The Imps started the game attacking the Stacey West. From the kick off, GTF passed to Butcher who chipped for McCombe to head down for Bloomer to run 1-1 with the keeper but he made an impressive save to deny the Imps a goal within 10 seconds of the start.
It became a fairly even game with neither side seemingly wanting to take advantage. Raynor, making his first league appearance for the Imps after Marriott got injured, was called upon to make a few basic saves but nothing worthy of mention.
Kevin Ellison was back at Sincil Bank and almost scored in the 17th minute but his free kick went straight into the wall and was played out. This game was far from a classic and neither side looked like wanting to take that important step of scoring the first goal until the 26th minute. The ball fell to Green about 25 yards out and the popular striker produced a half volleyed the flew across goal into the net to make it 1-0 to the Imps but with possibly the most muted celebration of taking the lead ever seen at Sincil Bank.
Within seconds of the restart, the Imps were back on the attack and GTF was put through by Gain but only a block on the line stopped GTF from getting his first goal in 4 games.
Then came CONTROVERSIAL MOMENT 1. Gain was adjudged to have back passed to Raynor although the ball looked to have an extremely good chance of it coming off the attacking Chester player. Ellison stepped up and smashed it into the net. The rule states that it must be indirect but no-one passed it to Ellison so the goal shouldn't have stood. Every Lincoln player surrounded the ref but he was having none of it and awarded the goal despite the obvious fact that it wasn't taken indirectly. The ref consulted both linesman over a minute after the goal had gone in. The result was a goal awarded and a yellow card for Ellison who had went and celebrated in front of the Imps fans which caused a number of Imps fans to go onto the pitch.
It seemed a repeat of the Southend game where City had been in control but a controversial goal destroyed the flow. It was almost 2-1 to Chester just before half time when in the 4th of 6 added minutes, Ellison crossed into the box and Drummond missed from 2 yards out.
It was the same story when the teams came out for the 2nd half with neither team threating much but 17 minutes into the half. The Imps gained a free kick and then came CONTROVERSIAL MOMENT 2. City haven't scored from a free kick in the league since the 2-1 win over Bristol in the 2002/3 season but the Nathan Peat cross was headed in by Futcher but Futch was judged to be offside despite there being a Chester defender on the line which makes it impossible to be offside.
It was dire, a very poor game between, what to be honest, were two poor team displays. GTF had a decent attempt on 75 minutes when his volley was well saved by Brown.
CONTROVERSIAL MOMENT 3 saw Yeo run into the box and getting ready to shoot. A Chester player slide in and sent Yeo flying and despite not getting the ball, play was allowed to continue as if nothing had happened.
The direness continued and the last incident came in the form of CONTROVERSIAL MOMENT 4. City had just wasted a free kick and just before the keeper could kick, the ref was called over by one of his assistants. He called Richardson over and gave him a straight red card despite not appearing to have done anything.
A FEW BRIEF WORDS : DOES ANYBODY ELSE AROUND HERE GET THE FEELING WE'RE GOING TO GO THE WHOLE SEASON WITHOUT WINNING AT HOME.
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