The Imps had to settle for a point after being held to a 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury Town in a game of two halves at Sincil Bank.

After a mightily frustrating first-half in which City conceded a sloppy goal and Lady Luck was absolutely nowhere to be seen, the Imps turned the game around with a much better second-half performance.

Some slack defending from Lincoln on 17 minutes saw Shrewsbury go 1-0 in front. Kevin Langmead was given too much time on the right to cross the ball into the box, the City defence failed to clear their lines and as the ball bobbled around in the six-yard box, Jamie Tolley pounced to steer a shot into the bottom corner past a helpless Alan Marriott.

City were left to rue their misfortune as they hit the post, had an effort cleared off the line and struck the crossbar in the space of six first-half minutes. On 32 minutes, Derek Asamoah's unstoppable drive clattered the top of the post and then, four minutes later, Lee Beevers' effort from inside the area was kept out by Langmead on the line.

City's frustrations grew in the 38th minute as the woodwork again denied them an equaliser when Nat Brown's header struck the crossbar. The ball just wouldn't go in and City fans could sense it might be 'one of those days'.

But, on 51 minutes, Lincoln finally got their reward for their persistence with the equalising goal. The ball was whipped into the Shrewsbury area and a goalmouth scramble ensued. First, Paul Mayo's header was blocked out by Whitehead, Marvin Robinson's header was kept out by 'keeper Hart but the ball fell to Nat Brown who bundled the ball over the line from half a yard out.

If luck was on City's side, they would have run out comfortable winners, but it just wasn't to be and, in the end, a point was disappointing.

Gareth McAuley heads goalwards

report by Jonny Hall at Sincil Bank:

The Imps were without suspended midfielder Dean Keates who served the first game  a three-match ban for his last minute red card against MK Dons in the FA Cup First Round last weekend.

Lincoln-born Paul Mayo came in to the starting line-up to replace Keates after recovering from knee ligament damage which has kept him sidelined for a number of weeks. Although some way off match sharpness following a toe injury, towering centre-back Jamie McCombe was named as a substitute.

Lincoln lined up with Alan Marriott in goal, behind a back four of skipper Paul Morgan, Gareth McAuley, Lee Beevers and Colin Cryan. Paul Mayo joined Scott Kerr and Nat Brown in midfield, whilst Gary Birch, Derek Asamoah and Marvin Robinson joined forces in attack. Defenders Jamie McCombe and Luke Foster joined the versatile Jeff Hughes and strikers Francis Green and Maheta Molango on the City substitutes' bench.

With the sun shining on a glorious November afternoon, Shrewsbury kicked off with the Imps attacking the Stacey West end. City started brightly by winning a corner after two minutes following good work by Lee Beevers and Paul Mayo down the left.

The home side had the visitors camped in their 18-yard box in the opening five minutes. A long throw-in by Beevers caused Shrewsbury problems when the ball entered their six-yard box, as Marvin Robinson saw his header blocked out by Tolley.

On 13 minutes, an intelligent cross field pass by Scott Kerr saw him release Paul Mayo down the left, and he whipped in a dangerous cross into the box where Marvin Robinson rose high and the ball was diverted wide for a corner. Mayo's corner was hacked away by the Shrews' defence.

Slack defending from Lincoln on 17 minutes saw Shrewsbury steal a 0-1 lead against the run of play. Kevin Langmead was given too much time on the right to cross the ball into the box, the City defence failed to clear their lines and as the ball bobbled around in the six-yard box, JAMIE TOLLEY pounced to steer a shot into the bottom corner past a helpless Alan Marriott. A very poor goal to concede.

City were struggling to find a rhythm but managed to click into gear on 23 minutes when Derek Asamoah went on a solo run. Asamoah skipped past two defenders, advanced to the edge of the box before driving a long-range strike the wrong side of the post.

As the 30-minute mark passed, City began to claw themselves back into the game, but it was proving to be a frustrating affair for the Imps. On 32 minutes, a City corner was punched away by 'keeper Hart but only as far as Derek Asamoah 16 yards from goal. The striker weaved past two men before hitting an unstoppable shot which struck the top of the post and bounced away.

Then in the 36th minute a Paul Mayo cross from the left was met by Lee Beevers inside the Shrews' area but the defender's effort was kept out by Langmead stood at his back post. The pressure from the home side continued with a corner which saw Scott Kerr blast a long-range strike well over the crossbar.

City's frustrations grew in the 38th minute when the woodwork again denied them an equaliser. Paul Mayo swung in a corner from the left and Nat Brown dived in, but his near post header spun up, struck the crossbar, and was hacked away by Whitehead. The ball just wouldn't go in and City fans could sense it might be 'one of those days'.

After one minute of added time, the first half came to a close with City knowing they have to offer more in the second half if they are to secure all three points. Other than the goal, which was a sloppy one to concede on City's part, Shrewsbury failed to test 'keeper Alan Marriott during the opening period.

HT: IMPS 0 SHREWSBURY 1

The Imps got the second half underway attacking the Industrial & Marine Power Services stand. Both sides had emerged for the second half unchanged as the temperature dropped in and around Sincil Bank stadium.

Diminutive striker Derek Asamoah was at the centre of City's attacking play. The lively former Northampton Town forward cut in from the right flank, jinked past two defenders before moving into the box. But he chose to pass rather than shoot when the ball was on his left foot, and his attempted pass to Gary Birch waiting on the edge of the box was intercepted.

Asamoah was involved in City's next attack and the home side should have scored. Bursting down the right, Asamoah played a ball square across the face of goal and there was Marvin Robinson all alone two yards from goal. But Shrews' goalkeeper Hart produced a superb reaction save with his body to deny Robinson as the striker tried to lift the ball over him.

But, on 51 minutes, Lincoln finally got their reward for their persistence with an all-important equaliser. The ball was whipped into the Shrewsbury area and a goalmouth scramble ensued. First, Paul Mayo's header was blocked out by Whitehead, Marvin Robinson's header was kept out by 'keeper Hart but the ball fell to NAT BROWN who bundled the ball over the line.

It was perhaps the most unattractive goal you will ever see, but that didn't matter to City who gratefully celebrated. The goal erased the frustration City endured during the first half and set the stage for the Imps to now go on and claim three points. It certainly gave the home side some confidence as they surged forward to find a second goal.

And City did have the ball in the back of the net two minutes later - but it was ruled out for offside to the disappointment of the home fans. Strong work by Gary Birch saw the striker cross to the far post for Marvin Robinson whose deft header looped over the head of 'keeper Hart and into the back of the net, but referee Andy Woolmer blew his whistle for offside despite there being no flag from the linesman on the far side. 

In a carbon-copy of the previous move, a Robinson header from a Birch cross on 58 minutes saw the ball travel wide of the target this time. Birch and Robinson - who had a quiet first half - had found life now and were causing problems for the visitors. On 62 minutes, a Birch shot from the edge of the box forced a comfortable save from Hart.

Shrewsbury won their first corner of the match after 65 minutes which was headed clear by Gareth McAuley - and City launched a counter-attack. Lee Beevers darted down the left, played it left to Derek Asamoah, and his incisive pass cut the Shrews' defence wide open but Marvin Robinson was unfortunately flagged offside.

Clever play between Derek Asamoah, Paul Mayo and Scott Kerr saw the latter tease in a wicked cross from the left which forced Hope to head behind to concede a corner. City won two successive corners as pressure on the visitors mounted, but Gareth McAuley's header from Mayo's second corner drifted wide.

On 73 minutes, Imps boss Keith Alexander made his first substitution of the match when Marvin Robinson was replaced by Francis Green in attack. Robinson caused the visitors problems with his strength and power, but had an unfortunate time in front of goal.

Green's first contribution was to win City a corner in the 76th minute. Paul Mayo's inswinging delivery saw Gareth McAuley's header deflected out of the 18-yard box, Beevers swung the ball back into the box and McAuley was then penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper.

City had to defend an 83rd minute Shrewsbury free-kick, and defend they did as Gareth McAuley headed the ball clear. Then, at the other end, Francis Green's right-wing cross was sent behind for a corner. Paul Mayo swung the ball in and it was Green who pounced with a close-range shot, but his effort was stopped on the goal line by Edwards, who simply stuck out a leg in hope of stopping it.

Two minutes of added time were given as City came close to snatching a late winner in the 90th minute. A Scott Kerr free-kick to the far post was met by Nat Brown but his header towards goal was deflected wide for a corner. The corner was sent clear by a resilient Shrewsbury defence. Then, Derek Asamoah's long-range strike sailed over the bar before the full time whistle blew.

FT: IMPS 1 SHREWSBURY 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
Alan MARRIOTT
Colin CRYAN
Lee BEEVERS
Gareth McAULEY
Paul MORGAN
Scott KERR
Paul MAYO
Nat BROWN
Gary BIRCH
Derek ASAMOAH
Marvin ROBINSON

Subs:
Francis GREEN (for ROBINSON 75)
Jamie McCOMBE
Luke FOSTER
Jeff HUGHES
Maheta MOLANGO

Goal: BROWN (51)

Bookings: KERR (23), ASAMOAH (85), BEEVERS (90+)

SHREWSBURY TOWN
Joe HART
Stuart WHITEHEAD
Jamie TOLLEY
Colin McMENAMIN
Kevin LANGMEAD
Neil ASHTON
Ben HERD
Gavin COWAN
Duane DARBY
Dave EDWARDS
Richard HOPE

Subs:
Ben SMITH
Steve HOGG
Jay DENNY
Gavin CADWALLADER
Glyn THOMPSON

Goal: TOLLEY (18)

Bookings: DARBY (61), COWAN (90)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
Assistants: Alf Greenwood & Jim Hubbard
Fourth Official: Richard West

Attendance: 3,748 (222 visiting supporters)