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The big news for the 7,100 crowd was the return of manager Keith Alexander from illness. His return was marked by a presentation for Radio Lincolnshire’s ‘Sports Personality of the Year’. The presentation was met with rapturous applause, and seemed to set the tone for the start of the game. The scene was further set when both sets of players formed an extension to the tunnel for Big Keith to walk through and out onto the hallowed turf of HIS Sincil Bank. A poignant moment for ‘The Gaffer’, and one all Imps fans welcome with open arms.
Unfortunately for the Imps it was Boston who started brightest on the pitch. Mark Greaves was upended 25 yards from goal, and veteran midfielder Neil Redfearn rocketed the ball goal wards. Alan Marriott in the Lincoln goal was clearly dazzled by the early afternoon sun, and the ball nestled behind him in the City net. 1-0 to Boston with less than 7 full minutes on the clock.
Seconds later Francis Green appeared to be felled in the area, but referee Carl Boyeson gave the free kick for obstruction. A clever free kick led to a Gary Fletcher effort from 5 yards, but the forwards’ effort was hacked clear.
18 minutes in and the card happy Carl Boyeson made Marcus Richardson his first booking of the game for an innocuous challenge on Chris Hogg. This was unfortunately the start of a pedantic and often frustrating performance from the man in the middle.
Ben Futcher managed to get a shot away at goal shortly afterwards, but it was deflected through to the lively Gary Fletcher. Fletch couldn’t get to the ball before Boston keeper Bastock scrambled it away for a corner. The resultant corner and clearance led to a booking for Graham Potter for angrily clipping the heels of Peter Gain as the Imps man moved past him.
Graeme Jones was in trouble for an elbow Ben Futcher appeared to receive in the face on 35 minutes, but nothing was done. Jones was again in the action seconds later as he theatrically went over Mark Baileys challenge in the area. On this occasion the official made the correct decision and gave a goal kick.
On 39 minutes City were back on level terms. A Ben Sedgemore corner was whipped across the area at a tantalising height, and it was up to Marcus Richardson to produce the finish. The ex-Torquay lad rose majestically above the amber shirts protecting Bastocks goal and fired an unstoppable header into the roof of the net. 1-1 and City looked like they were on a roll.
The goal was followed by another crude challenge on Peter Gain this time by the lumbering Graeme Jones. Jones seemed a touch off the pace for most of the game, and was certainly using his size to his advantage with a series of late challenges and unfair challenges. Much to the Imps fans disapproval the latest assault on a City player resulted only in a yellow card for the ageing forward.
Half time brought a welcomed break for The Pilgrims as City ended the half on top. Once the second period got underway it was clear City were able to pick up where they left off. Two quick fire corners after the restart had Bastock punching the ball clear uncomfortably. An imposing figure between the sticks Bastock seemed a little less imposing when the ball was in the air around his area. He did in fact look out of sorts when dealing with crosses and corners, and this was an area Lincoln were looking to exploit.
Boston began to mix it up in the middle of the park. Chris Hogg was substituted after an awful challenge on Imps stand in full back Matt Bloomer. Worst was to come as Graeme Jones appeared to stamp on Imps captain Paul Morgan. The City fans were in uproar as Boyeson waved away the protests from Imps players. Graham Potter did his cause no good whatsoever by crashing into Mark Bailey. Potter, already on a booking, got away with a few choice words from a referee desperately losing control of a blood and thunder local derby.
On 65 minutes the committed Marcus Richardson flicked a Mark Bailey throw in on neatly. The ball fell to the feet of Gary Fletcher whose neat ball was turned over from close range by Francis Green. This effort perhaps spurred City on, knowing that a win would keep them in the play off spots.
Simon Yeo replaced Francis Green after Greens effort. The pacy ex Peterborough man had run himself into the ground for City, and Keith Alexander must have been hoping for the same from Yeo. A corner taken minutes after Yeo’s arrival almost gave City the lead. Sedgemores in swinger foxed Paul Bastock in the net, and the ball slipped through the bald Keepers hands and through on goal. Only an intervention from Ben Chapman on the goal line prevented the game turning in City’s favour.
The Imps continued to push forward in search of a winner. Sedgemore found Simon Yeo on the edge of the area, and after some neat twisting and turning the forward powered a shot just inches wide. Despite the game being broken and scrappy it seemed as if Lincoln would be the side taking all three points. All that was needed was that elusive breakthrough that had been threatening to come their way the entire game.
With just 5 minutes remaining Yeo once again broke free. His left foot shot struck fellow Imp Fletcher in the area. He poked the ball back through to Yeo for another effort, and the diminutive striker fired his second effort directly at Bastock.
As the game headed towards injury time both sides appeared to run out of ideas, and it was no surprise to the home fans when the final whistle signalled the second 1-1 draw between the two sides at the Bank in Nationwide competition. Many felt the game had reached a fair conclusion.