Archived News from April 2006
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BRAVE STAGS EARN DRAW AT LINCOLN
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Lincoln 1 Mansfield 1
Green 52. Russell 90+0. Att 6,062 (1531 from Mansfield) ----------------- match stats from PA Imps/Stags 4 Goal Attempts 11 2 On Target 5 2 Off Target 6 0 Hit Woodwork 0 4 Offsides 0 5 Corners 3 18 Fouls 8 ---------------- CHAD report: Russell returns with a bang for Mansfield ALAN Russell marked his return to the Mansfield Town side with a precious last minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at neighbours Lincoln City this afternoon. But, with Peterborough winning, the faint Play-off hopes look even more distant with a seven-point gap now opened up. The Imps have had a jinx over Stags in recent seasons and this was the sixth successive game Mansfield have been unable to beat them in. But it had looked like a defeat was on the cards since Francis Green managed to squeeze a shot under the dive of Kevin Pressman on 53 minutes. But Russell who had not played since the end of January with his broken toe, came on a 79th minute sub and came up with the goods with his second goal for the club. And there was still time for Pressman to deny Jamie Forrester in stoppage time with a superb save. At kick-off Stags still harboured outside hopes of the Play-offs but, with only five games, left know this was two points dropped, despite their late escape which made it only one defeat in 11 matches. Stags had won three of their previous four and Lincoln had lost three of their previous four as the sides lined up on an afternoon which was more noticeable for the crazy mixed weather rather than goalmouth excitement. Those Play-offs look a mountain to climb now but manager Peter Shirtliff said: "If we beat Orient next Saturday the outlook could be different again. "All we can do is get as many points as we can from every game. If we take six points over Easter who knows what can happen? "The Play-offs were always a tall order but we will keep on going to the end and see what happens. "A point away at Lincoln is a good result. It would have been a travesty if we'd lost. "The conditions were difficult and Lincoln test you with their style of play and set pieces. But I thought we coped with them well and played all the football. "I was disappointed with the goal we conceded. We had enough players back there to have dealt with the cross and Kevin was a bit disappointed the ball went under him. "But that's football and I thought the lads showed great character and spirit to come back from it." Stags' starting 11 was unchanged. But Russell had recovered from the broken toe that had kept him out long term to make the bench while Brown's hernia pain has eased enough for him to also return to the bench as did Day after his dead leg. Lincoln, playing a 4-3-3 formation, also welcomed back former Stags striker Bacon onto their bench after his lengthy lay-off with a broken leg. Top flight referee Uriah Rennie was the man in the middle. Lincoln, with the powerful swirling wind mostly behind them, won a corner after only two minutes which Stags struggled to clear. Marvin Robinson had a shot blocked and, when the ball was lofted in back towards him at the far post, he was inches away from turning it home but just couldn't reach. Much of the early stages of the first half was played in the Mansfield half but Stags rarely looked in any real trouble. On 14 minutes Hughes blasted well wide from over 35 yards as both keepers remained spectators. Stags mounted their first real attack on 16 minutes as Buxton fed Uhlenbeek for a cross towards Barker that Marriott eventually gathered. Marriott was the first keeper in action on 18 minutes as Rundle squared the ball to Coke who drilled in a low shot from 20 yards that the keeper was firmly behind. And, after a scramble at the other end from a long throw, Coke again tested Marriott, this time from 30 yards, but again he was perfectly placed. Buxton did well to head a dangerous Kerr free kick away for a corner. And when Stags laboured to get that clear McCombe eventually lofted well over. But as the half wore on Stags were finally able to get the ball down and start to pass it around. Buxton was booked for hacking down Kerr in full flight on the left on 37 minutes, Pressman punching clear Kerr's wicked curling free kick. As the skies opened with a burst of hailstones, Uhlenbeek turned on the style as he loped past two opponents on the right before drilling in a low shot that Marriott saves at his near post. The visitors forced their first corner on 41 minutes, Uhlenbeek pulled it back to Rundle who lifted the ball over a defender before lashing a volley wide. Lincoln responded with their third flag kick of the half three minutes later which was easily cleared. In stoppage time McCombe got a glancing flick on a header from a free kick but it dropped wide as the half ended without score. Pressman was out his box quickly to head clear as Forrester closed in while Rundle was well off target for Stags seconds later as the second half started in an exciting manner. A superb Stags move on 49 saw Wilson thread a pass down the left to Coke who showed good strength and vision to hold off defenders before pulling a pass back to Barker who poked a shot at goal from 12 yards which Marriott got in the way of. A minute later Rundle skidded a low cross through everyone. But Reet was leaning back five yards out and blazed over at the far post. Marvin Robinson was warned by the referee for a dive as he clashed with John-Baptiste in the box. But the deadlock was finally broken on 53 minutes. Cryan lofted a deep cross in from the right which reached an unmarked Green. He got his shot on target and, although Pressman looked to have it covered, the pace of the shot saw the ball manage to squeeze under his body and over the line. The goal sparked some unrest between the two sets of supporters in the main Lincolnshire Co-Operative Stand which stewards moved in quickly to contain. As the bright sunshine was again replaced by lashing rain on 61 minutes Wilson was booked for bringing down Forrester and, to great cheers, Brown entered the action for the visitors in place of Reet. Brown won a free kick just outside the penalty area which Uhlenbeek touched to Wilson whose shot was blocked. Coke won a free kick almost 30 yards from goal which Barker struck well over the bar. Coke was then booked on 73 minutes for arguing with a linesman when he felt he'd been fouled. Before play restarted Dawson replaced Rundle. Steve Robinson was yellow carded for continuing play to waste time after Lincoln had conceded a free kick and the whistle had gone. Robinson was quickly replaced by Stirling. Stags should have been level six minutes from time when Buxton's cross picked out an unmarked Coke seven yards from goal who guided his header wide of the target. It was a strong finish by the visitors and Buxton won them another corner on 86 which Dawson sent to the near post where Hjelde headed wide. But the visitors still had a sting in their tail. Brown won Stags a free kick 22 yards from goal in the final minute. And sub Russell stepped up to find the bottom right hand corner and send the 1,500 travelling fans into wild celebrations. In added time Wilson was well over from 25 yards. Pressman was then the hero at the death as Forrester controlled the ball well on the edge of the box and, spotting the keeper off his line, looked to have chipped him to perfection. But the veteran keeper reached upwards high to somehow claw it over the bar. Even deeper into almost five minutes of added time Stags broke down the right but Brown chose to shoot and was wide of the near post with team mates screaming for a ball inside. Sadly for the second successive Saturday, the afternoon ended in crowd trouble as fans clashed outside the stadium. ------------------ BBC.co.uk: Lincoln 1-1 Mansfield Lincoln's play-off hopes suffered a major blow after they conceded a last minute equaliser to draw. The Imps went ahead in front against the run of play when a 53rd-minute shot from Francis Green went through the legs of Stags keeper Kevin Pressman. Until that moment, Mansfield had looked the most likely team to score with Giles Coke having two early efforts. Mansfield finally levelled when sub Allan Russell curled a shot around the wall from a free-kick. --------------- REDIMPS.COM: Late Leveller Denies Imps The Imps dropped two points after a last minute equaliser forced the Imps to settle for a 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town at Sincil Bank on Saturday. The three points looked to be in the bag after Franny Green broke the deadlock but a Stags goal in the last minute of normal time saw City emerge with just the one point. After a poor first-half, City took the lead on 53 minutes when Colin Cryan's deep diagonal cross field ball sailed over Marvin Robinson and dropped at the feet of Green. He brought the ball down and hit a fierce low drive which crept under the body of visiting 'keeper Kevin Pressman and trickled over the goal line. City were denied a maximum haul right at the death though when Mansfield snatched a late leveller. Substitute Allan Russell struck a 25-yard free-kick past a five-man wall and the ball nestled into the bottom corner to Alan Marriott's left. The Imps came within inches of netting a winner when striker Jamie Forrester's elegant lob from the edge of the area bringing an excellent finger-tip save from veteran stopper Pressman. In the scramble for the play-offs, City's bid took a blow. The result leaves Keith Alexander's side in ninth spot in League 2 on 57 points, two points off the top seven. Peterborough United occupy seventh spot with 59 points. Cheltenham Town in sixth have 62. ------------ report from redimps.com Report The Imps dropped two points after a last minute equaliser forced the Imps to settle for a 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town at Sincil Bank on Saturday. The three points looked to be in the bag after Franny Green broke the deadlock but a Stags goal in the last minute of normal time saw City emerge with just the one point. After a poor first-half, City took the lead on 53 minutes when Colin Cryan's deep diagonal cross field ball sailed over Marvin Robinson and dropped at the feet of Green. He brought the ball down and hit a fierce low drive which crept under the body of visiting 'keeper Kevin Pressman and trickled over the goal line. City were denied a maximum haul right at the death though when Mansfield snatched a late leveller. Substitute Allan Russell struck a 25-yard free-kick past a five-man wall and the ball nestled into the bottom corner to Alan Marriott's left. The Imps came within inches of netting a winner when striker Jamie Forrester's elegant lob from the edge of the area bringing an excellent finger-tip save from veteran stopper Pressman. In the scramble for the play-offs, City's bid took a blow. The result leaves Keith Alexander's side in ninth spot in League 2 on 57 points, two points off the top seven. Peterborough United occupy seventh spot with 59 points. Cheltenham Town in sixth have 62. Nat Brown in aerial action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Report by Jonny Hall at Sincil Bank Stadium: Imps boss Keith Alexander reinstated midfielder Steve Robinson back into the starting line-up. Robinson began in midfield alongside Scott Kerr and Lee Beevers. Providing protection for 'keeper Alan Marriott was back four (from left to right) Jeff Hughes, Nat Brown, Jamie McCombe and Colin Cryan. On-loan frontman Jamie Forrester continued in attack as he linked up with Francis Green and an in-form Marvin Robinson. Former Mansfield Town striker Danny Bacon returned to the Imps squad after a six month absence. Bacon, who sustained a broken leg while on loan at Burton Albion in October, was named on today's substitutes' bench. The ex-Hucknall Town man would be hoping to come off the bench to lock horns with his former Mansfield team mates. Also on the substitutes bench was teenage striker and third year scholar Leon Mettam. Lincoln-born Mettam ironically made his Football League debut as a substitute in City's visit to Mansfield in January. Mettam joined Gary Birch, Jude Stirling, Martin Gritton and Danny Bacon on the bench. The two teams emerged from the tunnel to a sunny but blustery Sincil Bank. Premiership referee Uriah Rennie blew his whistle and Mansfield kicked off backed by a healthy traveling contingent, with the Imps attacking the Stacey West end. City claimed the first corner of the match in the first minute thanks to a helping hand from the strong wind. Scott Kerr whipped it in low and a scramble ensued in the box before Marvin Robinson fired off a shot which was blocked. The ball came out to Steve Robinson on the left, he swung a cross in, and it was Marvin Robinson who missed it at the far post with an outstretched leg. More Mansfield fans filtered into the ground and packed the visitors section of the Co-op Stand - a very good following from the Stags. It was a busy start from City as both sides battled for possession in the gusty conditions. The ball was being swept all over the pitch. Nat Brown appeared to be playing alongside Scott Kerr and Steve Robinson in midfield, with Lee Beevers at center back this afternoon. The opening 15 minutes was a lively one from the Imps as they looked to impose themselves on the visitors from the off. In the 15th minute mark, Jamie Forrester's intelligent pass found Jeff Hughes around 35 yards out and he let fly with a speculative drive which sailed well wide of the target. Mansfield launched their first attack on 17 minutes and it was three Mansfield men against two Lincoln. Reet burst down the right-hand side and fired in a cross but Colin Cryan was there to head to safety. And City hit back straight away on the counter-attack, with Steve Robinson galloping down the right. Robinson looked for Francis Green's darting run, but the ball ran out for a goal kick. As the 20-minute mark passed, it was increasingly apparent that the gusty winds were making it very difficult to play any decent football. It was a scrappy affair but both sides were doing their best to contend with the wind. Clever footwork from Jeff Hughes on the left won City a dangerous free kick on 30 minutes. Steve Robinson whipped it in from the left flank, and Nat Brown rose high but was beaten in the air by Baptiste to give City a corner. Kerr swung the corner in and Mansfield sent the ball clear as a light drizzle swept across Sincil Bank. Good work by Scott Kerr skipping down the left-hand side saw Buxton bring him down and pick up the game's first booking. It was Kerr who delivered the free kick into the Stags' six-yard box but 'keeper Kevin Pressman did well to punch the ball clear amongst a crowd of bodies. The rain came lashing down again with five minutes of the first-half to go. Mansfield were quick and confident going forward and, in the 40th minute, the athletic Uhlenbeek caused City some problems. Uhlenbeek darted down the right-hand side, skipped past two men before cutting into the 18-yard box and rifling a low drive at goal which Alan Marriott saved comfortably. A dangerous low cross from Jamie Forrester on the right forced Baptiste to concede a corner as injury time approached. But Steve Robinson's corner was sent clear by a stern Mansfield defence. City won two free-kicks in quick succession as one minute of added time was allocated by the fourth official. The first came to nothing, but the second saw City have their best chance of the half. Scott Kerr whipped in a swirling cross from the left and Jamie McCombe towered high, with his back to goal, from eight yards out to flick a header wide of the target. FT: IMPS 0 MANSFIELD 0 It was a lively start to the second half as both sides looked to break the deadlock. City drew first blood when Jamie Forrester chased down a loose ball, forcing Stags 'keeper Kevin Pressman to race off his line to the edge of the area to head the ball clear. Mansfield hit back a minute later in a double attacking flurry. First, Rundle tried his luck with a long-range strike which crashed behind Marriott's goal. And then, on 48 minutes, 'keeper Marriott was called into action again when Coke burst down the left, cut the ball back to Barker who swiveled and, off balance, unleashed a shot from close-range which brought a solid stop from Marriott. The visitors stepped up a gear and had their best chance of the match so far on 49 minutes. The lively Adam Rundle twisted and turned down the left flank, leaving City exposed at the back. Rundle fired in a teasing cross between the last defender and goalkeeper Marriott. Marriott tried to smother it, but he could only finger tip it away to Reet who, with a clear sight of goal, blasted the ball over the bar from six yards out. Against the run of play, City broke the deadlock on 52 minutes to edge their noses in front in an evenly-balanced local derby tussle. Colin Cryan's deep diagonal cross field ball sailed over Marvin Robinson and dropped at the feet of Francis Green. Green brought the ball down and hit a fierce low drive which crept under the body of 'keeper Pressman and trickled over the goal line. Pressman should have done better. As City celebrated going 1-0 up, a flare went off in the visitors' section, which stewards dealt with quickly. Rain began to sweep across Sincil Bank with the wind picking up again as the changeable weather continued to effect action on the pitch. Mansfield made the game's first substitution on the 60-minute mark as Simon Brown replaced Danny Reet in attack. On 62 minutes, fine work by the skilful Rundle won Mansfield a corner which Uhlenbeek swung into City's box but Jamie McCombe was there again to head it clear. Goalmouth chances were few and far between as the tempo eased. On 69 minutes Stags striker Richie Barker sent a 25-yard free-kick high over the Imps crossbar before Keith Alexander made City's first change when he replaced Marvin Robinson with Gary Birch in a straight swap in attack. Six minutes later, the hard working Steve Robinson made way for Jude Stirling in a tactical switch for City. Stirling slotted in at right back as Nat Brown moved back into midfield. It was a second-half littered with free-kicks as referee Uriah Rennie blew his whistle time and again. It wasn't the prettiest, but the Imps had their one goal lead intact with five minutes of normal time remaining. On 85 minutes, Mansfield won a corner as they continued to press. Dawson whipped it in and Hjelde climbed high to power in a header which flew over the upright. When the three points looked wrapped up, City were denied a maximum haul right at the death when Mansfield snatched a late equaliser. A disputable decision by referee Uriah Rennie saw the Stags awarded a free-kick around 25 yards from goal. Lee Beevers appeared to win the ball from Simon Brown but a free-kick was given. Allan Russell struck the free-kick past a five-man wall and the ball nestled into the bottom corner to 'keeper Alan Marriott's left. The Mansfield players raced away to celebrate with the Stags fans in the corner of the Co-op Stand. City were utterly deflated. But, for a moment, it looked like City had grabbed a last-gasp winner when striker Jamie Forrester's elegant lob from the edge of the area was destined for the back of the net. But an excellent finger-tip save from Pressman denied City a grandstand finish. Instead, it was a disastrous finish. FT: IMPS 1 MANSFIELD 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAM SHEET LINCOLN CITY Alan MARRIOTT Colin CRYAN Jeff HUGHES Lee BEEVERS Jamie McCOMBE Scott KERR Steve ROBINSON Nat BROWN Francis GREEN Jamie FORRESTER Marvin ROBINSON Subs: Gary BIRCH (for M ROBINSON 71) Jude STIRLING (for S ROBINSON 76) Danny BACON Martin GRITTON Leon METTAM Goal: GREEN (53) Booking: S ROBINSON (75) MANSFIELD TOWN Kevin PRESSMAN Jonathan D'LARYEA Alex BAPTISTE Gus UHLENBEEK Richard BARKER Jake BUXTON Giles COKE Adam RUNDLE Jon Olav HJELDE Laurence WILSON Danny REET Subs: Simon BROWN (for REET 61) Stephen DAWSON (for RUNDLE 73) Allan RUSSELL (for UHLENBEEK 79) Rhys DAY Jason WHITE Goal: RUSSELL (90) Bookings: BUXTON (37), WILSON (61), COKE (73) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Uriah Rennie (Yorkshire) Assistants: Gary Brittain & Peter Kirkup Fourth Official: Ian Scarr Attendance: 6,062 (1,531 visiting supporters) ------------- http://www.theimps.tk , April 8 2006 Imps equal club record after disappointing draw Lincoln City equaled a club record by drawing their 18th game of the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Mansfield Town. Despite taking the lead early in the 2nd half, the Imps yet again sat back and Mansfield equalised in the 89th minute and our unrealistic playoff chances are slowly disappearing. The visitors kicked off the game and quickly won the first corner and after a bit of a mix up, the ball was shot goalwards by Marvin Robinson who could only see he shot cleared as far as Steve Robinson who swung the ball back in. It avoided everyone and went to Marvin at the back post but the striker's outstretched leg couldn't quit get to the ball and it went out for a goal kick. It was a very quiet start to the game and it took until the 15th minute until the next incident came along and even that was barely noteworthy. Jamie Forrester fed the ball through to Hughes but the defender decided to try his luck from 35 yards and the ball sailed well wide of the target. Mansfield finally managed their first attack when Danny Reet broke down the right but Cryan headed his cross to safety. Shock! A Steve Robinson pass doesn't find it's target and goes out of play, my own lack of surprise amazes me, but not Robinson apparently. 10 minutes later and Jeff Hughes won a free kick. Steve Robinson took it but Nat Brown couldn't beat Baptiste to a header but the young defender could only head it out for a corner. Shock! Scott Kerr hits the corner straight at a defender. Buxton was booked for fouling Kerr not long afterwards. With just 5 minutes to go, Mansfield launched another attack as Uhlenbeek sprinted down the right and beat 2 Imps' players but firing a shot goalwards, however, Marriott had an easy task of catching the shot. City won another corner but Steve Robinson was going to take this, oh wait, he's shit at taking set pieces as well and yet another set piece hits the first defender. The half ended with a sigh of relief from the crowd who had been far from thrilled. Veteran Kevin Pressman showed his instinct as he chased down a through-ball that was meant for Jamie Forrester. Pressman must have been imaging running towards a pie because his weight has defiantly skied since his Premiership days. Mansfield almost scored off his clearance but Rundle could only send his long range shot thundering against the advertising hoardings. Marriott almost gifted the visitors an opener soon afterwards as he failed to control a relatively poor shot and he parried it straight to Reet. The talented youngster however could only shoot the ball well over the bar from less than 6 yards out in front of an open goal. Colin Cryan sent a cross deep into the box that went over everyone and landed at the feet of Francis Green. The striker shot hard and the ball was smothered by Pressman, however, the wobbling of his stomach caused the ball to be shot goalwards in it was 1-0 to the Imps. Then came the usual crap from the idiots in the away end as a large group of “fans” decided to try and run at the Imps' supporters and also then attempted to throw an on-fire gas canister into the home end but a steward managed to grab it and put it out on the pitch, however, the idiots continued to try and caused trouble. Richie Barker sent a 25 yard free kick well over the cross bar and this was followed by Marvin Robinson being replaced my Birch. Not long after that came the moment when everyone knew Mansfield would eventually equalise as Jude Stirling was brought on instead of Steve Robinson. With 5 minutes to go, Mansfield won a corner, Stags substitute Dawson sent in the ball but Hjelde's header went well over the bar. Then off course, it came. Mansfield won a free kick in the 89th minute. Allan Russell stepped up in front of a 5 man wall for the Imps, a wall which had a further 5 man wall behind that, what the hell was that about? Anyway, Russell simply curled the ball around the wall and the slow moving free kick was allowed to sneak in by a less than bothered Alan Marriott who made yet another poor attempt to get to the ball. City should have retaken the lead in the 3rd minute of injury time when Forrester ran free of the defender and sent a chip over Pressman but the former Premiership keeper showed that class that saw him have many successful years at Sheffield Wednesday when he brilliantly tipped the chip over the bar and the game ended. -------------- |
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