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The Curse of County continues
By Nathan Jackson August 14 2005
Lincoln City's inability to beat Notts County struck again despite taking a 20th minute lead through the impressive Brown. Most Lincoln fans blame an 2 apparantly controversial decisions as to the reason we didn't win this game as Notts County equalised via a McCombe own goal and a Baudet freekick.

TO ssay City aboslutly dominated the first half would probably be the biggest understatement since someone said "Hitler isn't too keen on the Jews".

City immediatly started on the attack and good link up play between Birch and Green almost produced a decent chance but the final through ball went straight through to Kevin Pilkington. Both teams were finding it hard to get in any decent chances due to the downpour of rain. A dangerous challenge on Asamoah from Baudet produced City's first free pick but Jamie McCombe's header was easily saved by Pilkington again.

City were controlling the game and County were hardly getting a look-in to the game, City were playing some of the best football this division will see all see and at one point produced a 30 pass (along the ground) move before Asamoah pull his shot just wide. However, City didn't have to wait long for their goal.

Francis Green took a 20th minute corner which was flicked backwards by McCombe and there was Nat Brown to volley in from the edge of the area to give the Imps a very well deserved lead. The only unfortunate thing about this was that I did actually managed to capture the goal (in a film clip) on my digital camera but just before the ball's about to go in the net, my hand goes down as I think it's gone wide.

County finally managed to get in a chance when Pipe provided Edwards with the ball, and the ball was cleared out for a corner. The corner was easily dealt with by the Imps defence.

Birch should have doubled the lead in the 35th minute but his volley was blocked by a County defender. Then came what many Imps fans claim is a controversial moment (not myself though because if this was a penalty then Arsene Wenger will ask Alex Ferguson to marry him in September). Asamoah burst into the area but Rob Ullathorne managed to get between Asamoah and the ball and sheparded it for Pilkington. Asamoah then appeared to dive but most Imps fans have claimed it was a foul by Ullathorne, how can Ullathorne foul a player 4 yards behind him?

Immediatly, Notts County broke down the middle when Pilkington managed to play a long ball to White's head who landed it into the feet of Scoffham. The ball was heading comfortably into Marriott's arms but the ball took a clear deflection off of McCombe and into the net. Scoffham has been officially credited for this goal yet how he can claim that it was him who put the ball in the net, is a joke.

Then came the Notts County onslaught as Lincoln went back to the usual long ball crap. The rain wasn't making it easy for either side and it took 6 minutes of the second half to produce the first chance but Baudet's header went over the ball/

Then came another apparantly controversial moment when Mayo despite winning the ball on the edge of the area, did it from behind in a dangerous way and the referee awarded a free kick. This produced mass protests from Lincoln officials and fans alike, I still can't see what they were complaining about, Mayo was lucky not to get a yellow card for his challenge. Baudet stepped up and rifled the ball past Marriott.

Gavin Gordon, came on as a substitute to make his first appearance against the Imps since his departure from Sincil Bank nearly 5 years ago. He almost made in 3-1 minutes later but his final touch let him down after some good build up play.

Keates then made his debut appearance for the Imps, coming on for another debutant, Luke Foster, who had a very quiet game to be fiar. Asamoah had the next chance to score when he was on the edge of a crowded box but rather than control the ball and cross it in. He decided to try and volley it and the ball didn't even enter the area and went out for a throw in on the far side.

Time-wasting became the type of play County adopted going into the final stages but it worked and the referee blew for the final whistle and City are still without a win so far this season.

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