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City ease into playoff places
By Nathan Jackson
November 1 2003
City cruised into a playoff place after comfortably beating a Carlisle side who couldn't muster a single shot that looked like it even had a chance of going in.
On a rather warm autumn afternoon, City had the first chance after only 45 seconds but when Green intercepted Peter Gain's cross, he found himself in an offside position whilst just 5 yards out.

Carlisle then managed one of only a handful of shots in the whole afternoon and the tame 30 yard shot, was comfortably saved by Marriott.

Green was the main threat on the Carlisle goal and his closest effort was on 17 minutes when he's 35 yard shot went narrowly over.

Then deja of the same fixture last season saw a player sent off. Yeo put a through ball past everyone and Fletcher was first to react and was one on one with the keeper but before he could get to the game, ex Grimsby player, Livingstone, brought him down and deservedly got sent off on only 20 minutes.

As usual though, City struggled to take a hold of the game against 10 men but all fans who went for their half time snack missed out on City going ahead. After a Mayo throw in, Futcher headed it on and McNamara (who had replaced the injured Green) flicked it up for Yeo to use the outside of his boot to cheekily sneak the ball just inside the far post.

Shortly after half time, Richard Liburd cross for Butcher who's header deflected off a Carlisle defender and spun over goalkeeper Glennon before hitting the bar and falling just in front of the line. Gary Fletcher responded quickest to give the Imps a 2-0 lead with possibly the easiest goal of his career.

Liburd then came extremely close to opening his account for the Imps when his looping shot went over Glennon only to hit the underside of the bar and bounce out. Liburd was impressing even me in this game and played quite well and created a lot of chances.

With only a few minutes left, the best of the late chances of the game fell to Bloomer who was unlucky to see his 15 yard screamer hit the bar. If that bar was only an inch higher, we'd have won by so many goals this afternoon, it would have been unbelieveable.

The game ended with City learning that because of Torquay and Huddersfield losing, that the Imps had moved into a playoff spot for the first time this season. Now we have a nice distraction for the next week with 2 cup games.

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