Super Imps victorious in front of Sky cameras

Last updated : 28 March 2005 By Gary Hutchinson
The Imps kept the pressure on the League Two leaders with a deserved derby victory over neighbours Scunthorpe at Sincil Bank. The Sky TV cameras were there to record the action as it happened. City had failed to win infront of the cameras on four occasions over the past 11 years, but fans would have swapped all those four games for three points tonight

Sponsors, mascots, dancers and photographers had barely left the pitch when City went 1-0 ahead, the goal coming just 30 seconds into proceedings.

23 goals in all competitions this season - Yeo
Francis Green hit a pinpoint 40-yard pass over the Iron defence and Simon Yeo controlled the ball superbly, twisted and turned the defence before cracking home a low left-foot shot from the edge of the box. Its 21 league goals for the campaign now for Yeo to leave him second in the leagues leading scorers chart.

Lincoln almost went further in front in the fourth minute when visiting keeper Paul Musselwhite did well to keep out a header from Ben Futcher. The traffic was all one way as the Imps kept up the pressure and Green was denied again by Musselwhite when he attempted to chip the keeper.

Scunthorpe struggled to create chances but went close in the 32nd minute. A corner from Ian Baraclough was headed down by Steve Torpey, but Andy Keogh was just unable to connect.

City always looked the likelier to score with Richard Butcher twice trying to beat Musslewhite from distance. Those efforts were the 61st and 62nd the energetic midfielder has fired at goal this season without managing to score a goal!

Musselwhite then brought off a tremendous one-handed save to keep out a 25-yard free-kick from Kevin Sandwith. Sandwith has been much maligned this season but was a constant threat to The Iron as he probed forward.

United came out strongly in the second period but never really threatened the Imps goal. Peter Beagrie was taken off early in the second half to the delight of the home faithful. Beagrie hardly endeared himself to Imps fans with a series of negative comments about City players on his late night TV show. He left the feild to a barrage of abuse and seemed very unhappy at being removed from play.

Beagrie and Keogh were replaced by Hayes and Taylor, but despite changing the shape of the attack the visitors still failed to seriously trouble Alan Marriott. They won a string of corners but Lincoln's defence held out. Ex-Imp Ian Baraclough went close when he blasted a 20-yard shot through a crowd of players, but City keeper Alan Marriott saved well at the foot of his post.

Lincoln clinched their third consecutive victory with a classic goal from Gary
Scored a memorable second for the Imps - Taylor Fletcher
Taylor-Fletcher. Green put the striker clear with some clever work. taylor Fletcher still had it all to do but he pushed forward and lobbed the keeper exquisitely from the edge of the box.

Following the second goal Scunthorpe tried to push forward but it was too little too late. Baraclough fired a long-range free-kick over the defensive wall, but Marriott was well placed to save.

Six minutes from time Scunthorpe almost grabbed a consolation goal when substitute Paul Hayes had Marriott beaten with a close-range effort, but former United defender Jamie McCombe cleared off the line.