The Imps confounded the critics to come away with a well deserved draw against a Crewe side who steadfastly refused to concede their unbeaten quest. A game of two penalties saw one given to the Alex and one not, to the Imps , as referee Miller also only saw fit to book just the three Imps. Apologies for a shortened version of things this week, alas the PC hackers are back and I am currently using one loaned by a friend.
For the benefit of the Railwaymen who join us, first the teams & schemes, then the match report and finally more stats than you can shake an Imp at.
The Teams & Schemes
Crewe 4-3-3
Taylor
Tootle Ada AM Westwood Blanchett
Shelley Bell AR Westwood
Donaldson Miller Grant
substitutiions: Moore on for Grant 58, , Powell on for Shelley 64.
Substitutes 1 Phillips, 15 Mitchell-King, 23 Dugdale, 21 Sarcevic, 29 Clayton, 14 Moore, 25 Powell
Imps 4-5-1
Parish
Kelly Hone (Y) Green (Y) Anderson
Howell Keltie Fuseini Kilby (Y) McCallum
Hutchinson
Substitutions N/A
Substitutes 1 Anyon, 19 Clapham, 14 O'Keefe, 17 Cunningham, 10 Broughton, 39 Spencer
But to the Game footy fans to the game.........
The five man Imps phalanx, Captained by centre back for the day Paul Green and enhanced by the presence of Tom Kilbey and Clark Keltie were the brightest early doors, Fuseini firesd a foot over the bar after a great ball from Howell, As we continued to swamp the middle Howell again was the architect feeding McCallum, who flicked on to Hutchinson who typically fluffed his lines. Hone headed at Taylor from a corner with the 131 who traveled fearing Gillingham all over again, namely a 4 goal salvo following failed early promise. Parish palmed away a corner as Donaldson beat all in the air and Kilby cleared nervously before a second corner was drilled into row Z by Tootle.
Crewe were into their rhythm but not having things all their own way, a s strength in numbers in the engine room and Hone and Green timed challenges to perfection, the form picking clean through Miller in particular. Keltie drove a 25-yard humdinger against the bar to ‘oohs and ahs’. Fuseini also had a chance and wasted it woefully way over the stand. The Imps were then disgracefully denied a penalty when overlapping Kelly was sent A over B by Ada with the official well positioned. Fuseini and a week Howells effort were dealt with comfortably by Taylor before halo wearing Ada blatantly blocked Hutchinson who required attention.
Both managers kept the faith at the change around and the Imps continued to dominate with McCallum earning a corner. He swung over a long one for a change and to good affect. Hone headed turned and volleyed to Green who drove home with a vengeance. So two minutes in and the Imps were a goal to the good. Crewe sought to get back on level terms with two corners. Grant got away with a late one on Kelly before going off whilst Kilbey was booked for a foul on his replacement Moore.
It got worse with Green being adjudged to have fouled Miller, even though the shoulder barge would not have deflected a butterfly from its flight path. Penalty! Yet curiously no card for Green being the last man. Hone however saw yellow for vehemently protesting the rights and wrongs of a blatant travesty that kept us in the relegation mix. Donaldson sent Parish the wrong way with a decisive penalty.
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Green was then booked for a challenge on Donaldson whilst in the wars Hone received treatment after bravely defending a corner. The Imps then had one more chance to deservedly win the game when McCallum beat one but alas saw his drive deflected for a corner.
Footnote
A Burton win, Barnet defeat and draws for Northampton and Hereford, their clean sheet on the bounce; sees the Imps edging to safety. Alas the win would have done it, but Cheltenham’s defeat at the Brewers suggests that Easter Monday is the day we will put another miserable season behind us. As new columnist DR Drone, my last article before the PC issue would say, the ups and downs of life are what makes it interesting. Not for us mid table mediocrity, let the corporate hospitality reign - more champagne barman more champion
Crewe 1 Imps 1 (H/T 0-0)
Scorers
Crewe Donaldson (pen) 77
Imps Green 47.
Referee: Miller
Att: 3,731 (131 Imps)
Possession
Crewe 48% Lincoln City 52%
Shots on target
Crewe 2 Lincoln City 7
Shots off target
Crewe 2 Lincoln City 8
Corners
Crewe 7 Lincoln City 7
Fouls
Crewe 7 Lincoln City 12
Saves
Crewe 1 Lincoln City 3
Yellows
Crewe 0 Lincoln City 3