By Nathan Jackson
January 14 2006

Lincoln City put in a very convincing display against Barnet and after playing attractive, flowing football, won 4-1. Goals from Simon Yeo, Jamie McCombe, Marvin Robinson and a 45 yard effort from Scott Kerr sealed the come-from-behind victory for the Imps against a very poor and rough Barnet side.

Both sides failed to settle quickly the opening was extremely cagey and in the opening minutes, only Steve Robinson, playing just his second game for the Imps, crossing the ball to Marvin Robinson was on view in the opening few minutes. City then started to control the game and Steve Robinson was proving the point of creativity for the Imps and just like he had done against Stockport earlier in the season, he bossed the game in the midfield. Despite City’s general control of the game, it was Barnet who took the lead in the 14^th minute when yet again, the Imps were caught ball watching and Dean Sinclair produced a beautiful through ball for Grazioli and the former Bristol Rovers striker produced an excellent finish passed the on-rushing Marriott. It was a massive slap in the face for the Imps who, not for the first time this season, allowed a team to score with their first chance on goal.

 

However, City continued to control the game immediately after the goal but in typical Lincoln City style it took a while for the next chance to came and even that wasn’t great as Dean Keates headed the ball well over the goal from Yeo’s cross. Yeo himself had a chance just minutes later but it was deflected out for a corner. Keates took the set piece but Yeo failed to hook the ball into the net and it bobbled wide.

 

A few minutes later and Yeo again proved dangerous when Marvin Robinson appeared to be leaving a ball to go out of play. However, Yeo ran 40 yards to keep the ball in player and his crossed the ball in and Robinson, who hadn’t been bothered to run 10 feet to stop a ball going out, had run 30 yards to the far side of the box but the striker couldn’t head Yeo’s cross into the net.

 

Barnet almost doubled their lead when former Arsenal trainee, Paulo Vernazza curled a 25 yard free kick at goal and Marriott caught the ball which was heading just under the bar. However, the Imps pulled level just before half time after Anthony Charles got his afro to a ball and put it out for a corner, the ball came back out to the midfield but good work from Kerr, Robinson and Yeo got through Barnet and Yeo managed to slip the ball between 10 players in a crowded box and made it 2 goals in 3 games since returning to Sincil Bank. The teams went in level at half time.

 

After spending 3 months recovering from injury in the first part of the season, Steve Robinson’s season was almost ended when he and Sinclair both came out of a tackle badly and after several minutes of treatment, both were able to continue. City again started to control the game but couldn’t seem to get the luck on their side and in the 53^rd minute, when great work down the left saw Hughes swing the ball in but despite Marvin Robinson failing to connect with the ball, it was certainly encouraging for the Imps.

 

Steve Robinson again burst down the right before being fouled but before Dean Keates could take the free kick, the referee, who had a very inconsistent afternoon, had to resolve a confrontation between Francis Green and Anthony Charles and the Imps will be glad that there was a delay. Dean Keates smashed the ball towards goal and McCombe headed in his first goal of the season to give the Imps a lead that reflected their overall control of the game.

 

Barnet brought off Vernazza and Strevens being replaced by Bowditch and Batt. Yeo had a quick chance to make it 3-1 but his volley went just wide before Marvin Robinson went forward with the ball before randomly passing it to a Barnet player who won a corner down the other end of the pitch. However, the other Robinson didn’t mess about and collected the ball before running out and a midfield melee began.

 

Barnet, who were easily the dirtiest side the Imps had played since Rochdale, fouled Francis Green about 25 yards out and Hendon was booked for the foul. A few minutes later and Dean Keates had the chance to score another free kick when City won a free kick roughly 30 yards out. However, Keates’ powerful free kick went straight at Flitney.

 

Barnet should have had Anthony Charles sent off 13 minutes before the end when, despite several warnings from the referee during the game, almost ended Steve Robinson’s season with a vicious 2 footed knee high challenge from behind, inexplicably though, the referee only gave him a yellow card for a challenge that deserved 3 red cards.

 

A beautiful ball from Colin Cryan found it’s way to Marvin Robinson and the striker was free on the left, he brought the ball into the box before placing a brilliant curling shot against the post and into the net but it wasn’t over yet. Within a minute, Kerr picked up the ball about 45 yards out and sent a ball deep into the box but no-one got a touch and the ball went into the net and Kerr’s reaction showed that it defiantly wasn’t intended.

 

Yeo, Marvin Robinson and Keates all exited soon afterwards and were replaced by Ollie Ryan, Gary Birch and Lee Frecklington who was making his first ever league appearance for the Imps. The final part of the game passed pretty uneventfully and the Imps got a well deserved victory.