton	7	Sheridan	1
Power	3
Miller	2	Reds
Brown	2	Power	1
Boyce	1
Tomlinson	1
Nolan	1
Fofana	1
Jordan	1

Take a bow Ben

STMI BIOPIC
FULL NAME	Ben Tomlinson
DATE OF BIRTH	31 October 1989 (age 24)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Dinnington,
HEIGHT/WEIGHT	5 ft 11 in / 12st 8lbs
PLAYING POSITION	Forward
CONTRACT INFORMATION
CLUB & TENURE	Lincoln City 2 year deal
NUMBER	11
SENIOR STATS
YEARS	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Worksop Town	76	(46)
2011–2012	Macclesfield Town	27	(6)
2012–	Alfreton Town	46	(14)

Nolan’s Back But Lafayette’s A Maybe

Welling Utd’s leading scorer Ross Lafayette had looked set to miss out during the pre-match manager smokescreen, with a similar ankle issue to Danny Rowe but more positive news sees Nolan definitely return to clip the Wings on the one hand while pulling our midfield strings on the other.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs.

 V 

Saturday 2nd Nov 2013 KO 3PM

What Are They Saying –  FANS Forum      Ground guide      Away ticket prices   

Welling look set to continue with a 4-1-4-1 cum 4-1-2-3  with Guthrie leading the line and pacey Loick Pires up with him along with Healy or surprise entry Ross Lafayette coming up on the rails.  In central midfield Captain Lee Clarke will continue next to manager Jamie Day, still rolling back the years at 34.  The Wings have pace, they have movement and can create or take chances from all over the pitch.

Lincoln meanwhile should continue with passing prince Nolan in for Jordan (hernia) with Dixon keeping his place while Nick Wright or  Jake Sheridan look the two options for Connor Robinson who should be fit for a return against the shaky Pilgrims in next weeks crunch cup tie.  Ben Tomlinson looks set to continue his goal streak, with the Imp marksman on 7 so far this season, many of which he attributes to Newton, the best left back in the division.  Miller on the right is a contender too, having the time of his life down the flank this season.

Action Jackson will also want to get the goal his performances have deserved and Alan Power will be looking to get a long overdue goal.  Nat Brown and Andrew Boyce will renew their season-long partnership that had a rare seven minutes rest in the cup.

In Simmo & Team Lincoln We Must Trust.

The weekly press call gave the IMPression that Gary Simpson is still looking to conclude his quest for a target man, although despite a clear loyalty to his players he has not ruled out a move for a midfielder should the need arise. But he is in no rush and will keep his options open it would seem, with injuries to Jordan and Rowe more the excuse for change than the failure of his middlemen.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs.

 

Simmo is an old school man manager and coach, for him loyalty is a two-way street.  In a recent interview he answered ‘neither’ to Twitter and Facebook who should really have no place in the dressing room as they do not ever get you a goal on the pitch.  His only ostentatious comment was a penchant for an Audi as a car, but the miles he has done in one of late suggests it is more the workhorse element that drives him the the Fancy-Dan label thrown at him and his team by the vanquished FA Cup foe of Worcester last week.

In reality, something Lincoln has needed almost as long as a rich and ambitious chairman, his side works hard and fights for every ball. The inspiring ‘none shall pass’ mantra has only failed them once against the brilliance of Kidderminster Harriers. Yes the Imps have lost other games, but that is down to lack of goals scored more than the ability of the side to compete against ambitious clubs, with deep enough pockets to throw more than the club generates, through its own endeavours, in order to chase the promotion dream.

This and, the style of the team, may frustrate certain sections of the support that would like to see Lincoln go gung-ho, but we are where we are because of what we are and how the club has been run. For now mid-table is a vast improvement on a slide that has seen perpetual relegation dog-fights for half a decade. Perhaps like Simmo we should back the side and give them time? Perhaps even allow the manager to generate the funds to build the club instead of the October itchy feet syndrome that drives out manager after manager.

This is no quick fix and his record is better than the start the great Enticer Graham Taylor made, which showed patience is a virtue. Therefore if the manager wants to back his players and keep his options open then In Simmo we trust. We have to,  we have just his wits his contacts plus some much needed FA Cup funds to play with if we are to further improve the side.

Tommo & Jacko Have Exeter & United Reputations in their Sights

The two season-long defensive loans for Doug Bergqvist of  Exeter City and Blaine Hudson of Cambridge United  certainly added a spine to Welling United last seasons Blue Square South champions.  Since promotion a largely unchanged side has given their all for the young manager Jamie Day, just 34, as the aptly named Wings, a financial basket case in 2010, have spread themselves and their flowing philosophy, to continue to show that spirit can succeed in the face of budgetary adversity.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs.

 V 

Saturday 2nd Nov 2013 KO 3PM

What Are They Saying –  FANS Forum      Ground guide      Away ticket prices   

Reputations are there to be shot down if you are a Lincoln City player, particular if one is a Lincolnshire poacher and gun for hire. The financial experience of Welling is very much mirrored by Lincoln City,  but in comparison to the Welling climb the fans have witnessed a fall from grace But 7-goal Tomlinson and Marlon Jackson are eager to reverse the slide that sees Lincoln City on the very cusp of making a mockery of one of the division’s smallest budgets.  Manager Gary Simpson has fashioned a superb passing side that has lacked only goals in its bid to confound the critics and make the play-off dreams come true.

Tomlinson and Jackson will be determined to kick-on from the 3-0 win in the cup that has set up a plum home tie with Plymouth, against two terrific defenders who they must overcome if the Imps are to get anything from the game. Welling despite an injury to hot-shot Lafayette, will score tomorrow with the pace and movement to hurt Lincoln from anywhere on the park.

In many ways this is an early season six-pointer for two sides who have to win to get back amongst the challengers.  Woking will, because their fearless brand of passing football proves that small budgets and an average crowd of 820 can achieve in the face of adversity, but the question is for how long with the injuries mounting and the vultures circling for their prized young talents.  As will Lincoln because it is all about team spirit and belief, when you are full-time on on £350 a week and outside the top 8 that can add a hundred to your weekly winnings.

The vultures circle too for the Imps, with Tomlinson, Miller, Boyce, Nolan and Newton surely just a transfer window away from returns to the Football League? Manager Gary Simpson has a tough gig at Lincoln, weighing expectation on the one hand with the realities of selling in order to continue the progress on the other.  He has brought in Jackson from Gigg Lane, one he wanted in the summer but finances held him back. However the never say day manager – something written through the entire squad – got his man in the end albeit on loan.  Perhaps he may raid Bury again should his midfield woes continue, then again another striker has to be the priority to ensure the fantastic support and belief at Lincoln does not wane.