You can use all the clichés you want. 'It only takes a second to score a goal', 'The game lasts 90mins' etc, but to lose the game like this has left us gutted as in the end it was self inflicted. The Swans lined up 4-4-2 Gueret Ricketts, Mink, Iriekpen and Austin Forbes, Martinez, O'Leary and Robinson Thorpe and Trundle Subs Bean, Connor, Gurney, McLeod and Murphy The first half started quietly, well for the first 2mins anyway. The next 10 or so, so Lincoln play their direct, route one, pressure football, which saw the ball fly into our penalty area from all angles and all heights. It was a very worrying period and it did look as if they would take the lead with Yeo causing the most problems with a couple of powerful shots on goal. The defence and Gueret had to be at their best to withstand the onslaught. Withstand it they did as the Swans came more into what was an open game. Lincoln did get the ball in the net but the whistle had already blown for a foul on Gueret. At around the half way stage, Yeo was booked for dissent after continuing to argue with the referee. Chances were coming at both ends with Lincoln, being the home team, getting the most. The Swans did come close when a powerful header from Thorpe just cleared the bar. Half time came with the scores level, Gueret had saved well on three occasions, and although a 0-0 did look fair, we couldn't complain if we had gone in a goal down, as Lincoln shaded the first half play.
The Swans came out and started the brighter and should have taken the lead inside the first 5mins. Trundle had a run across the edge of the area, shooting while off balance, with Marriott saving easily. Marriott threw the ball straight to Thorpe who had the goal at his mercy but decided to pass to Trundle but the chance was cleared by the defence. The Swans although not having their own way looked the stronger and more likely to break the deadlock. Lincoln were using their height advantage, but our defence worked very hard limiting their chances on goal. Late on it looked odds on Lincoln scoring as a deep cross from the left by Taylor-Fletcher reached McAuley on the right free inside the area slightly to the right of goal. With us already seeing the ball in the back of the net Gueret spread his body, saving with his legs. It looked as if luck was with us, but as we went into added time, Bean conceded a needless free kick on the touchline just inside our half. We cleared the free kick only for the ball to fall to Robinson about 10 yards outside the box on our right. Row Z was needed but Robinson, flicked the ball up not once but twice as he attempted to put his foot through the ball was dispossessed. Gain sent in a shot which sliced off Monk looping over Gueret, hitting the underside of the bar and into the net. A very cruel blow. With only a minute left the game was gone. | LINCOLN | | Marriott | | Futcher | | Mcauley | | McCombe | | Morgan | | Sandwith | | Butcher | | Gain | | Asamoah | | Taylor-Fletcher | | Yeo | SWANSEA | | Gueret | | Austin | | Iriekpen | | Monk | | Ricketts | | Martinez | | O'Leary | | Forbes | | Robinson | | Thorpe | | Trundle | REFEREE | | R Beeby | ATTENDANCE | | 5,207 |
No individual player comments as the team had worked extremely hard. Just a few in general. It did seem an odd substitution to take Forbes off and replacing him with Bean. From about the 75min Robinsons legs had gone and although Forbes was tiring he would still have offered us more defending.
Goals | Also Forbes was booked for throwing the ball down. OK it could be taken as showing dissent, but Lincoln boss Alexander had done something very similar in the first half making sure we couldn't take a quick throw in but only received a talking too. For those that weren't there PLEASE PLEASE don't think we blew it, it was just one of those things. Admittedly the goal was the result of a combination of mistakes but the team had played well and the form is still there. The reaction of the players showed how much it hurt, as many just stood and stared at the final whistle. On paper that is our hardest match out of the way. This team is not the team that had the 10 game dip, and can bounce back. It could be a blessing as we now only have to go on a 4 game run. | | Lincoln | | Monk (og) 90 | | Swansea | | None | | Card Count | | Booked | | Lincoln | | Yeo 23 | | Morgan 44 | | Swansea | | Forbes 73 | | Bean 90 | | Sent Off | | Lincoln | | None | | Swansea | | None |
A crowd of 5,200 included about 600 visiting Swans. We might not have been at our loudest but it was a very very nervous 90mins.
REPORT: CLIVE, GARETH AND DAVID HUGHES
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