Super City sweep to rampant win

Six goals in three games - Yeo

The game was dominated from start to finish by a slick and rampant City who should have perhaps had many more than three after the ninety. City were too powerful for their opponents closing down Oxford at every possible moment. The tactics worked perfectly with Oxford managing just a single effort on target throughout the 90 minutes.

That came as early as the second minute when teenager Craig Davies got into the box but sent his effort straight at Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott. Mazza quickly became a virtual spectator as Lincoln dominated so much they forced eight corners in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, including five consecutive corners in approx three minutes! Toner and Butcher were working the midfield perfectly from then on feeding ball after ball out to the flanks. Sandwith, Bloomer, Yeo and Green all covered every inch of grass picking up balls and darting off on runs. Oxford simply didn't expect such a smooth and flowing Imps performance.

The 'U's held out with some desperate defending twice conceding free kicks

Taylor Fletcher - Probing runs caused havoc in Oxford defence

outside the area. Leo Roget was all over Yeo like a cheap suit but Yeo continually shrugged him off and darted free. In the 31st, as he darted inside the eighteen yard box, Dave Mackay sliced through him and conceded a penalty kick. There was only going to ever be one person taking it. Simon Yeo cooly slotted home his 14th of the season to send the 4,000+ home fans into ecstacy. Before the game could re-start Oxford's Tommy Mooney was yellow carded apparently for time-wasting as he refused to kick-off again a number of times. Mooney's temperament was being tested as the home fans barracked him after he made the most of a clash with Gareth McAuley.

The first half ended with City pushing forward and Oxford losing their discipline. Ex Premiership striker Lee Bradbury and the experienced Mooney were both having a torrid time against the excellent McAuley, Morgan and McCombe.

The half time interval saw The Royal Marines Display Team give displays of unarmed combat in the four corners of the ground. It seemed somehow apt as they pummelled each other with baseball bats and vicious kicks and perhaps reflected events on the field in the first half. Oxford were hoping for a turn in fortunes. It never came.

Lincoln went further in front in the 57th minute. Kevin Sanwith and Yeo linked down the left and Gary Taylor-Fletcher found the ball at his feet. Taylor-Fletcher tricked his way past two defenders before excellently firing home from 15 yards. The striker showed us a consistent and exciting display despite giving a few loose balls away. His finish was a good as you'd find in the Premier League and thrilled the Stacey West End.

Three minutes later Oxford should have been finished off when a cross from Yeo set up Francis Green but the striker headed over from close range. It was a shame for Franny that a touch didn't go his way. He'd perhaps had three chances in the first and a trio more in the second but had been unlucky not to score. He was also showing signs of what he could do tirelessly probing the Oxford defence.

Taylor-Fletcher then worked his way through the Oxford defence once again but his final shot flashed inches wide. Peter Gain replaced the hard working Ciaran Toner but City's attack was still frequent and more effective as Oxford began making mistakes. Keeper and defence both recklessly hoofed balls into touch only to find City putting the ball straight back into play and attacking once again. The 'U's were saved by keeper Chris Tardif five minutes from time when he went full length to keep out a shot from Richard Butcher.

Gains trickery brought a yellow card from referee Kevin Friend, an official any League Two boss is glad to see these days. Over the past season City have had Kevin twice and on both occasions he has shown other officials the way to go with a fair and honest display in the middle of the field. The resultant free kick was however wasted.

Oxford's response was a wild effort from Davies which went well wide and the resultant goal kick Lincoln brought their goal tally to nine in three games in the final minute.

Taylor Fletcher and Gain swapped passes in the far left corner of the pitch and some clever Gain footwork created a crossing opportunity. He hammered in a hard, low cross from the left which Yeo converted from close range for his 15th goal of the season.

The result keeps City in the promotion hunt with The Imps currently laying in 6th