City make it 5 straight years of heart-break

By Nathan Jackson
May 18 2007

In what was billed as the biggest game in the last 20 years, the Imps put in a very poor and disappointing performance against Bristol Rovers to crash out of the playoffs for the 5th year running. Despite scoring 3 goals for the first time since October, City watched their own net ripple 5 times as Bristol Rovers won 5-3 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate.

A tense but carnival like atmosphere greeted both sets of players on a warm evening at Sincil Bank. City kicked off the game and an early Amoo cross was headed straight into Phillips’ arms. It was a good start from the Imps with City fans in full voice…..until the 150 second mark. Miscommunication between Forrester and Stallard resulted in Stuart Campbell getting the ball just past the half way line, he ran forward and smashed the ball in front 30 yards out of goal. It stunned the City crowd and was exactly the start that City didn’t want.

Just like the first leg, Bristol Rovers fans suddenly went from silence to signing as soon as they were winning. Lambert had a chance to double Rovers’ lead after a Beevers clearance went straight to it him, fortunately Marriott was equal to the shot. City spent the next few minutes in the Bristol Rovers half and in typical Lincoln City style, that ball was quickly in the Lincoln City net. A Walker cross came in from the left and Lambert cleverly controlled it before smashing the ball in the net. That was the goal that effectively secured Rovers’ place at Wembley Stadium.

City looked like completely collapsing just two minutes later when a Lambert header hit the post and rolled across the line. Paul Morgan then decided to stare at the ball before clearing it straight to a Bristol Rovers striker and Jeff Hughes brought him down in the area without touching the ball, it was certainly a nervy start from the Imps and Rovers were already effectively through to Wembley.

After mainly midfield battle a clever move from Jamie Forrester saw him put the ball into the box and Jeff Hughes scored his second goal of the playoffs with a neat left footed shot into the net. All of a sudden City fans came back to live, knowing only two more goals would take it to extra time…..only two more goals.

Several City fans were claiming a second goal when Phillips went over the line with the ball, but it came after Stallard gave him a hefty push and the goal was disallowed. It was all City at this point and Stallard again had a great chance to level it when a clever Amoo cross found Stallard unmarked about 6 yards ago, he hit it first time and it went over the bar. It would have been easier if he’d taken a touch and then hit it then.

Just as City were starting to get on top, Rovers took the ball back down the other end and after pressurising defence, Paul Morgan’s deflected clearance went straight to Walker and the strike had no problem in tapping the ball net to make it 3-1 to Rovers on the night and 5-2 on aggregate, a gap that Lincoln would never recover.

Hughes had a quick opportunity to put City back into the match but his shot went straight to Phillips. Forrester was the next to be frustrated by Phillips as the keeper tipped his goal bound shot around the post. It was wasted by the Imps. Frecklington tried his luck from 25 yards but slipped, the ball fell into the path of Stallard and the striker almost burst the net with his shot and he made it 2-3 on the night and 3-5 on aggregate.

All of a sudden Sincil Bank was alive again and as the game headed into half time, the momentum was certainly with City despite of the deficit.

The second half was dominated early on by the Imps and they almost drew level on the night but Stallard could only knee Amoo’s cross into the gloves of Phillips. Stallard was then booked for fouling Phillips for the umpteenth time. It was his final action of the game as he was replaced by Martin Gritton.

Jeff Hughes sent a low cross into Phillips’ hands before Elliott only just stopped Gritton getting a free run on goal. Igoe replaced Jacobson. Phillips the continued to have a very dodgy game as Martin Gritton sent a speculative effort goal wards from 20 yards out, Phillps let it go under his body and loop up in the air, the ground held it’s breath and watched as it went agonisingly wide of the target. Green was replaced by Brown for City. Lines came on for Haldane for the visitors. It wasn’t long before Mayo came on for Eaden, the right back probably playing his final game for the Imps.

City had dominated the 2^nd half and then unsurprisingly Bristol Rovers extended their lead in the 82^nd minute. With City throwing men forward, Sammy Igoe got behind the defence and slotted past Alan Marriott. The game was now as good as over and even a Forrester shot hitting the bar barely raised a peep from the Imps fans.

Ryan Amoo was booked just before Bristol Rovers broke through the defence again and Sean Rigg comfortably slotted past Marriott to give Bristol Rovers’ their fifth on the night, the first side to score 5 at Sincil Bank since 1998.

Jeff Hughes scored a stunning 3^rd for City but is was mere consolation as Rovers won on aggregate 7-4 and another season faded away into nothingness.