By Nathan Jackson
May 29 2005

Lincoln City are destined for another year in League 2 after a 2-0 defeat to Southend in the playoff final. Things conspired against the Imps including a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside and all 3 of our main strikers having to leave the field for various reasons.

City got the game underway and were attacking the end holding the Imps fans who took up at least 2/3 of the attendance. Green had the game's first chance but he shot wide from GTF's throw in. GTF was again involved when he broke through on the right but his intended shot went high and wide into the Imps faithful (and part timers).

Southend's first attempt came from Nicky Nicolau but his shot was blocked by Kevin Sandwith and the resultant corner was easily dealt with by the Imps defence. Sandwith delivered a free kick minutes later but GTF volleyed over. City were easily on top of the game and a GTF cross caused chaos for Flahavan who had to tip the ball over the on rushing McAuley but then had to spend several minutes being attended to for an injury picked up.

A Duncan Jupp run was ended by Jamie McCombe in one of Southend's rare attacks in the first half and that was quickly followed by yet another attack for City. Green won a corner for City however, it came to nothing (and apparantly we're very dangerous at set plays). Slippery conditions made it difficult for players to keep their balance and it almost proved costly for City as a through ball was run onto by Gray, however, Marriott got a hand to it before slipping allowing Gray to gather the ball and but for a great save by Marriott again.

Yeo had the ball in the back of the net minutes later but he was offside after running onto Francis Green's through ball. Green should have given City the lead on the half hour after a goalmouth scramble saw him with an open goal to aim at from 2 yards, however, a Southend defender made a brilliant recovery to clear the ball just in time.

A succession of Southend corners would briefly troubled City although none of them really troubled City and the half finished quietly.

Southend started the second half very well vocally backed despite their extremely limited numbers. THe second half was extremely slow with the first note worthy action coming just before the hour mark. Freddy Eastwood got involved for the first time in the game. He fired goalwards but the ball deflected off Jamie McCombe. The corner came to nothing.

Eastwood again proved tricky and gave Imps fans a massive scare when he broke through one on one with Marriott and appeared to chip the ball over the falling Marriott but Eastwood himself had slipped and the ball veered off the side after it looked like it was going in for a second.

Southend were in control of the game although Yeo did give Flahavan a scare but the keeper did well to save the ball. Butcher did also have two efforts put wide but despite these chances, Southend were holding firm and working well on the break.

The game went into extra time and all the chaos started. Asamoah had replaced Yeo at full time and before the first 15 minutes were gone, Beevers and Bloomer were playing upfront. Now, I'm not an expert but when you're in extra time and looking at penalties, you shouldn't take off your best penalty takers. Infact, the arrival of Beevers sparked Southend. He came on in added on time at the end of the first half of added on time and within 10 seconds, Freddy Eastwood had proded Southend into the lead after a goal mouth scramble.

The second half started as the first had started with Southend going on the break and a through ball to Duncan Jupp saw the defender coolly slot home for his first goal in 10 years and it was game, set and match. The rest of the game was irrelevant as City, having gone behind 19 times in all competitions this season, had lost 17 of those games and so another season came to a close and we're stuck in this division for another year.