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Battle Of Lincolnshire
By Nathan Jackson September 8 2004
The Imps host Boston United in a crunch game for the Imps which we need to win to have a good chance of finishing in the playoffs or above. However, it won't be easy against a Boston side who have vastly improved over recent months and will fancy their chances of beating the Imps.

INTRODUCTION

There's nothing like a good old local derby the day before your birthday. Saturday sees Boston United travel to Sincil Bank and for the first time ever, the two teams will meet with Boston ahead of Lincoln in the table despite only 7 league games being played so far.

This is expected to be the closest and most fiercely contested Lincoln-Boston game since Boston entered the league 2 seasons ago.

This will be the 2nd of 4 games in the space of 9 days between the two clubs with the Imps Reserves winning the first game 2-0.

TEAM NEWS FOR THE IMPS

City work with a near enough fully fit squad for the local derby with only Marcus Richardson definatly out of the game. It should be the same starting line-up that won at Bury last week as the Imps look to climb up the league table. Nathan Peat is expected to keep the left back position after several very impressive games under his belt.

Expected City line-up (right to left)

Marriott

Bloomer  Futcher Morgan Weaver  Peat

Butcher  Gain

Fletcher  McCombe  Green

BOSTON UNITED

I'm actually quite happy Boston are doing quite well because it means I might finally get a prediction right after I predicted them a playoff finish this season which has started with only 2 defeats from their first 7 games.

Towards the end of last season, Steve Evans re-took over Boston and they climbed up the table and had a very respectable top half finish although that doesn't really say much when you consider that with only 2 weeks to go last season, everyone up to 10th could still mathematically get relegated. Anyway, his return has seen Boston significantly improve. They have won all 4 of their home games in league and cup, Oxford (1-0), Chester (3-1), Cambridge (2-1) and a very impressive 4-3 win over League 1 side Luton the other night in the Carling Cup.

They have however, failed to win on the road picking up a draw (Grimsby - 1-1) and two defeats at Yeovil (2-0) and Cheltenham (1-0).

 

MOST RECENT RESULTS AGAINST BOSTON

It's certainly been a fairly even set of results between the two sides in the 4 games played since the Pilgrims came into the league 2 years ago. Both games at Sincil Bank have ended 1-1. The first was on New Years 2003 where a Simon Weaver goal was cancelled out by Richard Logan. The second saw the return of Keith Alexander from his brain surgery and a Marcus Richardson header earned City a point after Neil Redfearn had put Boston ahead.

The two games at York Street have had totally different results. The first was the first ever league meeting between the 2 and goals from Weatherstone and Daryl Clare gave the Pilgrims a well deserved 2-0 victory. Boxing day 2003 saw the Imps win 1-0 after a Paul Mayo penalty settled the game.

It should also be noted that every player that has scored against Lincoln for Boston in the league, no longer plays for them.

2002/3

Boston United 2 Lincoln City 0

Lincoln City 1 Boston United 1

2003/4

Lincoln City 1 Boston United 1

Boston United 0 Lincoln City 1

PREDICTIONS

I don't really know what to think, I mean, a local derby throws form books out of the window and it's the first time we'll be facing Steve Evans. Last season's game at Sincil Bank proved to be a little bland so hopefully there will be a better game than that. I'm going for a safe bet of

Lincoln City 2 Boston United 2

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