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The Real Lincoln Return
By Nathan Jackson August 25 2004
City beat Derby 3-1 to progress to the second round of the Carling Cup for the first time in 7 years. It wasn't a classic but the old Lincoln are back for the first time this season as Taylor-Fletcher also maintained his record of scoring in every game so far.

A "new" look City side saw Gareth McAuley and Jamie McCombe replacing Morgan and Pearson to make their first starts of the season but other than that it was the same City side that lost at Scunthorpe.

City kicked off and were automatically on the attack but Matt Bloomer's cross was palmed out by goalkeeper Camp before Idiakez cleared. The game wasn't exactly an end to end affair and the first decent chance for either side came on the 1/4 hour mark when Peschisolido chipped the ball over Marriott but lacked power, he ran past Marriott and was going to head the ball but Futcher managed to get the ball clear just in time.

Blackwood won a free kick that was taken by Gain, he crossed to Yeo but Simon couldn't convert the chance and forced his header straight into the keeper's hands. Yeo came close again just minutes later but his shot went well wide when it would have been easier to pass to Taylor Fletcher who was in search to maintain his record of scoring in every game so far.

Blackwood gave away a free kick about 20 yards out of goal and got booked. The free kick was taken by Idiakez and it curved right into Marriott's left hand corner which brought a big round of applause around Sincil Bank and sent the near 1,500 travelling fans (cramped into a space for 1,300 people into delight.

The second half resulted in City yet again having the first chance to score when Gary Taylor-Fletcher's thunderbolt but it went narrowly wide. Minutes later, Weaver headed just wide but it was a promising start for the Imps.

It calmed down tremendously and nothing happened for absolutely ages. Then out of no where in the 79th minute, City got a penalty. Yeo hit the cross but it was heading straight for Idiakez's chest. The Spaniard all of a sudden moved his arms from his side down up to his chest and he elbowed the ball and it was a penalty. Taylor-Fletcher stepped up and he confidently placed the penalty past Camp.

City were suddenly back in the game after not really threatening for a while before hand. It got better just minutes later. Second half substitute, Francis Green stormed down the wing and cross the ball, it looked as though it had missed everyone but Yeo slid across the ground and got the ball just inside the near post from a near impossible angle.

It was all over as a contest in injury time. Taylor-Fletcher kept the ball in the play and was given all the time in the world to run along the goal line, after about 10 seconds, some defenders closed down but Taylor-Fletcher past to McCombe who smashed the ball in for his first City goal.

The Second Round Draw is tomorrow evening.

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