Lincoln City 2 Wycombe Wanderers 3

Last updated : 05 March 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Sloppy defending cost Lincoln dearly as they crashed to a home defeat. The Imps gifted Wycombe three goals in the first half and although they managed a spirited fightback were unable to force an equaliser.

City had the better of the early exchanges and looked on top with leading scorer Simon Yeo only denied by an excellent seventh minute save from Wycombe keeper Frank Talia.

Talia then did well to block a 25-yard shot from Richard Butcher before Wycombe broke away to score in the 12th minute.

Lincoln's Matthew Bloomer failed to clear a long ball forward and Nathan Tyson got behind him before lobbing keeper Alan Marriott from just inside the box.

Lincoln almost conceded another goal in the 25th minute when Danny Senda blasted in a 20-yard free-kick, but Marriott made a diving save.

But Wycombe caught Lincoln again on the half-hour when Bloomer sent a clearance straight at Tyson. The striker was left with a clear sight of goal and hit his shot into the bottom corner.

It got even worse for Lincoln five minutes before the break when Gus Uhlenbeek was allowed a free run down the right flank before firing the ball into the Lincoln box. Three defenders failed to clear and the ball fell to Tyson at the far post. The striker completed his hat-trick with an easy tap in.

Lincoln pulled Bloomer off at half-time and switched to a four-man attack. Within 60 seconds Yeo struck the top of the bar.

Then Francis Green broke through and set up Yeo, but the striker shot wide from three yards.

Lincoln pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when a corner from Kevin Sandwith was knocked into his own net by Talia.

Five minutes later Yeo got the better of Senda only to be bundled over inside the box by the Wycombe defender. The referee awarded the spot-kick which was dispatched by Yeo for his 20th goal of the season.

Wycombe were then content to soak up the pressure and almost got a fourth goal in stoppage time. Veteran substitute Steve Claridge sent in a looping header which skimmed the far post with Marriott stranded.