One-Nil to the referee

By Nathan Jackson
November 2 2007

The annual dominating performance against Chester, accompaned by the annual poor refereeing decision against Chester, saw the Imps lose 1-0 thanks to a puzzling penalty decision. Chester's poor organisational skills meant they didn't get to Sincil Bank until 8:20pm but they must feel it was worth it after scoring their only shot on target (one of two shots) during the game.

Chester didn't turn up until 8:20pm, more than half an hour after the kick off time, but they kicked off the game and it was the Imps who controlled the early stages. Scott Kerr took a free kick within the first minute but it was cleared by the defence. Another free kick saw Hand try his luck against his former employers, hitting it straight at the wall.

A move down the left saw Torpey head the ball onto the ball following a Croft cross, with Dodds unable to get to the rebound. Lincoln easily dealt with Chester's first attack as they cleared a corner. Bencharif and Dinning were both booked for getting involved in a heated argument between N'Guessan and Linwood. Butler then saw yellow for another foul. Kerr sent the free kick in but it missed everyone and went wide.

Lee Beevers fell injured when challeging Kevin Ellison, he was replaced by Danny Hone who was making his debut for the Imps, 10 years after his father played for City. Frecklington had a goalbound shot blocked before N'Guessan's header from the resultant corner was easily caught.

Marriott then had something to do as he comfortably dealt with a very long range shot. That the final action of a half that the Imps had dominated.

The Imps continued where they left off and controlled the opening periods of the season half, although Kerr did get booked for persistant fouling. After Lincoln dominating the opening few minutes of the half, Chester swung in a cross and Holroyd headed wide.....only for the ref to then give a penalty. No-one seemed to know what it was for and Green was booked. Chester scored the resulting penalty with their first realistic chance in the whole gmae.

Wright replaced Torpey but luck didn't improve for the Imps. Everything was going Chester's way, they were knocking balls out of play and yet winning the decisions, kicking out players at the knees and nothing's given but then they fall over themselves and you'd think the referee would die if he didn't blow his whistle. Ben Wright thought he'd pulled level but it was hardly a surprise to see that Kettle had disallowed it.

GRRRRRRR.

Ellison and Holroyd were finally booked after countless fouls each. Yeo came on for Holroyd. N'Guessan forced Danby into a good save on the volley. Freck went off for Warlow but the Imps failed to find a equaliser in the final 10 minutes, and it's now nearly 2 months since City's opponents at Sincil Bank scored themselves from open play....but City haven't won one of those games.