By Nathan Jackson
March 11 2006

City threw away 3 points but were lucky to escape with 1 after one of the worst substitutions in recent history. The Imps were cruising to a win before Martin Gritton's introduction signalled the beginning of the end for City before Jamie McCombe rescued a point from what should have been 3.

Keith has been well known in recent years to make the wrong substitutions at the wrong time and today saw a return to that tradition as he brought on Martin Gritton with 15 minutes to go and all of a sudden, Rushden, who hadn't looked dangerous all afternoon were bossing the game and had the ball in the net 4 times in the 8 minutes after Gritton came on. If it wasn't for that substitution, there would have been no way that Rushden would have equalised, yet alone nearly won the match.

It wasn't a bad game in all honesty, full of good oppurtunities and it had a fair few goals but the most worrying part about the afternoon was that none of the strikers seemed to want to challenge for the ball and god knows how many free headers the Rushden defenders were able to make. It is really worrying that none of them want to get stuck in and once we start playing teams with half decent defences, we'll be in trouble.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Hunter's messiah complex made him unaware that there were 2 sides out there playing the long ball all afternoon and yet you never saw him moaning about Brazil and Diamonds' doing it. Rushden however should survive the relegation dogfight. Despite the fact they were poor for the majority of the match, they did look like a squad full of good players. In recent weaks, we've played the vast majority of teams in that half of the team and Rushden were better than most of them.

Oh, just incase no-one's noticed........it's Boston away next week.

Alan Marriott - 7 - Should have done a lot better with Turner's goal and it was worrying how easily he was beaten on both offside goals. Didn't have much to do during the afternoon, he did make 1 good save but other than that and the panic caused by Gritton, he had a relatively quiet afternoon.

Jamie McCombe - 9 - Well taken goal from a player who always seems to be there when it matters, a very reliable player and today was another example of why he should stay as captain if Morgan returns this season. Didn't put a foot wrong all afternoon and rounded it off with the goal.

Gareth McAuley - 7 - Made a vital clearance before having to go off with just 22 minutes gone, did what needed to be done though..

Colin Cryan - 8 - Professionalism personified, provided a few good balls into the box and if he could take throw ins properly, he would be a much higher rating.

Paul Mayo - 5 - A less than convincing return for the left back who only made it into the squad due to Hughes being injured. He never seemed to take his time and often booted the ball first time. Maybe it was too early to come back from a bad injury but I don't think Jeff Hughes should be worried about losing his place.

Scott Kerr - 8 - Was partly responsible for Yeo's goal and played quite well for most of the afternoon. Was unlucky not to score himself.

Steve Robinson - 5 - He looked extremely nervous on the ball and never seemed to get going.

Francis Green - 8 - The driving force behind the Imps' attack recently and today again showed why he should be offered a new contract. It should be interesting to see if he plays against the Pilgrim's next week.

Simon Yeo - 7 - Scored a good goal but that was the only real shining point in an average performance from the striker. Could have scored a hatrick if he hadn't taken as much time but at the end of the day, a goal's a goal.

Gary Birch - 7 - Played quite well again but other than the Rooney-esque volley in the first half, he never looked like scoring. Provided some great balls for the other strikers but fatigue still appears to be a major problem.

Lee Frecklington - 7 - Great ball in for the goal and he again played well, used to the flanks quite well and had good link up play with Cryan.

Martin Gritton - 1 - Why did we buy him? Seriously, he never seems to do anything and the fact that he came on and Rushden suddenly opened up a shooting gallery is no coincedence. He has used the lack of match-fitness excuse for too long now and the fact that his only contribution is scoring a tap in against Stockport, says it all.

Lee Beevers - 6 - Other than looking a bit dodgy for their goal, he had a relatively solid game.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For thou art with me, Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, Thou annointest my head with oil, My cup runneth over."

"Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!"

Barry Hunter, Brazil and Diamond's manager.

"Birch looked extremely sharp but unfortunately was ignored by Yeo on a couple of occasions, when if he had passed Birch would have had probably had a better chance of scoring. Also Nat Brown who covered in defence when Gareth McAuley went off injured. Nat looked like a very accomplished central defender. Jamie McCombe who again looks if he’ll grace the game at a higher level than this division. Obviously getting one point from a game we didn’t deserve anything from."

"Lack of any creative activity in the second half (why were we so late in taking the field after the break). Paul Mayo who regrettably couldn’t seem to make a decent pass at hardly any stage of the game. Gareth’s McAuley’s and young Hughes injuries just when we needed both of them at the top of their game. three points next week and the play-offs are back on track. (optimists better forget automatic)"

southender

 

 

"I'm sorry but, a fan as i am, I do not sympathise with the team over this one. I said to my son as the 3 minutes were announced "mark my words, this scoreline will not stay as it is". I was right. This is happening too many times for comfort, and if it wasn't so crucial it wouldn't be an issue. But it is. Lincoln were obviously going to give it their all in the dying minutes and we should have been more than prepared for that given our past experiences. It's cut and dry - it was the difference between being bottom of the football league and out of the relegation zone. I accept that there are positives to take away, but, bottom line is, the extra 2 points would have been the most positive of them all, and we gave them away." trigger