The Imps tore into the Shrimps in the Football Fairy tale derby fit for kith, kin, king and the not so little people within the game. The Mighty Imps however stand tall, not quiet on top of but definatley not that far beneath the shoulders of L2 giants, after this comfortable win over Morecambe; that in truth was over after a sprightly and aesthetically pleasing to the eye first half performance. Six wins in seven and an afire goal machine with legs eleven; sees them in not so unlucky 13th just an incredible 10 points off fourth. The League table & full stats are at the end as usual.
Its Disneyland stuff in patches Imps even if under 2800 of us still care to head the cause. They and we should for the Rhyme time era is upon us and the old guard are finally leaving via the back gates, some for the betterment of the club though not Father Rob (Bradley) who will always have a place in our hearts.
To the Teams The Themes
Lincoln City 4-4-2
Carson
Kelly Hone Watts Clapham
Howell O’Keefe Fuseini McCallum
Grimes Facey
Substitutions Kanyuka on for Kelly, Carayol on for Fuseini, Hutchinson on for Grimes
Substitutes 20 Musselwhite, 40 Kanyuka, 7 Carayol, 17 Jarrett, 10 Broughton, 27 Hutchinson, 39 Spencer
Morecambe 4-4-2
Roche
Hunter Parrish Charnock Capaldi
Hurst Brown Drummond Fleming
Spencer Jevons
Substitutions Rundle on for Brown 57, Mullin on for Jevons 83, Hendrie on for Spencer 88
Substitutes 31 Walker 5 Bentley, 15 McCready, 7 Rundle,11 Wainwright, 20 Hendrie, 21 Mullin
But To The game, the Boy with the Brace, a tooth fairy name of Grimes...........
Dreams and fanciful themes perhaps but in a game the gaffer described as ‘It wasn't a very good game to watch’ there was some magic alright with new man Ali showing a few classy and visionary moments as Sincil Bank at last saw some delightful football. The Imps walk through the oppositions defence on a number of occasions in the opening moments of the game, with Howell and Mad Mac in great form. McCallum in particular made fill in fullback Hunter the Hunted early doors, although the lad would not put a foot wrong to his credit second half. It would be Howell who gave Grimes the chance to decide the fate of a another home fixture however.
Fitting early profit at the Bank then with the Imps a goal to the good on ten minutes, when amidst the cohesive rhythm Grimes chimed to ensure the Sincil Saviours Rhyme time turned up a notch and decibel or two on and off the pitch, or should we say serving hatch, at the Bank. Howell showed both movement and vision to slot a diagonal to Grimes who showed it takes work rate as well as skill to unlock games at times. The artistic artisan took the ball in his stride went past Charnock, came off best in a challenge with Parrish before slotting almost in slow motion inside Roche’s far post.
A good striker is worth his weight in goals in games like these, for without a Yeo, a GTF, a Forester, a Stallard, a Somma and now a Grimes our early play at home has often counted for nothing as visiting sides weather the storm grab a goal and alas rob our Bank with glee.
Just before the interval a moment of class effectively ended the game as a contest when Grimes tickles the fancies of the gods themselves. Again good passing and movement between Howell and unsung hero and Captain fantastic Facey, saw the hapless Shrimps left shell shocked. Grimes twisted and turned with the ball under his spell before dropping his shoulder to slam home an eighteen yarder in of the far post. Statues we saw lined up to the left whilst Imps of all ages left their Sincil seats to greet the gun slinging goal machine.
Job done Tilson brought Kanyuka on for Kelly second half and told the Imps to hold and hit them on the counter with a fantastic defence splitter from 'size of an Imp' Ali seeing Facey found incredulously offside. In truth, for sure, it is nice to see a manager who knows what he is doing and can effect a plan B during the course of a game, even if we do not get the flowing football we would have loved towards the Passionistas goal second half. We would have had another goal too if Tinkerbell Carayol had not fallen over himelf - tut tut. We’ll have the points in the bag though, big thanks & congrats to Stevie T, as the home end in non stop song all game long, treasure any three outings. Nothing like singing in our own kind of Rhyme as we dance all day at the House of Imp. Happy birthday to Lee Howe – chief chorister and 21 again.
Yes credit where credit is due with Carson and the defensive sextet also superb after a harrowing week for many of the Imps in different ways. Our Irish cat Carson made 7 saves on another Sincil Super Saturday on the way to a thrifty third clean sheet in five. Hone and
Certainly the big boys will bury us but Shrewsbury now sit second hot on the heels of Chesterfield who have not won in four. Beat Aldershot on Tuesday and do what we did to Vale, who we also played at the right time and who knows where we could be after Barnet. Why bless my soul it will be a home game against Oxford and doesn’t that bring back some memories.
TILSON SAYS - here
Lincoln City 2-0 Morecambe (HT 2-0)
Scorer Grimes 10 & 42
Ref: Scott
Att: 2,884 ( 2794 Imps 90 Shrimps)
The Match Stats
Possession
Lincoln City 47% Shrewsbury T 53%
Shots on target
Lincoln City 4 Shrewsbury T 7
Shots off target
Lincoln City 3 Shrewsbury T 11
Saves
Lincoln City 7 Shrewsbury T 2
Corners
Lincoln City 0 Shrewsbury T 9
Fouls
Lincoln City 7 Shrewsbury T 9
Offsides
Lincoln City 3 Shrewsbury T 3
Yellows
Lincoln City 0 Shrewsbury T 0
Npower League Two runners and riders
4 Rotherham 30 13 47
5 Bury 28 17 46
6 Gillingham 31 6 46
7 Port Vale 29 7 45
8 Oxford Utd 30 1 43
9 Crewe 29 12 42
10 Torquay 27 10 39
11 Southend 28 3 39
12 Cheltenham 30 -4 39
13 Lincoln City 28 -12 37