By Nathan Jackson
October 15 2005

Richard Butcher scored for the Imps to bring them back into a game that the opposition had dominated completely. Gary Alexander had given Orient the lead earlier on before Butcher's equalise. However, it was a first half to forget and arguably the worst in a long time.

Orient kicked off the game and immediately powered their way into the game and had the best of the opening exchanges. They were dominating the play but couldn’t get a decent shot in. The ever-impressive Matt Lockwood had a great opportunity to give the O’s the lead when he swung in a corner that came back out to him, he swung the ball in and the ball almost curled into the top left hand corner.

 

Orient continued to control the game and every time a City player got the ball, it was quickly wasted. Keates, for the first of around 20 times during the game, played the long ball over the top for Ollie Ryan to chase onto but the young striker couldn’t get near it before Glyn Garner, who caught the ball comfortably.

 

Orient almost took the lead when Ibehre headed the ball goalwards before Gary Alexander flicked the ball the opposite direction to which it was heading and only a very agile save from Marriott prevented the hosts from taking the lead. However, Marriott’s agility didn’t keep Orient out for long. Matt Lockwood burst into the area and sent a brilliant left footed shot goalwards that was palmed away by Marriott but only into the path of Gary Alexander who headed the ball calmly into the net to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

 

Barnard had to leave the game immediately afterwards as he was clutching his already bandaged hand and he was replaced by Wayne Carlisle. Orient continued their complete dominance of the half and Matt Lockwood was proving instrumental as he tore the Lincoln defence apart as he waltzed down the wing and put in several crosses that his team-mates couldn’t convert.

 

Lockwood then produced a brilliant chance for the O’s as he burst into the area at the corner section and sent a rasping shot goalwards but the shot, which had well beaten Marriott, hit the post and went wide. Within 2 minutes, City arguably had the ball in the goal when Brown latched onto the back pass of Justin Miller and chipping over Garner. The ball bounced goalwards and appeared to be heading into the net but Miller manage to hook the ball away, however, everyone, other than the ref and linesman, saw it cross the line so no goal was given. The first half ended with a chorus of boos from City fans after one of the most shockingly poor first half performances in memory.

 

An unchanged City side emerged for the second half and went on the attack immediately with Nat Brown having an effort put just wide from the edge of the box. This was to be his last action of the game as he was taken off for Asamoah as Keith went for a more attacking formation. However, the changed briefly favoured the hosts as within 2 minutes, Ibehre send a header against the bar and was close to killing off the game completely. Robinson then came on for Ollie Ryan and things started picking up for City.

 

Infact, the substitute forced the Imps first corner of the game his powerful header was well saved by Garner. Keates sent in the corner but as usual, nothing came of it. Asamoah then almost scored his 2^nd goal in his Imps career when he sent a shot in from the left that narrowly went over after being saved by Garner.

 

However, City got a free kick minutes later and Dean Keates delivered the ball. Garner punched it straight to Butcher, who took his time before unleashing an unstoppable volley to draw the Imps level at 1-1. All of a sudden, City were on top.

 

Butcher then provided a great chance for Birch to score his first goals for nearly 3 weeks when he burst into the area on the right unchallenged and tried to get the ball to Asamoah who was on the edge of the 6 yard box. However, a defender got to the ball just before Asamoah and forced a corner. The ball eventually fell to Asamoah who shot just wide from the edge of the box.

 

Orient finally managed to get another shot in when a free kick was pumped into the box and McMahon sent a volley goal ward that Marriott tipped over the bar when it would have been easier to simply catch the ball. Asamoah then produced his bag of tricks again as he made a fool out of one of the Orient players before sending a shot goal wards but the ball went just wide of the far upright position.

 

City then had a shout for a penalty when a ball came into the box and Robinson chested it down for himself but an Orient player was practically hugging him, allowing an Orient player, who was originally 30 yards away, to come and take the ball away. However, the last chance of the game went Orient’s way but Justin Miller headed straight at Marriott from the corner.