The Imps and Mansfield Town battled out a goalless draw on Bank Holiday Monday as the Coca-Cola League 2 at Field Mill match ended all square at 0-0.

Stags' Kevin Pressman was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers, twice denying keeping out Dean Keates from a couple of free-kicks. The second of these saw Simon Yeo - back in a City shirt after a five-month spell in New Zealand - head against the woodwork and that proved to be the nearest that either side came to breaking the deadlock.

Mansfield's best chance came when Stephen Dawson slipped over at the wrong time with his eventual effort from six yards going wide courtesy of Alan Marriott's gloves.

Simon Yeo goes on the attack

report by John Vickers at Field Mill:

The main talking point around Field Mill as the teams warmed up for this Coca-Cola League 2 encounter was the announcement earlier in the day from Chairman of the Board Steff Wright stating that manager Keith Alexander and his assistant Gary Simpson has been "put on leave" four hours before kick-off.

As a result, First Team Coach John Schofield was in charge of team affairs and he was forced to make one change to the side that started the New Year's Eve game against Darlington.

That change saw Simon Yeo - whose clearance from NZ Knights was only finalised on New Year's Day - come in for loanee Richard Logan who has been recalled by Peterborough United.

It was a pleasant Bank Holiday as the two teams emerged from the tunnel, with the Imps, skippered again by Jamie McCombe in the absence of the injured Paul Morgan, donned in their away strip of black shirts, red shorts and black socks. They were up against a Mansfield side donned in their traditional yellow and blue.

Referee Clive Oliver got proceedings underway with City backed by what looked to be well over 1,000 travelling fans who were making themselves well heard behind Alan Marriott's goal.

It was a lively, yet cagey, start to the game with Mansfield keen to press the Imps when City gained possession - a block on Colin Cryan by Adam Rundle being the prime example in the second minute.

When the Imps did manage to break clear, a break from Jeff Hughes down the leftr saw him square the ball to Simon Yeo who saw his effort go wide. Although the referee indicated a corner he was over-ruled by his assistant, who indicated that the ball went straight out of play rather than clipping the feet of Jon-Olav Hjelde.

A cross from Cryan - after the ball was laid into his path by Yeo - forced Stags' 'keeper Kevin Pressman to tip the ball over his bar. Dean Keates' corner was half-cleared as far as Jamie McCombe who saw his netbound volley headed clear as Marvin Robinson ghosted in at the far post.

At the other end, a Rundle cross which clipped Cryan's shins saw the home side win their first corner, but this was subsequently played straight of play direct from the kick.

An offside flag against Yeo - the first on his return to the Club following his six-month foray to New Zealand curtailed a Lincoln move forward in the 13th minute. At the other end, a great block by Gareth McAuley saw him keep out a goalbound drive from Adam Rundle.

When the loose ball ran free, some brave goalkeeping by Alan Marriott at the feet of Allan Russell forced the Mansfield man to fire the ball over. There was a worrying sight though after the referee gave a goal-kick with Marriott motionless on the deck.

The Imps' custodian was down for a good couple of minutes receiving treatment from Michael Waitt before being able to resume play. A deflected drive from Nathan Arnold shortly after the restart saw Marriott do well to readjust his footwork in order to hold the ball.

City responded by forcing their second corner shortly after the midway point in the half but Kerr's delivery was poor with the ball nestling straight in the side netting. Shortly afterwards, Yeo was inches away from capilatising on a weak back pass but Hjelde was able to sneak in and whip the ball from the Lincoln man's feet.

A foul on Yeo by Hjelde saw referee Oliver award the Imps a free-kick 25 yards from goal in the 29th minute and from the set-piece Dean Keates forced Kevin Pressman to punch the ball behind at full stretch with the ball seemingly destined for the top corner. Jamie McCombe headed over from the resultant flag-kick.

Mansfield won their second corner 10th minute from the break but the Imps' defence were alert and cleared the quick delivery and they had to be on their toes again when Kerr was harshly adjudged to have blocked Jake Buxton. Once City cleared their lines, Jonathan D'Laryea dragged an effort well wide.

Shortly after a Cryan cross met by the flying foot of Keates only for the Mansfield defence to get in a timely block, Jeff Hughes picked up a yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Alex-John Baptiste.

Just before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of three minutes were to be added, a foul on Marvin Robinson by Hjelde gave the Imps a chance from a free-kick but nothing was forthcoming.

Seconds later Jamie McCombe required treatment following a clash with Russell with the Imps' skipper none to happy once he managed to regain his feet. Referee Oliver decided that no further punishment apart from the free-kick was required and it wasn't long before he blew for the break.

HT: MANSFIELD 0 IMPS 0

Neither side made any changes during the break so it was a case of as you were as the Imps got the second period underway, attacking the end behind which saw their travelling support.

The Imps were pushed on to the back foot in the early stages of the second half but stood firm and dealt well with the threat before forcing a number of throw-ins down their right to ease the pressure.

It wasn't long before the Imps were pushed back again though and it took a slip from Stephen Dawson to save their defensive blushes. Adam Rundle broke free down the left, cut into the box and dragged the ball across the box. It eventually fell to Dawson on the edge of the six-yard box but his slip saw his eventual effort go well wide, although referee Oliver deemed that Alan Marriott got a touch before the ball went behind.

This suddenly brought the game to life with Marvin Robinson going down in the box only for Mr Oliver to decide that Hjelde had won the ball fairly. Shortly afterwards Yeo flicked a Keates' free-kick over the bar as the Imps pressed forward again.

In the 57th minute, Allan Russell was withdrawn in place of Richard Barker who received a rapturous reception as he lined up in a straight swap up front. His first contribution was to elbow Jamie McCombe to hand City a free-kick.

Just before Dean Keates had a shot on target blocked and deflected wide by Jake Buxton, the Stags made a second change with Adam Birchall replacing Nathan Arnold. Keates' corner just evaded the flying Marvin Robinson who ended up in the net with the ball going out for a goal-kick.

At the other end a fine interception from Foster denied Baptiste a chance on goal whilst City's response saw Robinson sneak into an offside position as the Imps pushed forward again.

Midway though the second half high feet by Jamie McCombe on Stephen Dawson gave the Stags a chance from a free-kick but Luke Foster rose well to clear his lines and the game remained all square as it entered its final quarter.

The Imps replied with Simon Yeo winning a corner on the left but Kerr's delivery was punched clear by Pressman. Shortly afterwards both Yeo and Keates had efforts blocked before Foster cleared the stand from 30 yards.

Gus Uhlenbeek came on for Stephen Dawson as the home side made their third and final switch in the 73rd minute and before he touched the ball, Barker made it five corners apiece. Paul Mayo cleared the danger at the second attempt.

At the other end a dangerous centre from Keates forced the home side to slice the ball behind for a Lincoln corner but Keates' flag-kick sailed straight out, although the Imps' fans appealed for another corner as it appeared to be helped behind by Pressman.

John Schofield brought off Jeff Hughes in the 78th minute with teenage striker Leon Mettam coming on in his place for his full City debut. Centre back Rhys Day fired wide for the hosts as they looked to break the deadlock just after this change.

A free-kick to City a good 35 yards from goal gave Dean Keates to set his sights and he came mightily close to repeating his feat at Bury earlier in the season. Keates blasted the ball goalwards only for Pressman to dive at full stretch to keep the ball out. Simon Yeo saw his follow up header come back off the woodwork to add to the frustration.

Yeo saw yellow for dissent after punching the ball away after being penalised for hand ball in the Mansfield box and at the other end Keates was forced to backtrack to divert Uhlenbeek's centre behind.

In the final minute Uhlenbeek sent a low cross into the danger area which Barker header well wide whilst seconds later Colin Cryan was ruled to have dragged Rundle to the ground on the Mansfield left. Jamie McCombe headed the free-kick clear at the near post.

An additional three minutes were indicated by the Fourth Official and midway through those, some hesitation from Birchall allowed the Imps to clear their lines with the substitute wasting the chance when the ball fell to his feet on the edge of the box.

With the additional minutes up, the hosts had a chance from a free-kick but when the ball was played into the danger area after the initial ball was cleared, a timely header from Cryan ensured that the Imps' sheet remained clean.

FT: MANSFIELD 0 IMPS 0

LINCOLN CITY
Alan MARRIOTT
Colin CRYAN
Paul MAYO
Gareth McAULEY
Jamie McCOMBE
Scott KERR
Luke FOSTER
Dean KEATES
Jeff HUGHES
Marvin ROBINSON
Simon YEO

Subs:
Leon METTAM (for HUGHES 78)
Nat BROWN
Derek ASAMOAH
Ollie RYAN
Lee FRECKLINGTON

Bookings: HUGHES (43), YEO (86)

MANSFIELD TOWN
Kevin PRESSMAN
Rhys DAY
Alex-John BAPTISTE
Stephen DAWSON
Jake BUXTON
Giles COKE
Adam RUNDLE
Jon-Olav HJELDE
Allan RUSSELL
Nathan ARNOLD
Jonathan D'LARYEA

Subs:
Richard BARKER (for RUSSELL 57)
Adam BIRCHALL (for ARNOLD 60)
Gus UHLENBEEK (for DAWSON 73)
Jason TALBOT
Jason WHITE

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Clive Oliver (Northumberland)
Assistants: Rob Steans & Jason Tyas
Fourth Official: Alan Greaves

Attendance: 4,946 (1,345 City supporters)