By Nathan Jackson
October 29 2005

Lincoln won their first away game of the year in a very hot-blooded and controversial match at Spotland that end 2-1 to City. Goals from Marvin Robinson and Nat Brown secured the points against a 10 man Rochdale side, who were lucky to not to have 3 men sent off with some questionable tactics.

Rochdale kicked the game off and automatically pumped the ball downfield, but Colin Cryan guarded the ball out to safety despite the presence of Grant Holt trying everything to get the ball. City camped themselves in the Rochdale half and Marvin Robinson had a great opportunity early on to open the scoring when Asamoah put him through on goal but the in form striker couldn’t catch the ball before it went out of play for a goal kick.

 

City were quick on the attack and forced 2 quick succession corners although City couldn’t make either count. A free kick was awarded just inside the Rochdale half which saw Martin Robinson flick Brown’s ball onwards and it almost crept under the bar and into the net. City were continuing to pressure a Rochdale side who looked short on confidence after last week’s 3-1 defeat at Peterborough.

 

City made their early dominance show in the 15^th minute when Robinson won another corner for City. Keates whipped the ball into the box and Robinson dived at the ball and headed past the Rochdale keeper who made little effort to get the ball and it was 1-0 to City, the 6^th time that City had scored the first goal on the road.

 

Then the controversy started when Keates was trying to win the ball and ended up taking down the Rochdale player he was challenging. All the other players came flooding in and Ernie Cooksey kicked Keates’ in the head and started swinging at other players. Keates and the original defender were both booked before the linesman informed the referee of Cooksey’s involvement. The ref called Cooksey over and reached into his pocket only to pull out a yellow. It had been what the behaviour deserved, it would have been his second red card in as many games against the Imps.

 

However, peace didn’t last long afterwards. Rochdale won a corner and just as they were about to take it, Gareth Griffiths swung his elbow at Dean Keates, the linesman again brought this to the referee’s attention and Griffiths was deservedly sent off and couldn’t understand why he received the sending off, despite doing his best Alan Shearer impression.

 

However, after all the commotion died down, Rochdale almost equalised when the ball was eventually floated into the box, Cooksey rose higher and his header went just wide of the target. Rochdale fans were now getting on the referee’s back and it seemed that this was the first referee in the country that wasn’t scared to give decisions in City’s favour, although some did seem slightly questionable, he was giving us free kicks when we were fouling the opposition, oh well, what goes around - comes around.

 

Whilst the Dale fans were venting their frustrations at the referee, the Imps’ made it 2-0 when Asamoah ran along the line from a corner before playing the goal along the line, Beevers subsequently headed goalwards and after an almighty scramble, Brown managed to get the ball over the line and City had a lead that reflected their general grip on the ball.

 

Rochdale finally managed to get a shot on target but the chances of it going in were minimal. Holt was left with little space to turn and his weak shot from the edge of the area, was easily collected by Marriott. Holt should have made it 2-1 just before half time when he collected a long ball into the box but his first time shot from 6 yards out, went across goal and wide of the mark. Considering he wasn’t offside, he should have taken considerably more time and should in reality have made it 2-1 but City’s luck was continuing.

 

Rochdale emerged from the half time break with an obvious desperation to get a penalty when Jones ran into the area before falling over with no players near him before looking at the referee and looking genuinely surprised that he hadn’t won a penalty.

 

Marvin almost got his second of the game when he hit the post soon after, however, City’s best chance to make it 3-0 came just a minute later when Keates let Beevers free in the area. However, like Holt in the first half, Beevers took the shot too quickly when he should have easily scored.

 

This incident proved a minor turning point in the game. From the resulting free kick, Rochdale won a corner which found its way to Holt, the former Sheffield Wednesday man sent a shot goalwards but Marriott palmed it away to Cooksey to put the ball into the net.

 

Rochdale suddenly looked dangerous, however, struggled to get the ball on target with several wasted chances, that if taken, could have easily seen them come from behind and into the league. In an attempt to get the illusive second goal, Rochdale changed to a 3-3-3 formation.

 

Holt was booked for persistent fouling 10 minutes from time and should have been sent off a minute later when he appeared to use an elbow to win the ball off Morgan. However, the referee decided to be lenient and Holt stayed on the pitch.

 

Cooksey then almost made it a very memorable afternoon for himself when the ball fell to him 6 yards out and he took a shot from close range that was just kept out by Marriott. Several balls into the box later and it appeared that Rochdale, who had been pumping 60 hard balls into the box all game, had finally given up and that tactic and finally started passing the ball in the 90^th minute but it was too late as City secured the game for their first away win of the season.