Lincoln and Accrington contested a rather dour draw yesterday with the visitors having by far the best of the chances, but blowing them in quite spectacular style amidst weather not out of place in a Spitting Image Gazza sketch. I think it best to warn folks before they read on, lest LCM got done under the trades descriptions act. All humour aside several left the stadium suggesting this was a poor excuse for a football match and hardly worth the £16 for a view behind an almost untouched goal. There was some drizzle, the pitch cut up, but in truth, entertainment was as short in supply as the money icurrently spare in a working mans pocket.
Stanley came to the Imps with three wins on the bounce whilst the Imps, were still rubbing their mince pies (eyes) after Oxford gifted us a Tuesday win with two own goals. Carayol in fairness shone when he was given the ball but the conditions and opposition did not lend themselves to a football purists’ fantasy. First half Carayol had one ferocious drive saved and another sail harmlessly wide as the Imps early opening ground to a halt at the rain sodden theatre of the absurd. Cisak also saved well from McCallum.
The visitors had the better of the chances, fashioned from midfield dominance, with our central two again missing in action. Gornell was denied superbly by Carson and Ryan swung at air from 12 yards when a tap in would have done. How Barnett cleared the bar from the penalty spot only lady luck would know. Craney, an inventive fellow supplied the moments of magic amidst the increasingly inclement conditions. He sent one 25 yard curling effort just over the top corner and was undoubtedly the Accy man of the match, whilst Hone deserved the honour for the Imps. Danger man McConville was also unlucky to see a vicious volley scream past Carson’s post.
With us two points from the mythical 50 point safety mark, the Mighty Imps look to have escaped relegation for another year. Now the battle is on for the hearts, minds and wallets of the good folk of Lincoln for another year. As the club enters the season for renewing commercial deals LCM wishes new CEO Steve Prescott and his team all the luck in the world. We also hope one of the three rumoured investors aiming to put money in meets the Imps fit and proper test.
Lincoln City 0 - 0 Accrington
Ref: Horwood Att: 2,868 (2743 Imps 125 guests)
Possession
Lincoln City 50% Accrington 50%
Shots on target
Lincoln City 4 Accrington 2
Shots off target
Lincoln City 4 Accrington 10
Corners
Lincoln City 2 Accrington 4
Fouls
Lincoln City 13 Accrington 14
Offsides
Lincoln City 3 Accrington 2
Saves
Lincoln City 3 Accrington 2
Lincoln City 4-4-2
Carson
Kelly Hone Watts Hunt
Carayol O’Keefe Fuseini McCallum
Grimes Facey
Substitutions Hutchinson on for Grimes 74.
Substitutes 1 Anyon, 2 Green, 19 Clapham, 40 Kanyuka, 25 Hughton, 27 Hutchinson, 39 Spencer
Accrington Stanley 4-5-1
Cisak
Jacobson Edwards Hessey (yellow) Winnard
Ryan Proctor Joyce Craney Barnett
Gornell
Substitutions: McConville on for Barnett 46 Putterill on for Ryan 77
Substitutes 25 Dunbavin, 5 Long, 17 Murphy, 23 Smyth, 10 Putterill, 11 McConville, 9 Lindfield