Newton Needs New Deal or Lincoln will follow Stockport County.

Sean Newton showed just why Lincoln City need to get him signed up to a new contract with a hat-trick against Alfreton Town last night.  Indeed in the two FA games he waded in with four goals plus an assist as his form continues to get better and better. Stockport County fans were gutted when Simmo picked the bones of their relegated side two years ago. The Hatters had honed him to England C standard.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

The risk is that he will go for peanuts in the January window or for free in the summer. Class left-backs have been few and far between at Lincoln and Newton’s assist rate has been second to none ever since he went to Stockport, becoming the Captain and an intrinsic part of the team.  He left them for free upon relegation to join the Imps, who are risking the same after failing to deliver a new deal in the summer.

Newton has scored ten goals in sixty-nine appearances for the Imps with a trademark free-kick and is unplayable on the counter week in week out.  Not a bad return for a full-back, but then he has also pitched in with 8 assists this season and 17 last, in league and cup competitions.

STMI Biopic
Full name	Sean Michael Newton
Date of birth	23 September 1988 (age 26)
Place of birth	Liverpool
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Lincoln City
Number	3
Youth career
2005–2007	Chester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2008	Chester City	2	(0)
2007	Southport (loan)	13	(1)
2008	Droylsden (loan)	15	(1)
2008–2009	Droylsden	?	(5)
2009	Barrow	4	(0)
2009–2012	AFC Telford United	110	(4)
2012	Stockport County (loan)	7	(1)
2012–2013	Stockport County	43	(6)
2013–	Lincoln City	69	(10)
National team
2009–	England C	2	(1)

Imps Smash Alfreton – The FA Cup Run’s alive

The timely trouncing of Alfreton Town signals time for an up moment in our  relationship with our beloved local football institution then? The Mighty Imps responded to the undeserved and unhealthy pre-match pressure in style with a 5-goal humiliation of Alfreton (bodes well for Boxing day as they brought just 68 from Derbyshire last night) to cruise into the First Round of the FA Cup. The much needed Cup run is under way with £12,500 in prize money bagged plus our share of a combined 2415 gate. So less their coach money and the costs of staging the games the Imps should be about £25,000 towards cutting that £150,000 deficit. Role on the trip to Eastleigh.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

  v  

c

Lincoln 5 V 1 Alfreton  (H/T 2-0)

Imps: Newton 6, 42, 62 (pen), Sam-Yorke (79, 81)
Alfreton: Wood 74

Ref Mr Joyce  Att 1529 (68 Reds)

 

Lincoln City 4-4-2 Diamond

Farman;

Miller, Brown, Audel, Newton;

Mendy

Power             Nolan

Bencherif

Burrow   Tomlinson

*

Alfreton 4-4-2:

Clayton, Hawley.

Bradley, Courtney, Keane, Shaw

Wood, Graham, Davies, Rowe-Turner

Howell

On six minutes the Imps clicked. Newton sized up one of the free-kicks he is famous for after Nolan’s sortie had been brought to a premature end. Taking three strides he curled a 20-yarder round the wall with aplomb.  Bar a couple of half-chances the Imps dominated possession during the remainder of the half and doubled their lead with Newton bringing the house down.  On forty-three and forty yards out he hit a curler (ok the wind played a part)  that bemused Howell the stand-in keeper to complete a first-half brace.

A penalty looked to have made the game safe after Power had been felled in the box. Up stepped Newton to slot into the corner.  Alfreton founOn seventy-four minutes the ten men rallied with Shaw’s cross finding the head of former Mariner Wood to head home at the far post.

Time for super-sub Sam-Yorke’s late show with a brace of pace and grace. On 78 minutes Newton hit long and Sam-Yorke hit top gear before roasting  Rowe-Turner and then slotting home.  Three minutes later  it was high-fives as Sam-Yorke poached a rebound from a fierce Connor Robinson half volley.

Hoist up the Lincoln flag:6-Foot Sincil Soldiers Set For FA Cup Run

The FA Cup Replay tonight sees Alfreton Town stand between Lincoln City and an awkward Round One tie at Eastleigh FC. With so much pressure being heaped on the players given there is a combined  £30,500 prize money on offer, clearly the game is important.  However to put so much pressure on one game is not doing any good and in reality the club is in this position for a lot more reasons than a 1-1 draw on Saturday. So the potential banana skin ahead of an apparent £150,000 forecast loss this year, is worsened by  the opposition only having 11 fit outfield players? Certainly our FA Cup form is littered with these kind of slips, but, a cup tie is a one-off and games of football can only be won or lost on the pitch. Passion from the terraces can even the odds, lift the fallen and make zeroes into heroes, for that is what the FA Challenge competition is all about. And yes a cash lifeline to the cash-strapped.

Thanks as ever for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

The Grimsby Telegraph are gleefully reporting that are Alfreton will also have to play with an outfield keeper in goal after on-loan Scunthorpe keeper James Severn ruptured a thigh muscle.  Indeed so is the Echo, although the fact that the news broke on the official Alfreton site first should surely bring a wry smile to any wise heads. After all smoke and mirrors is a big part of pre-match psychology in football. Fans are already hot under the collar after a couple of heated exchanges with players during the 1-1 draw on Saturday.

However now is not the time for fans to want Simmo and the team to fail in order for some kind of change. This is the time to stand our ground and believe. The fact is Lincoln are the underdogs nowadays. With 75% of the Vanarama Conference enjoying a budget well above ours, even a mid-table finish is punching above our weight. Sad, but true. We love the team, they are our life partner, so this sorry state of affairs is something we will have to live with. Unless of course someone can buy out the holding company and then plough in the millions to match the ambition of our fantastic football club.

So hoist up the Lincoln flag, let’s here the Imps sing. We will win tonight if we are as one. We will then win at Eastleigh and who knows get a decent draw and a TV game to insure this £150,000 short-fall is overcome.  Do the maths fellow Imps and believe.  Dare to dream Hoist up the Lincoln flag – The 6-foot Sincil Soldiers are set for FA Cup Run

Fourth Round Qualifying Prize Money	winners get	£12,500
First Round Proper Prize Money	winners get	£18,000
Second Round Proper Prize Money	winners get	£27,000

The TV Cash……

Round	Live Match fee (each)
Round 1	67,500
Round 1 Replays	33,750
Round 2	72,000
Round 2 Replays	36,000
Round 3	123,500

Conference Wrap – It Rains Goals & Crowds in the People’s Premiership

savethemightyimps

Woking FC Win   Barnet FC, Gateshead FC ,  Bristol Rovers and Forest Green Rovers draw FC Halifax Torquay Utd & Wrexham FC lose in front of 8,163. Yes you did read that correctly just one of the top seven  won on a day when it rained goals in the Vanarama Conference Premier aka the People’s Premiership. The Mighty Imps beat AFC Telford to end the slump and thus move to within seven points of the play-offs (or 6 from relegation depending on whether your glass is half full or not.  Grab that beverage and some popcorn for some crackle, pop and snap because it is time for Neil’s big, fat Conference Premier wrap.

Thanks as ever for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

Barnet buzzed as Mad Dog’s men swarmed to three up thanks to  a gem of a Lopez free-kick on 32. Ditto  Cook 38′ and then the Akinde cometh on  43′ to…

View original post 1,162 more words

REPORT & STATS: Lincoln 2 Telford 0 – Simmo’s Six Foot Soldiers Come Good

savethemightyimps

AFC Telford battled hard at Lincoln City, but for once lady luck and the officials smiled on Gary Simpson and the six-foot Sincil soldiers aka the Dogs of War. Simmo has delivered three of the six points The Chairman is expecting, just the win at Forest Green Rovers to go then. Depending on whether your glas is half-full or half empty, City sit seven off the play-offs and six off relegation. But let us not get too ahead of ourselves, first the teams & schemes then a blow by blow and finally more stats than one can shake an Imp or Buck at.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

   2V 0  

H/T 0-0

Scorers  63′  Newton (pen) 76′ Tomlinson.

Attendance 2529 (2483 Imps  46 Bucks )

Ref Mr Hicks

The Teams & Schemes

Simmo goes 4-2-3-1

26 Townsend

5 Miller (Y)  25  Anderson 6 Brown 3 Newton

12 Mendy…

View original post 1,249 more words

Conference Wrap – It Rains Goals & Crowds in the People’s Premiership

Woking FC Win   Barnet FC, Gateshead FC ,  Bristol Rovers and Forest Green Rovers draw FC Halifax Torquay Utd & Wrexham FC lose in front of 8,163. Yes you did read that correctly just one of the top seven  won on a day when it rained goals in the Vanarama Conference Premier aka the People’s Premiership. The Mighty Imps beat AFC Telford to end the slump and thus move to within seven points of the play-offs (or 6 from relegation depending on whether your glass is half full or not.  Grab that beverage and some popcorn for some crackle, pop and snap because it is time for Neil’s big, fat Conference Premier wrap.

Thanks as ever for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

Barnet buzzed as Mad Dog’s men swarmed to three up thanks to  a gem of a Lopez free-kick on 32. Ditto  Cook 38′ and then the Akinde cometh on  43′ to complete a whirlwind move.  Everyone will be after the Steve Burr recipe for half-time tea as The Harriers achieved  three second-half flyby in return.  Gash smashed on 58′ before two corners from Nicholson found the head of Blissett on 80′ and 82′.

Woking and Eastleigh do look as if they will continue to surprise a few and perhaps even last the distance with a couple of stand-out results.  Rendell 52′Morgan 66′ and Payne 90′ did the damage for the wild Cards at Altrincham as Woking’s passing game exposed the ten- man hosts who finished with nine after an injury the Crowther.   Eastleigh stormed back to dump the Shaymen fifth.  FC Halifax went a goal up though a Boden penalty on 16′.  Then it was all rhyme as Reason 22′ Green 53′ Fleetwood 76′ and Strevens 90 sent most of the 1500 home happy.  The Spitfires are  soaring high above the clouds on and off the pitch with that new 2200 away end ready for the FA Cup and the big games ahead.

Gateshead draw again, this time at Forest Green , with Rovers now unbeaten now in four.  Parkin finished a fine move for the hosts on 71′ before Howe got swept home an equaliser just 6 minutes later to crown his début.   Ten-man Aldershot held Bristol Rovers in a stormer of a 2-2 draw. The Shots went ahead with a Williams penalty on  16′ (pen) after Parkes tried to play second keeper. Rovers replied with Monkhouse on 42′ and then went ahead with a penalty of their own from Taylor 68′. Roberts then decided to play the ‘panto’ hero and villain hitting a whistler into the top corner on 77′ before the one owned by the referee called time on his contribution with a yellow.

  Torquay travelled to Alfreton with the Reds all but dead and second from bottom. They are still there but after this wonderful 4-2 win the gap from salvation is just one win away.  The hosts took the lead through Hawley 18′, before Briscoe curled in a beauty on the half hour. Shaw put Alfreton 2-1 up on the  stroke of half-time  but Briscoe bagged his brace on 54′ to square matters.   Clayton made it  three-two with a chip to grace Cleethorpes on 70′ before Hawley brought the house down to celebrate his own double.

The Reds will want to have an eye on Dartford rather than Southport,  gaffer Gary Brabin continues to refresh the parts other men cannot reach as two loans, George 69′ and super-sub Bakayoko 84′ secured the points with a 2-0 win at Alan Devonshire’s Braintree. Welling did themselves a favour with a 4-1 win home win over fellow strugglers Nuneaton to pull further away from the trapdoor.  As did Dover with a 2-0 win over Chester.  Dartford earned a vital point at home to high-flying Macclesfield to keep them one place above Southport now unbeaten in two. Brabin’s boys have taken four points in his first five days, to sit one place above  the drop zone.

Wrexham celebrated their 150th year in front of 8163 – well almost.  Carrington brought down Thomas to allow John-Lewis to convert from the spot on 28′ and the Dragons huffed and puffed and passed, yet could not blow the trawler onto the rocks.  During a second half reminiscent of the tempest it was poetry and passion in motion with Moult sent off for ‘fistycuffs ‘ with Disley.

Wrexham manager Kevin Wilkin told BBC Radio Wales:

“To get such a fantastic gate and to play in the manner that we did for long spells of the first half was really disappointing. “We came out and gave a better account of ourselves up until the sending off in the second half. “We had Grimsby camped in and it’s important you keep 11 men on the field. “I didn’t see what the sending off was for but on my understanding it was for a stamp, if that’s the case we can’t have any complaints.”

Indeed Kevin, I too have peripheral vision issues with my right eye.

 

3466	Aldershot Town	2	2	Bristol Rovers
REPORTS	B Williams 16 pen , Roberts 77,	.	.	A Monkhouse 42 , M Taylor  68 pen
736	Alfreton Town	4	2	Torquay United
REPORTS	Hawley 18 & 77 , Shaw 45 , Clayton 70	.	.	Briscoe 32 & 54 ,
1218	Altrincham	0	3	Woking
REPORTS	.	.	.	Rendell 52 , Morgan 66 , Payne 91
1689	Barnet	3	3	Kidderminster Harriers
REPORTS	Luisma 32 , Cook 38 , Akinde 43 ,	.	.	Gash 58 , Blissett 80 , Blissett 82 ,
810	Braintree Town	0	2	Southport
REPORTS	.	.	.	George 69 , Bakayoko 84 ,
1063	Dartford	1	1	Macclesfield Town
REPORTS	Hayes 85 ,	.	.	Barnes-Homer 87 ,
1009	Dover Athletic	2	0	Chester FC
REPORTS	Essam 64 , OG-Heneghan 47	.	.	.
1498	Eastleigh	4	1	FC Halifax Town
REPORTS	Reason 22 , Green 53 , Fleetwood 76 , Strevens 90 ,	.	.	D Hattersley 16 pen ,
1217	Forest Green Rovers	1	1	Gateshead FC
REPORTS	J Parkin 71 ,	.	.	Howe 77
2529	Lincoln City FC	2	0	AFC Telford Utd
REPORTS	Newton 63 pen , Tomlinson 76 ,	.	.	.
614	Welling United	4	1	Nuneaton Town
REPORTS	Beautyman 19 & 45+1 , Marsh 72  & 74,	.	.	Dean 23 ,
8163	Wrexham	0	1	Grimsby Town
REPORTS	.	.	.	John-Lewis 28 pen ,

The Table  

 

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Barnet	16	10	3	3	36	13	+23	33
2	Woking	15	9	3	3	29	14	+15	30
3	Gateshead	16	8	6	2	28	19	+9	30
4	Bristol Rovers	16	8	5	3	20	15	+5	29
5	FC Halifax Town	16	8	4	4	28	18	+10	28
6	Torquay United	15	8	3	4	27	16	+11	27
7	Forest Green Rovers	16	7	6	3	21	15	+6	27
8	Kidderminster Harriers	16	7	5	4	22	15	+7	26
9	Wrexham	16	8	2	6	21	19	+2	26
10	Macclesfield Town	16	6	7	3	19	14	+5	25
11	Grimsby Town	16	6	6	4	26	12	+14	24
12	Eastleigh	15	6	5	4	25	21	+4	23
13	Lincoln City	16	6	3	7	25	27	-2	21
14	Braintree Town	15	6	2	7	20	17	+3	20
15	Aldershot Town	16	5	5	6	17	18	-1	20
16	Chester	16	6	2	8	16	26	-10	20
17	Welling United	16	4	6	6	22	24	-2	18
18	Dover Athletic	16	5	2	9	18	26	-8	17
19	Dartford	16	3	6	7	16	23	-7	15
20	Southport	16	4	3	9	16	28	-12	15
21	Altrincham	16	4	3	9	16	33	-17	15
22	Nuneaton Town	16	4	2	10	12	28	-16	14
23	Alfreton Town	16	4	1	11	15	34	-19	13
24	AFC Telford United	16	1	4	11	19	39	-20	7

Simmo’s Six Foot Soldiers Come Good

AFC Telford battled hard at Lincoln City, but for once lady luck and the officials smiled on Gary Simpson and the six-foot Sincil soldiers aka the Dogs of War. Simmo has delivered three of the six points The Chairman is expecting, just the win at Forest Green Rovers to go then. Depending on whether your glas is half-full or half empty, City sit seven off the play-offs and six off relegation. But let us not get too ahead of ourselves, first the teams & schemes then a blow by blow and finally more stats than one can shake an Imp or Buck at.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

   2V 0  

H/T 0-0

Scorers  63′  Newton (pen) 76′ Tomlinson.

Attendance 2529 (2483 Imps  46 Bucks )

Ref Mr Hicks

The Teams & Schemes

Simmo goes 4-2-3-1

26 Townsend

5 Miller (Y)  25  Anderson 6 Brown 3 Newton

12 Mendy 14 Nolan

23 Sam-Yorke  10 Ledsham 11 Tomlinson (Y)

9 Burrow

18 Smith (Y)  7 Phenix

20 Poku

 11 Clancy                21 Todd (Y)      17 Platt  (Y)    23 Higgins 

  16 MacDonald 4 Byrne   24 Parry

1 Hedge

Watson goes  3-5-2

Subs & substitutions

The Imps Bench: 31 Preece, 17 Caprice,22 Marshall, 8 Power, 6 Diagne

Substitutions:  on for

The Bucks Bench:  25 Hall, 12 Cook e 9 Farrell 8 Barnett 6 Grogan

Substitutions:  ′69 Farrell on for Byrne 74′ Cook on for Todd.

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

Anderson gets an early touch as Telford hit long. The ball spends a lot of time in the air suggesting the threat of rain and those poor first touches will have an influence on the game at some point.  The Imps get two long throws from Miller the second of which leads to a corner that Telford break from. Nolan puts in a timely tackle, the problem is he dwells on the ball when Sam-Yorke could have been one on one,  if only he had seen him.  Those with the radio glued to their ear would however hear Tommo plug himself. In answer to ‘who would be a manager’ he said  ‘me’.

Tomlinson beats Higgins and delivers to Sam-Yorke who goes down too easily, but,  the Imps win a corner.  Newton delivers, Anderson fires goalwards, but Byrne clears off the line.  Telford do win a free-kick, Poku takes, but Brown heads clear. Really this is a battle between too sides high on energy but very low in quality when it comes to knocking the ball to feet. Mendy sees Miller, he crosses yet

Miller is clattered by Smith – so late he should get a detention – yet it is just a yellow as both players receive attention for head injuries.  Ledsham has a chance to make things happen but his choice and distribution is shocking. You really should not be paying more than  £7 or £8 to watch him ply his trade.  That is a little harsh on the lad, the same could be said for half the players on display today. Given the  rows of  empty fading red seats it is just as well the club are kindly allowing the kids in free to introduce them to the thrills and skills football in the flesh.

The non-event continues until Nolan is pushed off the ball to allow Newton the chance to break the monotony and the deadlock.  Alas the shot is deflected for a corner but at least it has doubled the shot count.  Newton’s corner finds Anderson who forces a comfortable save from Hedges.  The move of the half sees Telford find Todd but his cross is closer to a weak shot that goes straight down Townsend’s throat. Ledsham get a result from a poor shot when the ball loops for a corner.  Todd has a dig which Townsend saves  then Newton clatters Clancy but somehow escapes a card.

The Bucks win a corner but the offside flag rules out a second after Platt’s header goes out off Miller. Nat Brown then lets fly but the shot is well wide. Poku and Todd both foul Miller with the second getting the yellow card.

Second half.

Both managers keep the faith which must say something.  Tom Miller gets a yellow for a two-footed lunge, suggesting our refereeing luck might be changing given the number of studs on show.  Smith gets hold of a 25-yarder but Townsend parries  into the path of Poku. The keeper saves again at the expense of a corner.  A superb free-kick from Platt forces another top save from Townsend.   Clancy’s corner goes straight out for a throw.  A Higgins throw is half cleared with Clancy sending a bicycle kick well over the bar.

Despite the risk of a nose bleed or altitude sickness the Imps get over the half-way line for the first time in the half. After a slow and elaborate 5 man build up Newton on the overlap thunders wide.  Newton sends a great cross over that the keeper punches for a corner under pressure from Burrow. Newtons set-piece finds the head of Burrow but Byrne blocks for another corner. This one sees Anderson hit the roof of the stand.

Mendy fouls Todd and the free-kick takes an age. Nat Brown heads clear and Phenix is crowded out after on the edge of the box.  Ledsham is fouled by Platt for a fourth yellow of the game.  Nolan ran at the defence Phenix fouls and the Imps get a much needed penalty.  Newton hammers the keeper guesses the right way but can only parry it into the roof of the net. Townsend then makes a super point blank save from Clancy to deny an equaliser.

Tomlinson gives Sam-Yorke a glorious opportunity but Hedges makes a super save for a corner.   Farrell comes on for Byrne as the Bucks go for it.  Newton fouls the lively Clancy on the edge of the box and Farrell waist s the free-kick.  Cook is brought on for Todd

Hedges does a sack the juggler and Tomlinson half volleys home to effectively win it.  Miller  sprints down the flank, exchanges with Nolan before thumping a hay-maker against the crossbar.  Newton again gets forward but Sam-yorke is penalised for hand-ball.  Tomlinson gets a yellow card for a high one on Parry. Tomlinson gets a terrific ball over to Burrow but the keepers saves again.  You have to feel for Telford, the Bucks have given everything for the cause and are clearly dead on their feet.

The Stats & League Table

   V   

Teams & Schemes

 

Note: shots on includes  goals plus all blocks and saves includes crosses claimed

*****

56 % Ball 44 %

6 Shots on 3

9 Misses 5

3 Saves 5

7 Corners 5

2 Offside 3

18 Fouls 13

2 Yellows 3

0  Reds 0

The Table

Conference Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Barnet	16	10	3	3	36	13	+23	33
2	Woking	15	9	3	3	29	14	+15	30
3	Gateshead	16	8	6	2	28	19	+9	30
4	Bristol Rovers	16	8	5	3	20	15	+5	29
5	FC Halifax Town	16	8	4	4	28	18	+10	28
6	Torquay United	14	8	3	3	25	12	+13	27
7	Forest Green Rovers	16	7	6	3	21	15	+6	27
8	Kidderminster Harriers	16	7	5	4	22	15	+7	26
9	Wrexham	16	8	2	6	21	19	+2	26
10	Macclesfield Town	16	6	7	3	19	14	+5	25
11	Grimsby Town	16	6	6	4	26	12	+14	24
12	Eastleigh	15	6	5	4	25	21	+4	23
13	Lincoln City	16	6	3	7	25	27	-2	21
14	Braintree Town	15	6	2	7	20	17	+3	20
15	Aldershot Town	16	5	5	6	17	18	-1	20
16	Chester	16	6	2	8	16	26	-10	20
17	Welling United	16	4	6	6	22	24	-2	18
18	Dover Athletic	16	5	2	9	18	26	-8	17
19	Dartford	16	3	6	7	16	23	-7	15
20	Southport	16	4	3	9	16	28	-12	15
21	Altrincham	16	4	3	9	16	33	-17	15
22	Nuneaton Town	16	4	2	10	12	28	-16	14
23	Alfreton Town	15	3	1	11	11	32	-21	10
24	AFC Telford United	16	1	4	11	19	39	-20	7

Preview Imps V AFC Telford: Can Imps Break The Mould?

AFC Telford and, the phrase three times a charm comes to mind for Lincoln City.  Having lost to Nuneaton and Southport, we now face Liam Watson’s bottom feeders Telford. That Lincoln sit just one point and one place above them in the current form table. Says something. We are 22nd, Telford 23rd and Southport 24th.  The fates have conspired against us, but not Watson who  left Southport to join the relegated Telford  and turn them into Conference North Champions last season.

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

 

Watson has struggled as has Simmo. According to BBC Radio Lincolnshire last night he needs to deliver in the next two games.  Pressure then with Hamza the fourth red of the season (we had one rescinded remember) missing too today. We will leave the stats this week as they are as depressing as the current mood amongst the fantastic fans of our football club.  Well, save the table below which illustrates that a two or three goal win today would put a different completion on a run that see yet another manager failing to deliver what we feel is our birthright at this club. I am afraid that is down to a competitive budget and an ambitious board. Fear not, I wont be discussing that again as it has seen myself and three others banned indefinitely from Sincil Bank.  Sincil Silence is clearly golden.  If the club can spring back it would appear those players awaiting new deals from the summer will indeed be finally offered new ones. If not they will be sold in the winter window, doubtless fetching a pretty penny with five just months until the summer window.

 

.	Team	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Bristol Rovers	4	2	0	9	3	6	14
13	Macclesfield Town	2	2	2	8	7	1	8
14	Braintree Town	2	2	2	7	6	1	8
15	Dartford	2	2	2	8	8	0	8
16	Dover Athletic	2	1	3	8	8	0	7
17	Aldershot Town	2	1	3	5	8	-3	7
18	Altrincham	2	1	3	4	14	-10	7
19	Eastleigh	1	3	2	7	10	-3	6
20	Nuneaton Town	2	0	4	7	10	-3	6
21	Alfreton Town	2	0	4	4	9	-5	6
22	Lincoln City	1	2	3	7	9	-2	5
23	AFC Telford Utd	1	1	4	8	15	-7	4
24	Southport	1	1	4	6	14	-8	4

 

Watson has just signed  defender Parry from Luton and Bermudan keeper Hall  – can’t wait to hear about those shorts.  Mike Grogan (leg) defender Neill Byrne (knee) and possibly Jordan Deacey (hamstring or Phenix to deputise) should all be fit to start given the kidology of the pre-match managerial pearls of wisdom. Managers and players continually mentioning our size before and during games may account for part of our card count.  We also never seem to get the rub of the green when our players are fouled (stonewall penalties for Sam-Yorke, Tomlinson and Caprice in recent weeks).

 

As Watson opened in his pre-match with the Shropshire Star:

“We have just got to go there and make sure we are up for the fight because we need to be against Lincoln.

“They are a big, dominant side. They have got a lot of proven players. I like (Lincoln manager) Gary Simpson, I think he is a nice fella and his teams are always big and strong, with six-footers everywhere.

“I thought they would have been up there towards the play-offs this season. They have got good forwards as well.

“They have got good options so I don’t know why it is not going for them at the minute. But I had someone watch them Tuesday against Southport so I have got a report.”

 

Potential Teams & Schemes

   V  

Tuesday 30th Sept

Potential teams & schemes

Simmo goes 4-2-3-1

26 Townsend

5 Miller  25  Anderson 6 Brown 6 Diagne

12 Mendy 14 Nolan

22 Marshall  10 Ledsham 11 Tomlinson

23 Sam-Yorke

18 Smith 10 Gray 

11 Clancy 6 Grogan 20 Poku 7 Phenix

23 Higgins 4 Byrne 16 MacDonald 24 Parry

1 Hall

Watson goes  4-4-2

Imps V AFC Telford Can Imps Break The Mould?

AFC Telford and, the phrase three times a charm comes to mind for Lincoln City.  Having lost to Nuneaton and Southport, we now face Liam Watson’s bottom feeders Telford. That Lincoln sit just one point and one place above them in the current form table. Says something. We are 22nd, Telford 23rd and Southport 24th.  The fates have conspired against us, but not Watson who  left Southport to join the relegated Telford  and turn them into Conference North Champions last season.

 

Watson has struggled as has Simmo. According to BBC Radio Lincolnshire last night he needs to deliver in the next two games.  Pressure then with Hamza the fourth red of the season (we had one rescinded remember) missing too today. We will leave the stats this week as they are as depressing as the current mood amongst the fantastic fans of our football club.  Well, save the table below which illustrates that a two or three goal win today would put a different completion on a run that see yet another manager failing to deliver what we feel is our birthright at this club. I am afraid that is down to a competitive budget and an ambitious board. Fear not, I wont be discussing that again as it has seen myself and three others banned indefinitely from Sincil Bank.  Sincil Silence is clearly golden.  If the club can spring back it would appear those players awaiting new deals from the summer will indeed be finally offered new ones. If not they will be sold in the winter window, doubtless fetching a pretty penny with five just months until the summer window.

 

.	Team	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Bristol Rovers	4	2	0	9	3	6	14
13	Macclesfield Town	2	2	2	8	7	1	8
14	Braintree Town	2	2	2	7	6	1	8
15	Dartford	2	2	2	8	8	0	8
16	Dover Athletic	2	1	3	8	8	0	7
17	Aldershot Town	2	1	3	5	8	-3	7
18	Altrincham	2	1	3	4	14	-10	7
19	Eastleigh	1	3	2	7	10	-3	6
20	Nuneaton Town	2	0	4	7	10	-3	6
21	Alfreton Town	2	0	4	4	9	-5	6
22	Lincoln City	1	2	3	7	9	-2	5
23	AFC Telford Utd	1	1	4	8	15	-7	4
24	Southport	1	1	4	6	14	-8	4

 

Southport 3 Imps 3 It Rains Goals as Hamza sees Red

Southport FC under  manager Gary Brabin are going to battle to the end. The Mighty Imps under Simmo will do the same.  What transpired was a fantastic game at the Merseyrail Community stadium.  For the benefit of the Sandgounders fans, first the Teams & Schemes, then the match report and finally the table and more stats than you can shake an Imp or Sandgrounder at.  No wonder Simmo was passionate at the end of it

Thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

      V  

H/T 2-3

Scorers  Sam-Yorke 11′ Tomlinson 17′ Joyce 33′ Brodie OG 36′ Brodie 38′ Marsden 86′

Attendance 746  (620 Boro  126 Imps )

Ref Mr Hussin

Teams & schemes

Gary Brabin goes 5-3-2

19 Raja

15 Rutherford 23 MacDonald (Y) 6 Foster 5 Collins 3 Fitzpatrick

  14 Joyce 8 George (Y)  12 Lynch

 10 Brodie 17 Dyer

23 Sam-Yorke

11 Tomlinson 5 Bencherif  22 Marshall

10 Ledsham 12 Mendy (R)

3 Newton  6 Diagne  5 Brown 2 Miller

26 Townsend

Simmo goes 4-2-3-1

 

 Subs & substitutions

The Port Bench:  1 Weston, 20 Smith, 15 Connor, 2  Challoner, 18 Marsden (Y)

Substitutions: 75 Marsden  on for Dyer 83′ Connor on for Joyce 87′ Challoner on for Fitzpatrick.

The Imps Bench: 31 Preece, 17 Caprice,14 Nolan, 8 Power, 4 Jordan

Substitutions:  

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

A scrappy start bursting with nervous energy, understandable given the stakes, leads to a Southport corner. Its land of the giants in the box with all their big lads up, but Brown heads away.  Fitzpatrick  is looking dangerous,  feeding Collins, but, his left-foot drive goes wide. Tomlinson is battling away but he is completely out numbered and the ball from Marshall is poor.   George and Fitzpatrick conjure a great piece of football but Miller clears. A great corner from Fitzpatrick finds the head of MacDonald who cannot believe Townsend’s fantastic reaction save.

Miller on the overlap, exchanges with Marshall, then drives over a low cross for Sam-Yorke to sweetly sweep the ball home for a vital Lincoln lead. Against the run of play, perhaps, but if you have lost your last five away games on the trot any break is well overdue and deserved.  A howitzer from  Fitzpatrick  fizzes past the post.  Newton gets forward sends in a beauty but Ledsham can’t quite get his head to it, or it would have been a second.  The game is end to end with Lynch firing in a cross that Brown scrambles clear, then at the other Tomlinson beats two and fails to find Sam-Yorke, when a dig himself might have got a goal.

Brabin certainly has his team fired up, although Brodie seems slow, brooding and well off the pace.  It’s two nil as Tomlinson lets the ball bounce then hits a glorious left foot half-volley home.  Southport are eager, then again an unhappy Gary Brabin is not best pleased as Tomlinson lashes another Newton cross over the bar and out of the ground. Tomlinson is back supporting Newton. He robs Rutherford and is really showing that engine and desire tonight.  Quality player we need to get a new contract in front of our twenty goal a season hero quick.

George, Collins  Mendy and Hamza are really trying to play it about, indeed it is a good job Hamza was ruled fit. Fitzpatrick gets forward again but Miller beats Brodie to it, with the ref missing a little bit of afters between two competitive charming cherubs.  Fitzpatrick floats in a free-kick, the Imps fail to clear.  The ball drops to  Joyce who strokes goalwards and it loops into the top left for 2-1.  Almost immediately another goal as Newton fires in a low set-piece.  Miller and Brodie go for it with  the ball finishing in the back of the net. Miller claims it, it is awarded as an own goal to Brodie and you just know that is going to add spice to their growing lovers tiff.

The whirlwind affair continues. Lynch puts in a peach and Brodie heads home a towering header into the top corner for 3-2. Brodie and Miller are at it again with the ref calming things down.  Rutherford cuts in and sends a bullet against the post with Townsend clutching fresh air.  The ball eludes Townsend but fortunately Foster fires over.  Joyce goes in strong on Marshall, firm but fair, yet this time the referee decides to draw the line and brandish a card. Brilliant first half and the players do still look up for it as Sam-Yorke, MacDonald, Brodie and Miller continue the discussions as they go down the tunnel.

Second half. 

Ledsham – clearly they are pleased he is back –  takes one in the face, the ref waves play on and Marshall sends Tomlinson who hits a bullet only for Raya to make a magnificent save.  The referee gives MacDonald a card for that earlier offence. The Imps appear to have gone to 5-3-2 ‘park the bus’ with Hamza helping to deal with Brodie and thus hopefully ensuring that Miller remains on the pitch. His mate Brodie is on fire, nodding on to Dyer, then taking a return, only to be  crowded out by two of the three centre-backs.  There are some choice challenges going on with the ref all for letting the game and the blood and guts ‘gonzo’ football flow.

The pace is relentless although Southport do appear to be enjoying the lions share as the five man rear-guard phalanx take it in turns to dive in to negate any final ball.  There is almost a scrum at one point with the Imps getting a free kick. Newton delivers to the far post Tomlinson heads downwards at the far post. A corner is given which Newton delivers, the keeper misses but Collins thunders away.   Foster goes long and in two bounces it is in Townsend’s gloves. Gary Brabin is into the referee for time-wasting you just have to love the Liverpudlian lad.

Both sides appear to be going long with, what purports to be the press box,  reaching for the Ralgex spray for those stiff necks.    Fitzpatrick fires in a free-kick,  Brown heads clear and Marshall runs the ball out.  Southport get another corner but this time the ball  is cleared by Hamza who is clearly driving that parked bus.  The Imps need the points and clearly the fans have had value for money enough.  Brabin makes a substitution with Marsden on for Dyer to support the warrior Brodie.  Newton gets Tomlinson away but his shot is wide. Raya is out smartly after  Sam-Yorke just pushes the ball too far after a promising run.

Another Fitzpatrick finds the head of Brodie but thankfully Townsend denies him with a fine save.  Brodie twists, turns beats two then checks back onto his left and hits a hay-maker for the top corner. Townsend brilliantly palms the ball behind.  The corner sees pinball in the penalty box and somehow the ball is cleared off the line and over the bar from Diagne.  Joyce is replaced by Connor.  A one two between Sam-Yorke and Marshall feeds Ledsham who shoots wastefully wide. It is costly.  A ‘ worldie’ on the half-volley from Marsden – all of 30-yards – flies into the top corner for 3-3.

Brabin wants a win then as Fitzpatrick is replaced by Challoner – after a terrific game it must be said.   Five minutes go up on the board to the delight of some and the consternation of others.  The inspirational language from both benches is uplifting – I wont use the word spiritual – but it is definitely lifting the fallen.  Miller gets Tomlinson away who lets fly to ease the relentless pressure. Diagne puts in a brilliant challenge on Challoner who appears just as spritely as Fitzpatrick was. Brodie leaves two in his wake and Brown slides in perfectly to take it off his toe for a corner at the last. Then Hamza gets a red card for saying something to the referee on the whistle.

 

 

The Stats & League Table

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   V  

 

Note: shots on includes  goals plus all blocks and saves includes crosses claimed

*****

50 % Ball 50 %

8 Shots on 8

5 Misses 6

3 Saves 5

8 Corners 5

3 Offside 3

10 Fouls 11

3 Yellows 0

0  Reds 1

The Table

 

Conference Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Barnet	15	10	2	3	33	10	+23	32
2	Gateshead	15	8	5	2	27	18	+9	29
3	FC Halifax Town	15	8	4	3	27	14	+13	28
4	Bristol Rovers	15	8	4	3	18	13	+5	28
5	Torquay United	14	8	3	3	25	12	+13	27
6	Woking	14	8	3	3	26	14	+12	27
7	Forest Green Rovers	15	7	5	3	20	14	+6	26
8	Wrexham	15	8	2	5	21	18	+3	26
9	Macclesfield Town	15	6	6	3	18	13	+5	24
10	Kidderminster Harriers	14	6	4	4	17	11	+6	22
11	Grimsby Town	15	5	6	4	25	12	+13	21
12	Braintree Town	14	6	2	6	20	15	+5	20
13	Eastleigh	14	5	5	4	21	20	+1	20
14	Chester	15	6	2	7	16	24	-8	20
15	Aldershot Town	15	5	4	6	15	16	-1	19
16	Lincoln City	15	5	3	7	23	27	-4	18
17	Welling United	14	3	6	5	17	21	-4	15
18	Altrincham	15	4	3	8	16	30	-14	15
19	Dartford	15	3	5	7	15	22	-7	14
20	Dover Athletic	15	4	2	9	16	26	-10	14
21	Nuneaton Town	15	4	2	9	11	24	-13	14
22	Southport	15	3	3	9	14	28	-14	12
23	Alfreton Town	15	3	1	11	11	32	-21	10
24	AFC Telford United	15	1	4	10	19	37	-18	7

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