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Hartlepool 3 Imps OUT
By Nathan Jackson November 15 2004
City are out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle after an embarrasingly bad performance. 3 first half goals only told the story as City were lucky not to have conceeded at least 10 goals. Oh well, at least we can concentrate on trying to get to the division our opponents currently player in.

The Imps began with spark with City gaining a corner quickly. Yeo provided the cross for Richardson but his header was well saved by the impressive keeper, Konstantopoulos. The keeper was to do well whenever he was called upon in the afternoon (which wasn't very otfen).

It turned a bit quiet for a while but Hartlepool almost scored when former Bury defender, Michael Nelson smashed a long range shot goalwards but it was well saved by Marriott. The chances were still few and far between with Hartlepool edging the midfield battle. GTF made the best oppurtunity of the first 20 minutes when he played in Sandwith but Konstantopoulos madce a decent save.

 

Then can the turning point in the game, Imps fan stupidly starting chanting "WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP". Meanwhile, Hartlepool had a throw in and it landed to Boyd who past to Williams who then shot past Marriott to make it 1-0. Nice little way to jinx ourselves really.

City fell apart and it was like watching us back at the beginning of the season. An inswinging cross went past everyone and GTF backheeled it straight into the path of Robson who produced a superb finish to make it 2-0.

City were still falling apart and Hartlepool were exploiting it as they quickly went in search of a third whilst hitting the post and firing just wide from 3 yards out. Humprey's cross was headed wide by Boyd and it was obvious there was no way back for City this week. Another corner followed and after a scramble, play pushed out but a good passing move let in Porter who produced an excellent finish for 3-0.

This performance was embarrasing, the fact we should have been 10 down at half time rather than just the 3 says it all. A moment of madness from Butcher almost produced another Hartlepool goal as he was running out of the Lincoln box then for no reason, turns around and passes it straight to Boyd who really should have finished better in the 1 on 1 situation with Marriott.

The only decent chance from either side in this half was created, suprisingly by Lincoln and by debuting youth-teamer, Ollie Ryan after Butcher put him through but yet again, their keeper made another good save.

So the Imps are now out of all the cups after drawing higher division opposition in all 4 cup games this season but this was by far the worst display of the lot and it's amazing how much that Gain, Green and Carruthurs' put into the team and how you only realise how much certain players mean until they're gone.

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