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Entertaining draw extends unbeaten run
By Nathan Jackson September 18 2004
The Imps are now 3 games unbeaten after a highly entertaining 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers. It was a fairly even game that was only spoilt by the constant stopping of the game by the ref (and it wasn't just against City before you say it)

It was mixed weather on the way to one of the country's biggest City's but City arrived at the Memorial Stadium in the middle of a very hot, sunny spell. It would also turn out to be a first for the Imps (as far as I can remember anyway) with the fact that the 4th official was female and to her enternal credit, she did an extremely good job despite having stick from the crowd for the whole match.

The Imps got the game underway but in no time whatsover (ok, 15 seconds), Butcher and Trollope were both down for 2 minutes for clattering into each other. After all this was sorted, City won the ball and Francis Green ran towards Bristol keeper, Miller. Green shot powerfully but straight at the veteran keeper who made a routine save. Green was at it again just minutes later as he forced the game's first corner. The ball was swung in and it wasn't dealt with well by the Rovers defence who cleared straight to Peter Gain who's cross was headed over by Futcher.

Morgan coneeded a free kick and Agogo smashed it right into the wall. The half was littered by stoppages from the ref for needless reasons which frustrated both sets of fans. Both sets of players had gained advantage after having a foul done on them and rather letting them have that advantage, he constantly blew for the free kick much to the annoyance of everyone in the ground. There couldn't have been a single minute going by in the whole match that wasn't interupted by the refs.

Gain had the next reasonable effort for the Imps but his sliding shot went over and didn't really trouble Miller. The game calmed down and there were no more decent efforts before half time.

The second half started well for City as they quickly got a corner, it was unforunatly floated straight into Miller's hands. Yeo went on the break but his weak shot didn't even reach Miller and was easily cleared.

Arguably the best chance of the half came in the 70th minute when a ball went over everyone and went through for Green, he tried to chip the ball over Miller's legs so he could run round the keeper but Miller got his legs to it.

It was a half quite sparse on chances and only some fine saves from Marriott saw the Imps go into the last 10 minutes without conceeding. City at this point though, hadn't had a shot in the second half but then, on came Pearson and the returning Richardson. The latter immediatly got into the action and had a really decent effort saved.

A barrage of attacks then came on the City goal. It seemed Rovers had scored when a corner came in and Junior Agogo headed the ball, it went down to Marriott's left and the whole ground leaped for joy, surely it was 1-0, surely it would have been if Marriott hadn't pulled off a typical save.

The last chance came in the last minute when a long ball was collected by Jamie Forrester, who despite being offside, hit the post. Futcher even point to the ref that Forrester was offside and got a yellow card for his troubles.

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