The Imps dropped two points after a last minute equaliser forced the Imps to settle for a 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town at Sincil Bank on Saturday.
The three points looked to be in the bag after Franny Green broke the deadlock but a Stags goal in the last minute of normal time saw City emerge with just the one point.
After a poor first-half, City took the lead on 53 minutes when Colin Cryan's deep diagonal cross field ball sailed over Marvin Robinson and dropped at the feet of Green. He brought the ball down and hit a fierce low drive which crept under the body of visiting 'keeper Kevin Pressman and trickled over the goal line.
City were denied a maximum haul right at the death though when Mansfield snatched a late leveller. Substitute Allan Russell struck a 25-yard free-kick past a five-man wall and the ball nestled into the bottom corner to Alan Marriott's left.
The Imps came within inches of netting a winner when striker Jamie Forrester's elegant lob from the edge of the area bringing an excellent finger-tip save from veteran stopper Pressman.
In the scramble for the play-offs, City's bid took a blow. The result leaves Keith Alexander's side in ninth spot in League 2 on 57 points, two points off the top seven. Peterborough United occupy seventh spot with 59 points. Cheltenham Town in sixth have 62.
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Nat Brown in aerial action |
Report by Jonny Hall at Sincil Bank Stadium:
Imps boss Keith Alexander reinstated midfielder Steve Robinson back into the starting line-up. Robinson began in midfield alongside Scott Kerr and Lee Beevers. Providing protection for 'keeper Alan Marriott was back four (from left to right) Jeff Hughes, Nat Brown, Jamie McCombe and Colin Cryan. On-loan frontman Jamie Forrester continued in attack as he linked up with Francis Green and an in-form Marvin Robinson.
Former Mansfield Town striker Danny Bacon returned to the Imps squad after a six month absence. Bacon, who sustained a broken leg while on loan at Burton Albion in October, was named on today's substitutes' bench. The ex-Hucknall Town man would be hoping to come off the bench to lock horns with his former Mansfield team mates.
Also on the substitutes bench was teenage striker and third year scholar Leon Mettam. Lincoln-born Mettam ironically made his Football League debut as a substitute in City's visit to Mansfield in January. Mettam joined Gary Birch, Jude Stirling, Martin Gritton and Danny Bacon on the bench.
The two teams emerged from the tunnel to a sunny but blustery Sincil Bank. Premiership referee Uriah Rennie blew his whistle and Mansfield kicked off backed by a healthy traveling contingent, with the Imps attacking the Stacey West end.
City claimed the first corner of the match in the first minute thanks to a helping hand from the strong wind. Scott Kerr whipped it in low and a scramble ensued in the box before Marvin Robinson fired off a shot which was blocked.
The ball came out to Steve Robinson on the left, he swung a cross in, and it was Marvin Robinson who missed it at the far post with an outstretched leg. More Mansfield fans filtered into the ground and packed the visitors section of the Co-op Stand - a very good following from the Stags.
It was a busy start from City as both sides battled for possession in the gusty conditions. The ball was being swept all over the pitch. Nat Brown appeared to be playing alongside Scott Kerr and Steve Robinson in midfield, with Lee Beevers at center back this afternoon.
The opening 15 minutes was a lively one from the Imps as they looked to impose themselves on the visitors from the off. In the 15th minute mark, Jamie Forrester's intelligent pass found Jeff Hughes around 35 yards out and he let fly with a speculative drive which sailed well wide of the target.
Mansfield launched their first attack on 17 minutes and it was three Mansfield men against two Lincoln. Reet burst down the right-hand side and fired in a cross but Colin Cryan was there to head to safety. And City hit back straight away on the counter-attack, with Steve Robinson galloping down the right. Robinson looked for Francis Green's darting run, but the ball ran out for a goal kick.
As the 20-minute mark passed, it was increasingly apparent that the gusty winds were making it very difficult to play any decent football. It was a scrappy affair but both sides were doing their best to contend with the wind. Clever footwork from Jeff Hughes on the left won City a dangerous free kick on 30 minutes.
Steve Robinson whipped it in from the left flank, and Nat Brown rose high but was beaten in the air by Baptiste to give City a corner. Kerr swung the corner in and Mansfield sent the ball clear as a light drizzle swept across Sincil Bank. Good work by Scott Kerr skipping down the left-hand side saw Buxton bring him down and pick up the game's first booking.
It was Kerr who delivered the free kick into the Stags' six-yard box but 'keeper Kevin Pressman did well to punch the ball clear amongst a crowd of bodies. The rain came lashing down again with five minutes of the first-half to go. Mansfield were quick and confident going forward and, in the 40th minute, the athletic Uhlenbeek caused City some problems.
Uhlenbeek darted down the right-hand side, skipped past two men before cutting into the 18-yard box and rifling a low drive at goal which Alan Marriott saved comfortably. A dangerous low cross from Jamie Forrester on the right forced Baptiste to concede a corner as injury time approached. But Steve Robinson's corner was sent clear by a stern Mansfield defence.
City won two free-kicks in quick succession as one minute of added time was allocated by the fourth official. The first came to nothing, but the second saw City have their best chance of the half. Scott Kerr whipped in a swirling cross from the left and Jamie McCombe towered high, with his back to goal, from eight yards out to flick a header wide of the target.
FT: IMPS 0 MANSFIELD 0
It was a lively start to the second half as both sides looked to break the deadlock. City drew first blood when Jamie Forrester chased down a loose ball, forcing Stags 'keeper Kevin Pressman to race off his line to the edge of the area to head the ball clear.
Mansfield hit back a minute later in a double attacking flurry. First, Rundle tried his luck with a long-range strike which crashed behind Marriott's goal. And then, on 48 minutes, 'keeper Marriott was called into action again when Coke burst down the left, cut the ball back to Barker who swiveled and, off balance, unleashed a shot from close-range which brought a solid stop from Marriott.
The visitors stepped up a gear and had their best chance of the match so far on 49 minutes. The lively Adam Rundle twisted and turned down the left flank, leaving City exposed at the back. Rundle fired in a teasing cross between the last defender and goalkeeper Marriott. Marriott tried to smother it, but he could only finger tip it away to Reet who, with a clear sight of goal, blasted the ball over the bar from six yards out.
Against the run of play, City broke the deadlock on 52 minutes to edge their noses in front in an evenly-balanced local derby tussle. Colin Cryan's deep diagonal cross field ball sailed over Marvin Robinson and dropped at the feet of Francis Green. Green brought the ball down and hit a fierce low drive which crept under the body of 'keeper Pressman and trickled over the goal line. Pressman should have done better.
As City celebrated going 1-0 up, a flare went off in the visitors' section, which stewards dealt with quickly. Rain began to sweep across Sincil Bank with the wind picking up again as the changeable weather continued to effect action on the pitch.
Mansfield made the game's first substitution on the 60-minute mark as Simon Brown replaced Danny Reet in attack. On 62 minutes, fine work by the skilful Rundle won Mansfield a corner which Uhlenbeek swung into City's box but Jamie McCombe was there again to head it clear. Goalmouth chances were few and far between as the tempo eased.
On 69 minutes Stags striker Richie Barker sent a 25-yard free-kick high over the Imps crossbar before Keith Alexander made City's first change when he replaced Marvin Robinson with Gary Birch in a straight swap in attack. Six minutes later, the hard working Steve Robinson made way for Jude Stirling in a tactical switch for City. Stirling slotted in at right back as Nat Brown moved back into midfield.
It was a second-half littered with free-kicks as referee Uriah Rennie blew his whistle time and again. It wasn't the prettiest, but the Imps had their one goal lead intact with five minutes of normal time remaining. On 85 minutes, Mansfield won a corner as they continued to press. Dawson whipped it in and Hjelde climbed high to power in a header which flew over the upright.
When the three points looked wrapped up, City were denied a maximum haul right at the death when Mansfield snatched a late equaliser. A disputable decision by referee Uriah Rennie saw the Stags awarded a free-kick around 25 yards from goal. Lee Beevers appeared to win the ball from Simon Brown but a free-kick was given.
Allan Russell struck the free-kick past a five-man wall and the ball nestled into the bottom corner to 'keeper Alan Marriott's left. The Mansfield players raced away to celebrate with the Stags fans in the corner of the Co-op Stand. City were utterly deflated.
But, for a moment, it looked like City had grabbed a last-gasp winner when striker Jamie Forrester's elegant lob from the edge of the area was destined for the back of the net. But an excellent finger-tip save from Pressman denied City a grandstand finish. Instead, it was a disastrous finish.
FT: IMPS 1 MANSFIELD 1
TEAM SHEET
LINCOLN CITY
Alan MARRIOTT
Colin CRYAN
Jeff HUGHES
Lee BEEVERS
Jamie McCOMBE
Scott KERR
Steve ROBINSON
Nat BROWN
Francis GREEN
Jamie FORRESTER
Marvin ROBINSON
Subs:
Gary BIRCH (for M ROBINSON 71)
Jude STIRLING (for S ROBINSON 76)
Danny BACON
Martin GRITTON
Leon METTAM
Goal: GREEN (53)
Booking: S ROBINSON (75)
MANSFIELD TOWN
Kevin PRESSMAN
Jonathan D'LARYEA
Alex BAPTISTE
Gus UHLENBEEK
Richard BARKER
Jake BUXTON
Giles COKE
Adam RUNDLE
Jon Olav HJELDE
Laurence WILSON
Danny REET
Subs:
Simon BROWN (for REET 61)
Stephen DAWSON (for RUNDLE 73)
Allan RUSSELL (for UHLENBEEK 79)
Rhys DAY
Jason WHITE
Goal: RUSSELL (90)
Bookings: BUXTON (37), WILSON (61), COKE (73)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Uriah Rennie (Yorkshire)
Assistants: Gary Brittain & Peter Kirkup
Fourth Official: Ian Scarr
Attendance: 6,062 (1,531 visiting supporters)
50/50 HALF-TIME DRAW
£250 - # 01825 - claimed
£86 - # 01371 - claimed
