By theimps.tk
May 6 2006

Lincoln City secured a playoff place with a draw against Rochdale although other results meant that even a defeat would do. Peterborough lost and Darlington drew meaning that the Imps finished 3 points ahead of their nearest rivals and are now set for the 4th (and hopefully 1st successful) playoffs

City kicked off the game and took 3 minutes to create the first opportunity when Scott Kerr crossed the ball but the newly crowned Player-of-the-Season, Jamie McCombe could only head the ball at Gilks who punched the ball clear with Marvin Robinson hounded him and it was the striker who created the next opportunity. His good work won the Imps a corner but the Kerr/McCombe combination failed to work again but the Imps did win another corner but that came to nothing, however, it was a positive result for the Imps.

 

Rochdale started to come into the game and on six minutes they won their first corner of the game however, Jones’ delivery was headed away by Beevers. City went away and won a corner after Green impressively chased an excellent ball from Beevers. Robinson headed Hughes’ corner just over the bar. More corners came the visitors way but nothing came off them and then it happened. Peterborough had to win to stand a chance of the playoffs and were the only side who could realistically take over the Imps, however, news came through that Wycombe had taken the lead at Peterborough and all of a sudden, the previously cracking atmosphere at Sincil Bank died because everyone knew we were now as good as there.

 

Whilst the crowd has calmed down and relaxed, the players did anything but and great work between Hughes and Forrester won City yet another corner and that again was caught by Gilks. Forrester however was proving why he was worth bringing in permanently after having a neat collection of passes with Robinson before feeding Green but his shot was tipped wide by Gilks.

 

A goalmouth scramble kept the Imps out before City won another corner and after another mini-scramble, it fell to Brown on the edge of the box but he could only direct his thunderous shot at Gilks. The game quietened down for a while but 10 minutes after that chance came the best chance of the game so far as Jamie Forrester picked up the ball about 30 yards out, looked up and sent a deep pass into the box where Marvin Robinson was unmarked, however, he couldn’t re-direct the ball and it went over the top of his boots and out for a goal kick. Forrester almost created a goal for himself soon afterwards as he ran at goal and managed to squeeze between 4 defenders but his effort was blocked by a Dale defender.

 

Rochdale decided to venture into the Imps half for the first time in a while and almost took a lead against the run of play when Cooksey found space and sent a shot towards Marriott, however, it went just wide of the target. City then had a golden chance to take the lead just before half time when Forrester played Green 1 on 1 with Gilks, however, with all the time in the world, Green could only send a week shot straight at Gilks.

 

Nothing worth mentioning happened in the first 15 minutes of the second half but the visitors almost took the lead on the hour mark when Cooksey played a beautiful ball to Lambert who ran one on one with Marriott and it seemed destined he would score until Marriott made a magnificent save to keep the Imps’ playoff dreams well and truly intact.

 

City responded by almost taking the lead themselves when Gareth McAuley’s goalbound header was cleared off the line. Dagnall was replaced by former Imps’ target Iseyden Christie for the visitors. Nat Brown sent another powerful shot straight at Gilks before Frecklington replaced Green. Beevers sent in a shot that curled dramatically and only a brilliant save prevented it from going into the net and it went out for a corner as Beevers went off chuckling to himself. Kerr swung in the corner and Gareth McAuley headed the ball into the net to send nearly 7,000 fans into the wildest celebrations of the season. Peterborough were no effectively out of the race, as were Darlington.

 

Yeo replaced the ever-impressive Forrester and both received standing ovations from the crowd. Brown almost doubled the lead when he sent in a powerful shot but it just went inches wide of the target. What’s this? Rochdale have finally come into our half of the pitch and won a free kick. It flew over everyone and snuck into the back post but no-one other than the Rochdale fans seemed to care.

 

The game went dead for the final few minutes and the referee blew the whistle on what will hopefully be the Imps’ final (regular) league game in this division for a long time.