Now that was a very Good Friday

By Nathan Jackson
March 26 2005

City came from behind to thrash Rushden and Diamonds 4-1 at Nene Park. Goals from Yeo, Futcher, McCombe and GTF proved vital after they cancelled out a Billy Sharp opener. City are up to 6th although Darlington still have to play at the weekend.

 

Rushden kicked off the game but City were soon on the attack, good work down the right saw Franny Green cross the ball in and it went out for a corner. The corner came out to Butcher who had his shot aided by Asamoah but Rushden keeper Shearer managed to hold onto the ball. City quickly got a free kick 30 yards out but a poor delivery saw it easily cleared by the Rushden defence. City dominated the opening periods and Rushden quite literally didn't get out of their own half until the 6th minute when a foul by McCombe saw them get a free kick. Neil McCafferty almost gave them a 1-0 lead.

Yeo sent in a dipping volley in the 10th minute but it was easily held by Shearer. Rushden however then took a lead much against the run of play, Drewe Broughton danced through the City defence before laying it off to Billy Sharp who was allowed enough time to pick his spot and sent the Rushden faithful into raptures. However, it didn't last long.

City won possession and had a 3 on 2 situation which saw Yeo unmarked. Gain ran at the 2 defenders and then passed to the unmarked Yeo who took his time before firing home from the edge of the area to bring City level with an emphatic strike.

Broughton could have restored the Diamonds' advantage just minutes later but his header went well wide of the goal. The rest of the half past mostly without incident, however in the final minute came a controversial moment. A crowded box eventually saw Green run with the ball, Shearer collected at his feet but Shearer appeared to kick out at Green which brought the Lincoln striker to bring a less than complimentary reaction. Green was booked but Shearer got away with it.

The teams went into the half time interval on a par and it had been a fairly even game with City just edging it. Rushden absolutely dominated the opening periods of the second half, just as Rushden weren't able to get out of their half, City weren't able to get out of their's. Despite Rushden's dominance, they could get a clear cut chance and the game looked to be heading for the draw. However, just after midway through the half, Rushden were set to take a free kick and then, all the Lincoln fans stood up in anger, the ref ran over to the linesman and Drewe Broughton was sent off for kicking McAuley.

Soon after, something that had never happened before, happened, City took the lead against Rushden. Sandwith floated the ball into the box from a free kick, Gain helped it on before Futcher headed the Imps in front and it looked set to become only the 2nd time all season City had gone behind and still got something from the game, ironically, the other game was against Rushden's local rivals, Northampton.

McCombe was pushed up front, Yeo played the big defender through and the former Scunny player slotted neatly home for an excellently taken goal for a defender to make it 3-1 to City just 3 minutes after Futcher's goal and surely 3 points was ours.

3 minutes later it was 4-1. Substitute GTF was played through by Green and the striker used a faint touch to lift the ball over Shearer and just over a year since the last time it happened, City had come from behind to lead 4-1. It could have 5 just minutes later but Yeo's shot went wide after he was through 1-1. The game finished with a huge round of applause from the 1274 Imps fans.