By Nathan Jackson
February 15 2006

It turned out to be a great Valentines Day for the Imps as they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Barnet. It was City's first ever win at Underhill and revenge for the last time City went there when the hosts won 4-3 after City were 3-0 up and it puts the Imps just outside of the playoffs.

We finally seem to have mastered the art of winning whilst not playing well and despite a spirited come back, there were plenty of reasons to be cautious about the remainder of the season. Barnet are an extremely poor side who like to bully you into submission and then hoof the ball at every oppurtunity, very much like City in recent years (but without the players to make it work) and then scored 2 goals from just 3 realistic on target shots.

However, there are also many positives to be taken out of the game and it's been a while since the Imps have had that sort of passion to recover a seemingly unrecoverable lead. The spirity at the team this season has been good on the most part. Last season, the Imps were behind at some point in no fewer than 14 league games and after falling behind, we only got points from 3 of those games. This season, the Imps have been behind at some point in 13 league games this season and on 6 of those occasions, we've got something from the game and all that from an apparantly weaker side.

If this form continues, even automatic promotion could be possible but a playoff spot should be the realistic expectations of most fans but make no mistake about it, we must improve to make sure we get in those playoffs.

Alan Marriott - 4 - He only had a mere handful of shots to deal with and although he wasn't helped by the defence, he could have done a lot better on the first goal at least.

Jamie McCombe - 6 - Jamie looked very nervous on the ball and his usual "take your time" approach seemed ineffective against Barnet strikers who were chasing him all the time. He scored the goal that started the come back but other than that, he seemed to have a poor game.

Gareth McAuley - 5 - After spending the morning moaning the Echo that fans on the internet had apparantly said he wasn't committed to the club anymore (something that only he appears to have seen), you'd have thought he would have put in a fairly decent performance, however, he was quite poor and Barnet strikers often got past him easily.

Colin Cryan - 7 - Quiet player but does whatever he needs to do in an efficient manner.

Jeff Hughes - 7 - Jeff played alright but the fatigue of 3 games in 6 days last week had obviously caught up with him and he quite honest looked exhausted but still managed to put in a respectable performance..

Scott Kerr - 7 - A much improved performance from Saturday and he proved our most effective midfielder. Set up the first goal and almost scored himself on several occasions..

Nat Brown - 8 - This was his best game for the Imps for a long time and he actually showed why Alexander signed him. He may not be the best player at the club but there is no-one better at long range shooting.

Steve Robinson- 5 - This was he quietest game for the Imps but that could possibly be because of the illness at the weekend. Didn't do anything spectacular and was the most guilty player at giving the ball away.

Francis Green - 8 - After missing Saturday's win over Torquay, Green was obviously looking to impress and despite a few iffy moments, he did just that and was unlucky not to score his first league goal since the 2-0 win over Shrewsbury last season.

Simon Yeo - 3 - Yeo once said to me that in the 2002/3 season that the sending off early in the season had changed his season and the same appears to be happening now. All Yeo did in this game was miss open goals and fall over. Although he picked up a minor injury in the first half, he should have already put the Imps at least 2 goals up by then.

Martin Gritton - 5 - I'll be honest, I haven't been impressed in his first 3 games for the club and Im now not convinced that he is the answer to the problem we never had. I'm still willing to give him a chance due to a lack of match fitness but on early viewings, I won't hold on breath.

Lee Frecklington - 5 - Gets a 5 by default because he didn't actually touch the ball after coming on as a late substitute.

Gary Birch - 8 - Gary Birch again changed a game around again and whether Keith is intentially keeping him on the bench as a "super sub" option, is a matter that only Keith could answer but Birch definatly deserves to start a game, afterall, he has scored and set up more goals than any other player this season, not bad for someone is apparantly crap.

"We played very well against a decent passing side on a decent pitch and I would have been disappointed not to have got something out of the game, I was disappointed at half-time because I felt we should have been four up. For the first 20 minutes we were magnificent. We played some good football, got the ball in the right areas but missed chances. Ten minutes into the second half we were 2-0 down yet had all the play. They scored with their two shots on target but I just told the lads to keep doing what they were doing."

"As for Nat, he had a shot just before he scored from a free-kick which I wasn't too pleased with as we work on them in training and he's never on it. But he struck two great balls and he's another player who gets a lot of stick. He's got seven or eight from midfield now and that's an outstanding contribution"

"First half we were shite, defence couldn't do anything right.....everytime Barnet attacked...they looked dangerous, and to be honest...deservedly went in at the break 1-0 up. Both teams did miss sitters, off the top of my head....Yeo missed 2 one on ones, Gritton also missed one and then there was a long range effort from Gritton which was parried by the keeper and then a brilliant header from Gritton was somehow kept out by the goalie...and went out for a corner."

"2nd half i really was expecting us to go on and win it.....and at 2-0 down i did find myself thinking "why the fook did i just come all the way down for this?" as we really weren't playing well. The second goal was very well taken by the barnet striker, lobbing Marriot !! Then 2 of Barnet chavs decided to be twats and act hard by running towards the away hands in celebration...well what can i say, we had the last laugh."

 jamesimp

"Oh dear, I can't believe that. It was a fantastic game, probably the best I've seen this season, despite the result. I don't think I'll ever forget tonights game, for a neutral and LC fans, it'd been amazing! There's something about Barnet V Lincoln games and comebacks I think! Who remembers the 4-3 a couple of seasons back?! Jesus Christ!"

The game, well, first half we were outstanding. We created loads of good chances, missed some absoloute sitters. I had a bad feeling we'd regret all those missed chances. Lincoln had some good chances as well and both keepers made some great saves."

"I know that at the end of it, you're position doesn't lie, yes we play good football at times which I love, but that won't get us anywhere, we're in deep shit at the moment. Looking at our fixtures, we have to play 3 more away games than home games. We havn't won away for over 6 months now. We were 8 points clear of relegation a few days ago, now it's 3. Not good and I'm worried. Hopefully other teams shitness will save us this season, but hope isn't always enough."

Beegirl