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City win 3-1 but the performance warranted more

Scunts 1 City 3
By Nathan Jackson
October 12 2003
City dominate the game again and 3-1 might sound good but if you were at the game, you would agree that City could have won by 5 or 6 goals. Scunny showed no passion or pride which is vital in these local derbies. Oh well, the Imps are now upto 11th.
In the previous 8 games, City had dominated 7 of the games but only come away with 14 points. Today was all about making that 17 points and extending it to 9 games.

Francis Green started his first game for the Imps in a unusual 5-2-3 formation that was forced with the absence of Peter Gain. Simon Yeo was also ruled out.

City started the game brightly but it was Scunthorpe's loanee signing, Stephen McClean that had the first chance but his tame effort was easily saved by Marriott.

From the resulting goal kick, the ball fell to Mayo who crossed to Fletcher who inturn, crossed it to Richardson who's looping header was comfortably saved under the bar by Sam Russell.

The Imps quickly went on the attack again as Francis Green's through ball was cleared for a corner which Bailey went to take. He swung the ball in and deja vu of last season, Ben Futcher was first to the ball and headed for his first goal of the season which matches last season where his first goal was against Scunny. However, Futcher's celebration warranted a yellow card and he will now be suspended from the game at Hull for picking up 5 yellow cards this season.

Nathan Stanton then went awfully close to equalising for Scunthorpe when his cross-cum-shot from the right narrowly went wide. Mark Bailey was at it again on the right as his cross was met by Butcher who's header was palmed by Russell but Futcher was pushing into the back of Stanton.

Scunthorpe tried to pile on the pressure but couldn't get past a resolute City defence and were forced into taking long shots which were easily comfortably saved or went miles wide.

Russell then mis-kicked a back pass from 20 yards out of his goal and it fell straight to Fletcher. He shot but it seemed to be going miles over and wide but then curled horendously and hit the corner where the bar meets the post.

Fletcher was then booked but didn't deserve it. A sliding tackle from Fletch to try and block a cross was met with a diving Scunthorpe player who was at least 3 yards away from Fletch when he stopped. This resulted in Fletcher being booked and the Scunthorpe physio must be jesus in disguise because as soon as the yellow card was shown, Butler popped up like he'd just been having a casual lay down.

However, Fletcher had the last laugh. On the 30th minute, Butcher hooked the ball to Fletcher who slide the ball past the on rushing keeper to make it 2-0 to City and give him his first goal in a month and a half.

4 minutes later, an innocent looking challenge from Bailey on Beagrie was met by the whistle of the ref. Many expected a yellow but Jeff Winter, pulled out a red card. Hopefully City will appeal against this card as if they don't, Bailey will miss the games against Hull, Carlisle and the first round of the FA Cup.

Matt Sparrow must have then thought he could get away with murder as his run into the box looked to have actually forced the ball out of play, he dived inbetween Morgan and Futcher (after being behind both) and his appeals for a penalty were met by a yellow card which was probably the best decision of the afternoon.

Fletcher was all of a sudden limping quite badly and even though there was less than a minute until half time, Keith brought Fletcher off in place of Bloomer. Scunthorpe almost pulled one back immediatly as McClean run one-on-one with Marriott only to see his shot excellently saved my "Englands #1".

The 2nd half began with Scunthorpe t7rying to force a goal and they did, in City's favour. All their attacking left them weak at the back and 5 minutes after the restart, Marcus Richardson headed the ball to Francis Green who ran one-on-one with the keeper and scored his first goal for the Imps from a VERY acute angle to send the City fans into raptures. Green was lucky not to meet the same fate as Futcher and Green ran straight towards the City fans and almost got dragged in the away end.

Richard Liburd then also broke through the Scunthorpe defence and ran one-on-one with the keeper although the defenders were really close behind him. It looked as though Liburd had fluffed his chance when he over-hit his second touch but a Scunny player brought him down and a free kick on the very edge of the area was given.

Mayo took the free kick but as it looked to be sailing in, it hit a Scunthorpe defender and the free kick was ordered retaken but for some unknown reason, Mayo was booked. Butcher then tried to bend it like Beckham and did but it was comfortably saved by Russell.

Scunthorpe then grabbed a consolation goal when Paul Hayes headed in but it was to turn out to be Scunthorpe's only goal as they wasted chance after chance after chance.

Paul Mayo then ran one-on-one with the keeper but he's thunderbolt of a shot hit the post and bounced out to Liburd who could only head the ball wide. Then it happened yet again with only 2 minutes to go with Richard Butcher trying to score for the 4th away game in a row but he chose the wrong side to try and place the ball and ended up putting it considerably wide.

So City have now gone 9 games unbeaten although I get a feeling that Huddersfield will perform considerably better than Scunthorpe did today. Scunny were incredibly lucky not to lose by 6 or 7 if I have to be totally honest.

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