Lincoln Top National League with Macclesfield & Grimsby Town Lurking

Lincoln City sit top with Macclesfield Town grinding the gears of rivals Grimsby Town (3rd) in the current form stakes over the last 8 games.  The Silkmen do edge it on goal difference but the Lincoln Loco is gathering steam game by game and the away form is something to be proud of.

Thanks as ever for reading Rose Tinted

Lincoln go for four wins on the spin on Wednesday night at Boreham Wood. A potential banana skin at the newly promoted club struggling to adapt in 20th, the Imps can take solace from having the fourth best away record in the division.

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Stat	Total	Home	Away
Rank	5	9	4
Matches played	21	10	11
Wins	11	5	6
Draws	5	4	1
Losses	5	1	4
Goals for	34	17	17
Goals against	23	9	14
Points	38	19	19
Clean sheets	5	3	2
Avg. goals scored p/m	1.62	1.70	1.55
Avg. goals conceded p/m	1.1	0.90	1.27
Avg. time 1st goal scored	36m	43m	30m
Avg. time 1st goal conced.	47m	40m	52m
Failed to score	3	1	2
Biggest victory	2 – 0	2 – 0	3 – 1
Biggest defeat	0 – 2	0 – 1	0 – 2

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Farman Set For Plymouth Comeback

Inspirational Lincoln and England C keeper Paul Farman looks set to face Plymouth Argyle in a winner takes all encounter as David attempts to slay Goliath in the First Round of The FA Cup on Saturday.

Rose Tinted is getting excited

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Farman has been a solid ever-present presence between the sticks for Lincoln and will be vital if we are to keep out the Pilgrims who have won their last two games 1-0 against Mansfield and Northampton respectively.  Farman was forced to miss the 0-1 reverse at Welling with a knee injury as experienced keeper coach David Preece came in to cover.

Sq No		Starts	Sub	Mins	Saves	Let In	C/S	YC
1	Paul Farman	18	0	1620	62	16	7	0
31	David Preece	1	0	90	4	1	0	0

The Pilgrims had a tough start to the season but have now lost just once in the last 5 games, the defeat coming at the Monkey-Hangers (Hartlepool) with home draws against Portsmouth (1-1) and Newport (0-0).  Both the Stags and Newport have made solid starts to the season suggesting John Sheridan’s side look set to climb the table with an FA Cup run also very much in the plans.

The up-turn in form should also boost the gate with the Pilgrims perhaps bringing anywhere from 700-1500, boosted by the atmospheric former home end the Stacey-West, named after the two Imps who died in the Bradford Fire disaster.

Welling Injuries & Halifax Mauling Could See Imps Upturn Continue

The Imps travel to Welling Utd, who lost 3-0 at FC Halifax prior to their 1-0 FA Cup win at Brislington on Saturday.  United have been a surprise package so far this season although, like ourselves, injuries to a small squad are starting to tell. Inspirational striker Ross Lafayette – one of the Skrill Premier players of the season so far –  is currently sidelined while Tomlinson is back with a vengeance for the Imps.

Rose Tinted always looks on the bright side of life.

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Manager Jamie Day had to play in the disappointing defeat at Halifax, thanks to a first-half Lee Gregory hat-trick, replacing injured Alex Dyer.  In defence they also have issues although Blaine Hudson returned for Jack Obersteller,who reported sick on the day, with Baily Cargill switching to left back. The Imps also experienced a three goal reverse at Kidderminster thanks to two wonder-goals and an own goal from Boyce.

But at least our leading marksman is back on the goal trail with a brace against Worcester. As to how long is anyone’s guess as he appeared to hint at a move in his post-match interview. United’s leading scorer Ross Lafayette (6 goals and 3 assists in 13) thankfully looks set to miss the game after he was forced off just six minutes into the 1-1 draw with Barnet, but they would go on to beat Braintree 3-2 and Tamworth 2-0 in their next two Skrill Premier games.

Welling have slipped to nineth place after a brilliant start to the season where most pre-season previews had put the play-off dark horses down as relegation fodder like our good selves.  Live-wire Loick Pires had to play up with Guthrie against the Shaymen, with Day in for inspirational central midfielder Dyer. Both sides desperately need to get back to winning ways, but with so many injuries the Imps could not have a better opportunity to get back to winning ways in the League in the first of three away fixtures in the SPL. The home FA Cup game against Plymouth is of course on Saturday 9th November.

Destiny’s Child Connor Robinson: The Chesterfield Cup King!

When Chesterfield FC were slain 3-0 in the Youth Cup final in April 2012 Connor was the belle on the ball.  Now after a 23 minute cameo against Worcester City on Saturday, oh so many Imps are desperate to see one of our own live our dreams on the hallowed Sincil Bank turf against Worcester City tonight.

Rose tinted, an optimistic dreamer

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FA Cup 4th Q replay KO 7.45, Tues 28th October 2013

Adults £12, Cons £8, U18’s £5

Oh how We Imps love seeing one of our own, rise through the ranks just as Lee Frecklington did when made his debut in the Football League Trophy in 2003 against Telford.   Fast forward a decade and and another of our own looks poised for a pivotal role. Connor Robinson, for it is he, is our latest little ray of sunshine and, after that disappointing  youth defeat in the Cup to Boston, he alone now appears to be proof that the Youth set-up at Lincoln can indeed continue to deliver.

Let us hope he can step up and be strong enough to show that beauty can tame the beasts of the Skrill Premier each and every week. Young Connor has not had it easy since starring in that Imps 3-0 Youth Cup Final win over Chesterfield at the B2Net Stadium back in 2012. He did make his debut as a sub against Hayes in the BSP in 2011/12 and was given a two year first pro contract as a reward for those cup heroics and super impact performances. But like all  5 of Grants prodigal sons from the fountain of youth who were given a heraldic fanfare in the Summer of 2012, he was discarded by Holdsworth, fearful of failure in a bustling basement battle.

In 2012/13 Connor’s cameos were still a treat to behold with 4 goals in 5 starts and just 682 minutes of first team football. A March loan to Worksop for a month, under the stewardship of Simon Clark, only earned him two sub appearances in a season that could have been so much more under a different manager and different circumstances. Gary Simpson appears to be the perfect manager to heal last years memories and see Connor start to realise a potential that could see him reborn. Imp born and bred, he feels the passion and may well be a perfect replacement for Wright tonight as the Imps chase the latest cup dream. It would be a brave decision on the manager’s part but surely Connor deserves his chance to succeed or fail in his home stadium backed by fellow Imps who so want him to succeed.

Thus far his impact on games has been as limited as it has been explosive, but his time is about to come, one feels, upon the Sincil stage. One can understand the desire to protect him during the tough times but Connor’s heart at least is ready and chomping at the bit to deliver for his beloved Imps.  Lincoln born, Lincoln Bred, Connor’s an Imp until he’s dead.

 

Connor’s  Imp stats 2012/13
No 39	Comp	Starts	Sub	Goals	Assists	Shots	Fouls	Fouled	Mins	YC	RC
Winger	BSP	5	14	4	1	11	9	12	682	9	0

 

Connor’s  Imp stats 2011/12
No 36	Comp	Starts	Sub	Goals	Assists	Shots	Fouls	Fouled	Mins	YC	RC
Winger	BSP	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	29	0	0

 Connor’s STMI Biopic

Full Name	Connor William Robinson
Date of Birth	11th Oct 1994	Age	19
Place of Birth	Lincoln
Height	5 ft 11 in
Weight	11 st 8lb
	Youth Career
2005-2008	Lincoln City
	Current gig-in-the-game
Club	Lincoln City
Contract	1 year left (30/6/14)
Squad No	16
Pos	RW / Fox-in-the-box
Year	Club	Aps	Gls
2012-	Lincoln City	21	4
2013 (Mar)	Loan – Worksop	2	0

FA Cup Draw Numbers, 33 Pompey, 38 Blades or 46 Wolves Would Do Imps

The Imps want ball number 52 to be pulled out before Portsmouth (33), Sheffield United (38) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (46) live on ITV tomorrow.  Then as long as we overcome Worcester City the Imps will be guaranteed a massive home payday against the giants that find themselves in the lower reaches of the Football League.  Coventry (13), Scunthorpe Utd (37) and Notts County (27) would also be terrific for the Sincil Bank Box office.

Rose Tinted fancies a full house to show we need a big stadium

The draw for the First Round Proper of the FA Cup will be made live on air tomorrow at 1.35 pm to be played on the 9th and 10th of November, with the first of the live TV cash coming up for grabs.

1 Accrington Stanley
2 AFC Wimbledon
3 Bradford City
4 Brentford
5 Bristol City
6 Bristol Rovers
7 Burton Albion
8 Bury
9 Carlisle United
10 Cheltenham Town
11 Chesterfield
12 Colchester United
13 Coventry City 
14 Crawley Town
15 Crewe Alexandra
16 Dagenham & Redbridge
17 Exeter City
18 Fleetwood Town
19 Gillingham
20 Hartlepool United
21 Leyton Orient
22 Mansfield Town 
23 Milton Keynes Dons
24 Morecambe
25 Newport County
26 Northampton Town
27 Notts County 
28 Oldham Athletic
29 Oxford United
30 Peterborough United
31 Plymouth Argyle
32 Port Vale
33 Portsmouth 
34 Preston North End
35 Rochdale AFC
36 Rotherham United
37 Scunthorpe United 
38 Sheffield United 
39 Shrewsbury Town
40 Southend United
41 Stevenage
42 Swindon Town
43 Torquay United
44 Tranmere Rovers
45 Walsall
46 Wolverhampton Wanderers 
47 Wycombe Wanderers
48 York City
49 Macclesfield Town or Vauxhall Motors
50 Stamford or Hednesford Town
51 Grimsby Town or Rushall Olympic
52 The Mighty Imps or Worcester City
53 Bradford (Park Avenue) or Kidderminster Harriers
54 Wrexham or Hyde
55 Workington or Stourbridge
56 Southport or Marske United
57 Colwyn Bay or Corby Town
58 Tamworth or Solihull Moors
59 Nuneaton Town or Halifax Town
60 North Ferriby United or Alfreton Town
61 Brackley Town or Barrow
62 Chester or Gateshead
63 Hemel Hempstead Town or Sutton United
64 Afc Hornchurch or Hereford United
65 Ebbsfleet United or Dartford
66 Barnet or Concord Rangers
67 Chatham Town or St Albans City
68 Dover Athletic or Oxford City
69 Boreham Wood or Heybridge Swifts
70 Bath City or Salisbury City
71 Gloucester City or Hampton & Richmond Borough
72 Weymouth or Braintree Town
73 Forest Green Rovers or Bishop`s Stortford
74 Needham Market or Cambridge United
75 Biggleswade Town or Canvey Island
76 Shortwood United or Aldershot Town
77 Woking or Luton Town
78 Brislington or Welling United
79 Hartley Wintney or Daventry Town
80 Staines Town or Poole Town

Could Striker Knock-back See Shock Robinson Return In Cup?

Gary Simpson has been on the trail of a target man for some time, with a 6’3″ Conference target man the latest to slip through his grasp for either financial or contract and loan duration reasons. However with Yussuf failing to inspire, Gainsborough manager Housham on a striker search,  sweet Imp ray of sunshine could Connor Robinson be moving up the pecking order  now his loan at Trinity has come to a close?

Rose Tinted dares to dream

 

Yussuf gives the Imps pace, but his ongoing issues seem to rule him out in the short-term at least. Connor Robinson though has that spark, but had lacked the strength and stamina to break into the first team to show the promise and panache that has excited Imps fans since those cameo scoring appearances while he was just a babe in stripes. However since going to Trinity on a months loan the lad has toughened up and looked very sharp in day to day training with the Imps. Connor, when on loan at Trinity, still spent just a night training plus match time at the Blues.

With Housham looking for even more strikers now Connor is returning to Lincoln for good he could get an FA Cup break this weekend. Judging by his training performances and his time at Trinity could Connor be about to follow Lee Frecklington into Lincoln folklore? Lee ‘Frecktanian’ Frecklington went on from the youth team to become a fantastic midfielder for the Imps under Schofield with 23 goals in 110 starts before fetching six figures plus add-ons when he moved to Posh. His second big money move last January to The Millers has seen him score 13 times including 5 so far this term.

If Connor can just catch a break and make the step up we could well have the pace and width the Imps need.  We know Connor has the ability and Imps fans are sure to have patience for one of our own wouldn’t we? Playing him on Saturday would be a massive gamble for the club, the manager and the lad himself of course.  But Connor turned 20 last week, is full of beans even if he is young and raw – but he’s lightening with a ball at his feet and with nothing to lose he could be the ace up our sleeve.

Nick Wright Has Worcester in His Sights.

Mansfield Town misfit Nick Wright opened his account at old haunt Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday to end a couple of years of tough times for a pacey goal-machine who is absolutely unplayable when his tail is up.  But once this lad gets on a run and teams start playing to his strengths he is a goal machine possessing electric pace and panache.  The rutting season has begun for the ex-Stag and Worcester are in his sights.

Rose Tinted’s heart is a flutter

  

Despite being 6′ 3″ Nick is not the best in the air, preferring a ball to feet so that he can roast his man and hammer home with aplomb. Yet Mo Fofana’s elegant out-swinging peel – with the outside of his foot no less – saw him get a rare headed goal to open his account for the Imps.  If the two can take that into the Worcester game the Imps should bury a team at the same stadium that saw many of us crying into our delicious pies yesterday.  Despite the result Nick’s strike has come at just the right time for the player and the Imps who could not buy a goal of late. Lincoln had 14 shots yesterday, 1 goal, 7 others on target plus 6 further efforts going anywhere but the goal. Nicks 80th minute effort brought a 260 minute goal drought to an end.

Next week is the perfect game for Nick who got 27 goals in 79 games for Tamworth and 23 in 82 for Kidderminster before Cox signed him for the Stags off the back of a 15 goal season.  The Former England C hitman could not get past Green and co grabbing 1 goal in 5 starts plus 3 assists suggesting there is plenty more to Nick’s game. The former Lamb and England C forward is best served to the left or right of a trio.  

Impstatz 2013/14

No	NAME	St	Sub	Mins	G	On	M	Ass	F’s	F’ed	YC	RC
10	Nick Wright	5	5	414	1	4	5	0	3	4	0	0

Mansfield 2012/13 stats 

Sq no	Player	Starts	Sub	Mins	Goals	Shots off	Shots on	Assists	YC	RC
27	Nick Wright	5	14	531	1	7	5	3	1	0

Kidderminster 2011/12 stats 

Sq no	Player	Starts	Sub	Mins	Goals	Shots off	Shots on	Assists	YC	RC
27	Nick Wright	23	20	2330	15	21	35	3	1	0

STMI BIOPIC
FULL NAME	Nicholas Wright
DATE OF BIRTH	25 November 1987 (age 25)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Birmingham, England
HEIGHT/WEIGHT	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)/ 11st 9 (75 kg)
PLAYING POSITION	Striker / winger
Current gig in the game
CLUB	Lincoln City
NUMBER	n/a
YOUTH CAREER
2001-2005	Birmingham City
SENIOR STATS
YEARS	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Birmingham City	0	(0)
2006	Tamworth (loan)	3	(0)
2006	Bristol City (loan)	5	(0)
2006	Northampton Town (loan)	4	(0)
2007	Ashford Town (loan)
2007	Halesowen Town (loan)
2007–2010	Tamworth	79	(27)
2010–2012	Kidderminster Harriers	82	(23)
2012–13	Mansfield Town	17	(1)
International Appearances
2008–	England C	1	(0)

50 Grand Reading FC Striker Threatening Boyce’s Bonus Then?

Reading FC signed Brett Williams for £50,000 in January 2011, but despite loans at Rotherham United, Northampton Town and Woking FC, he joined Aldershot Town after failing to get ahead of ALF and co in the pecking order.

Rose Tinted eyes up her heroes latest foe

The 6′ 2″ hot-shot joined Reading from Eastleigh where he had bagged 8 in 23 appearances but failed to get on despite being a regular in the first team squad. But it was not to be as he was released last summer only to join Aldershot just days after his release , Brett has gone on to become top scorer with 6 so far this season in just nine games.

Reputations mean nothing to Boyce, who has kept plenty quiet already this season, determined to keep the Imps in the top 8 as much for pride as the bonus that makes being a professional at Lincoln add up and his improvement this season has been breathtaking suggesting it will take more than £50,000 to prize him from Sincil Bank when the time inevitably comes.  We almost lost him in the summer but he was keen to stay, learn and help the Imps in their quest to return to the Football League.

Andrew Boyce is starting to catch the eye with even team-mate Nat Brown convinced that he will go to the very top. A no-nonsense giant Boyce signed a two-year deal with the Imps in the summer and is starting to make good on a potential that needed just a bit of luck.  A Doncaster Rovers youth, he saw loans at Worksop and Mansfield Town, before leaving Donny by mutual consent, only to witness his club go bust, when  Kings Lynn went out of business in December 2009.  Boyce then joined Gainsborough before jumping at the chance to make his dream to be a pro come true as the Imps parted with 12,000 plus add-ons

Fairhurst To Show His Doncaster Pedigree

Saturday will see Doncaster Rovers youth prodigy Waide Fairhurst step up and deliver against Aldershot Town. Waide who also got  4 in 10 for Shrewsbury Town will finally shrug off his previous fitness issues and recapture the form that saw him bag a brace on his Sincil Bank debut to fire the Imps back into the play-off places.

Rose Tinted has good feelings about Saturday

A prolific goal machine for Doncaster, throughout his youth, Waide scored two goals in two starts after signing his first 3-year pro deal. It was hard for the youngster to break into the Rovers first 11 in the Championship, but his debut came against Coventry before  he supplied an assist against Palace, then scored against WBA and Ipswich. With chances few and far between in the Championship, Waide went on loan to Shrewsbury, in October 2009, grabbing 4 goals in 10 appearances.

 

Alas he was forced to cut the loan short and returned to Rovers in the  December thanks to injury.  After 6 weeks out with a broken toes he got two goalless opportunities against WBA and Ipswich before being loaned to Southend and Hereford, bagging a brace on his debut against Cheltenham and scoring two games later in the 1-1 draw with Northampton.

 

Simmo signed him for Macc and it is fair to say he began to blossom after Gary left. Last season Waide hit 13 goals (plus 3 assists) in 43 games for the Silkmen, including braces against Woking and Braintree. He is not the tallest, but he has a competitive streak about him. His first touch and shooting skills are certainly championship level first class fox-in-the-box instints suggesting has a massive part to play in Lincoln’s play-off push this season.

 

Come on Waide this is your chance to shine, you know you have the quality to become a legend at Sincil Bank!

No	NAME	St	Sub	Mins	G	On	M	Ass	F’s	F’ed	YC	RC
7	2013/14	4	2	361	2	3	6	0	2	1	0	0
20	2012/13	31	12	2458	13	34	44	3	15	32	5	0

Match Ratings

Name	G															Ave	Tot
Fairhurst	6	–	–	9	–	7	8	7	–	–	–	7	–	–	7	7.5	102

Historic facts & stats

STMI BIOPIC
FULL NAME	Waide Simon Fairhurst
DATE OF BIRTH	7 May 1989 (age 24)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Sheffield, England
HEIGHT	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 11 st (69.84kg)
PLAYING POSITION	Striker
CONTRACT: ONE YEAR (PLUS OPTION)
CURRENT CLUB	Lincoln City
SENIOR CAREER
YEARS	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Doncaster Rovers	10	(2)
2009	Solihull Moors (loan)	5	(2)
2009–2010	Shrewsbury Town (loan)	10	(4)
2010	Southend United (loan)	3	(0)
2011	Hereford United (loan)	16	(3)
2011–2013	Macclesfield Town	61	(13)
2013–	Lincoln City	6	(2)

Nick Knows The Sweet Smell of Lambs’ Success

Nick Wright tasted success at Tamworth FC before Mansfield Town and Kidderminster Harriers came calling, firing them to promotion to The Conference Premier, then Blue Square Premier.  Now close to fitness he is set to renew acquaintances with his old club and is determined to get off the mark.

Rose Tinted wishes Nick Wright well!

Nick signed for the Lambs upon his release from Birmingham in 2007 and bagged 13 in his first and 10 in his second season at the club. He was a massive part of the promotion side that made it back into the BSP in 2008/9 delivering as many assists as he did goals. The first season back was a steep learning curve  with Gary Mills leaving him out of the Tamworth side before transfer listing him at the end of the 2009-10 season.

To the horror of the Lambs faithful local rivals Kidderminster stepped in and Nick would go on to rub salt into the mint sauce by bagging 8 in 2010/11 and 15 in 2011/12, despite  half of his appearances coming from the bench. It was of some surprise to Harriers fans that Cox was allowed to take him to Mansfield at the beginning of last season on a free too. Again he was used as an impact player with 1 goal in 5 starts and just 531 minutes to impress, with 9 short cameos from the bench.

Come on Nick destiny awaits –  tuck in son and feel free to ask for seconds and thirds! Nicky Wright! Wright! Wright!

STMI BIOPIC
FULL NAME	Nicholas Wright
DATE OF BIRTH	25 November 1987 (age 25)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Birmingham, England
HEIGHT/WEIGHT	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 11st 9 (75 kg)
PLAYING POSITION	Striker / winger
CLUB
CURRENT CLUB	Free agent
NUMBER	n/a
YOUTH CAREER
2001-2005	Birmingham City
SENIOR STATS
YEARS	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Birmingham City	0	(0)
2006	Tamworth (loan)	3	(0)
2006	Bristol City (loan)	5	(0)
2006	Northampton Town (loan)	4	(0)
2007	Ashford Town (loan)
2007	Halesowen Town (loan)
2007–2010	Tamworth	79	(27)
2010–2012	Kidderminster Harriers	82	(23)
2012–	Mansfield Town	17	(1)
International Caps
2008–	England C	1	(0)