City's first goalless draw of the season saw them emerge from the home game against Stockport County with a share of the spoils following an evenly-matched encounter at Sincil Bank.
The Imps had the better of what little chances were created during the game but the main talking point at the final whistle was the decision by referee Keith Hill to dismiss City's Nat Brown and County's Liam Dickinson on the half-hour mark.
The double red card came after Brown and Dickinson squared up to each other following an off the ball tangle and looked harsh to say the least.
Both men were dismissed, however, and for an hour the 20 players on show failed to find a way through the respective defences.
City's best chance saw Jamie Forrester denied by the fingertips of Wayne Hennessey after he headed a Scott Kerr cross goalwards whilst the Imps had Kerr to thank in the second half when he headed a corner, which was missed by Alan Marriott, off the line.
 |
|
Nat Brown, later sent off, goes up for a header |
Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:
Lee Frecklington returned to the Imps' starting XI having been on the bench for last weekend's game at Rochdale for this Holy Saturday encounter against play-off chasing Stockport County at Sincil Bank.
Frecklington came in for Ryan Amoo who dropped to the bench where he was joined by Paul Mayo, Junior Mendes, Dany N'Guessan and 'keeper Robert Olejnik.
It was a pleasant Easter afternoon as the teams emerged from the tunnel and it was Stockport who got the game underway, attacking the Stacey West Stand in the opening period.
Referee Keith Hill was straight at the centre of things, booking Lee Beevers on the 90 second mark after the Hertfordshire official's assistant flagged after spotting a hand ball from the Imps' defender.
The offence saw Stockport win a free-kick 25 yards from goal and when it was taken, a good two minutes later, Anthony Pilkington fired straight at the City wall.
At the other end, a hand ball from Ashley Williams gave the Imps a chance from a similar position, although, unlike Beevers, the Stockport defender escaped further punishment. The least said about the training ground routine the better though as a lack of communication between Frecklington and Forrester allowed the County back line to clear their lines.
The Imps' next attack, in the 13th minute, saw them force the first corner of the game but Frecklington's delivery was claimed under his bar by towering 'keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Play immediately switched to the other end with Alan Marriott forced to tip a low Tony Dinning drive behind for a County corner; Frecklington clearing at the near post after Adam Griffin played the flag-kick to the near post.
City's response saw Forrester denied by the fingertips of Hennessey; the Wolves loanee pulling off a fine save after the Imps' striker twisted his neck before headed goalwards a Scott Kerr cross.
Kerr then had a shot saved by Hennessey after he was picked out by Nicky Eaden and as after the 'keeper kicked the ball out, treatment was administered to Robert Clare who picked up a knock in the build-up.
The opening period was now in it's second half as a clash between Nat Brown and Liam Dickinson, which ended with the pair going nose to nose, saw referee Hill take centre stage.
What seemed to be an innocent alternation on the edge of the Imps' penalty area was deemed to be more serious by the Hertfordshire official and he was quick to brandish a red card in Brown's direction.
Brown seemed bemused by the decision, and quite rightly so as a yellow card and a ticking off was almost certainly worthy punishment, whilst the subsequent red card to Dickinson had to be a formality following his earlier decision.
Brown's dismissal saw Paul Green move inside to partner Beevers whilst Jeff Hughes dropped back to left-back. Anthony Elding was now the lone striker for County.
A good save from Marriott saw him deny Jason Taylor from close range after Anthony Pilkington had broken down the left before playing the ball in whilst County's next attack saw the assistant referee flag in the visitors' favour after he deemed that Green's block on Elding was worthy of a free-kick. Referee Hill spotted an infringement as the set-piece came in though.
A minimum of three added minutes was then indicated by the Fourth Official and in the second of these, Mark Stallard saw a harsh yellow following what his first offence of the game.
HT: IMPS 0 STOCKPORT 0
Neither side made any changes during the break so it was as you were as the second half got underway in the sunshine.
It was a rather scrappy opening to the second period, broken only when referee Hill dished out a yellow card to Anthony Elding for a push on Lee Beevers six minutes after the restart. It seemed to be another harsh decision by the man in black.
Stockport then won their second corner of the game - and the first of the second half - but Marriott was well positioned to claim the ball after it was played in from the quadrant.
City's reply saw them force a corner after a chipped ball in from Stallard and a similar effort from Forrester forced Gareth Owen to head behind. County 'keeper Wayne Hennessey easily claimed Frecklington's subsequent centre though.
The Imps' next attack saw Frecklington head an Eaden centre over the bar after he ghosted in behind Forrester on the edge of the box whilst good work from the advancing Lee Beevers saw him force a corner on City's right. The corner was taken by Holmes but Beevers couldn't direct his header goalwards.
Stockport then made a switch in the 61st minute with Adam Proudlock coming on for David Poole but play continued to be centred in the County half, however the final ball from the Imps let them down on a number of occasions.
A Stockport corner saw Scott Kerr head off the line after Marriott missed the delivery and in a bid to add something else up front, Junior Mendes came on for Jamie Forrester with 20 minutes on the clock.
Mendes' first touch saw him play a neat back heel into the path of Peter Holmes who saw his net-bound drive well saved by Hennessey. Shortly afterwards, Anthony Pilkington was replaced by Michael Malcolm for the visitors.
Gareth Owen then saw yellow after going in late on Mendes on the half-way line; Mendes limping off to receive further attention from Michael Wait before returning to the fray.
With the clock ticking down, Holmes headed an Eaden cross wide for a goal-kick and with nine minutes on the clock, Holmes made way for Ryan Amoo. Paul Mayo then came on for Lee Frecklington, who looked to be in some discomfort as he made his way from the field.
Mayo, who slotted in at left-back with Hughes pushing forward, sent his first touch over the bar from a 25 yard drive whilst his second was an excellent defensive header to flick Proudlock's chipped centre behind for a corner.
A minimum of three added minutes was indicated by the Fourth Official and midway through those, the sponsors' "Man of the Match" Jeff Hughes saw a low shot saved by Hennessey.
Stockport substitute Adam Proudlock and midfielder Tony Dinning both saw yellow and after City had dealt with a long throw, Scott Kerr brought the ball forward only to be denied a run forward by the final whistle.
FT: IMPS 0 STOCKPORT 0
MATCH FACTS
LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
12 Nicky EADEN
2 Lee BEEVERS
23 Nat BROWN
6 Paul GREEN
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
17 Peter HOLMES
24 Jeff HUGHES
9 Mark STALLARD
22 Jamie FORRESTER
subs
10 Junior MENDES (for FORRESTER 70)
14 Ryan AMOO (for HOLMES 81)
3 Paul MAYO (for FRECKLINGTON 85)
8 Dany N'GUESSAN
21 Robert OLEJNIK
BOOKINGS: BEEVERS (2), STALLARD (45+2)
SENDING OFF: BROWN (29)
STOCKPORT COUNTY
29 Wayne HENNESSEY
2 Robert CLARE
4 Tony DINNING
6 Ashley WILLIAMS
10 Liam DICKINSON
16 Gareth OWEN
20 Jason TAYLOR
21 Anthony PILKINGTON
24 Adam GRIFFIN
26 David POOLE
32 Anthony ELDING
subs
31 Adam PROUDLOCK (for POOLE 61)
19 Michael MALCOLM (for PILKINGTON 74)
17 Greg TANSEY
30 Eddie NOLAN
34 Joe LEWIS
BOOKINGS: ELDING (51), OWEN (76), PROUDLOCK (90+3), DINNING (90+4)
SENDING OFF: DICKINSON (30)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
ASSISTANTS: Russell Fletcher & Keith Lawson
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Wayne McIntosh
ATTENDANCE: 5,320 (792 visiting supporters)
