By Nathan Jackson
February 25 2006

The Imps moved into the playoffs thanks to a 2-1 victory over Notts County in what turned out to be a great game. It was a tight affair throughout but City had the majority of chances and goals from Francis Green and Jamie McCombe gave the Imps the 5th maximum haul in the last 6 games.

The visitors started the game but it was the Imps who almost had the perfect start when after little over a minute, the returning Foster provided a precise cross for Yeo to run on to. Yeo got the ball but took too long on the ball and County’s Kevin Wilson made a latch ditch tackle. Yeo was set free again after good work from Hughes, however, former Manchester United keeper Kevin Pilkington reacted quickly and gathered the ball at Yeo’s feet.

 

County started to come into the match and David Pipe was providing several quality crosses into the box, however, there was no0on eon the other end of them. County should have opened the scoring in the 9^th minute when the ball fell into a crowded box, the ball fell to Palmer on the left and the ball went across the face of goal but none of the onrushing County players could connect as the ball went out for a goal-kick. Within a minute, County had a corner. The ball was swung in by Palmer, Foster headed it behind for another corner but City easily cleared the 2^nd ball.

 

The game entered a quiet period and it took almost 10 minutes for the next opportunity came along and that was when Francis Green won a free kick for the Imps. Scott Kerr over hit the free kick and it went straight into the hands of Pilkington. Kerr made up for however when he made a goal saving tackle 4 minutes later and created the chance for Green to run down the right. Green took his time but could only direct his shot well wide of the target.

 

Yeo again broke free of the defence yet again and despite an initial mistake from Pilkington, Yeo couldn’t capitalise and Pilkington recovered in time to clear the ball. Yeo then gave away a free kick when he accidentally caught Doyle in the face when the loanee tried to head a ball wards, within a few minutes, the roles were reversed as Yeo snuck around the back of Doyle, only to be caught in the face by accident.

 

Hughes and Yeo again linked up well to set the latter free of the defence yet again. Yeo again took too much time though and Doyle cleared the ball comfortably. McCombe headed a dangerous Palmer out for a throw in. Notts County were creating plenty of opportunities for themselves but the obvious lack of a clinical finisher was proving their downfall.

 

Yeo broke though yet again but he shot with his weaker right foot and Pilkington produced a fine save to prevent Yeo’s first goal in over a month. Green came close to opening the scoring in the final minute of normal time in the first half but his shot was cleared off the line by Edwards. It wasn’t long before Green did make it 1-0 though. City won a throw with 10 seconds of the half remaining. Colin Cryan’s throw in was flicked goalwards by McCombe and Green lifted the ball over Pilkington. It appeared the Green had shot well wide until it hit the inside of the post and nestled into the net.

 

City kicked off the second half but it was the visitors who threw caution to the wind in an attempt to get an equaliser. They won a corner within 30 seconds of the kick off but thankfully, Marriott was able to claim the ball comfortably. A lack of communication between McAuley and Marriott almost cost the Imps a goal. Marriott went to claim a low cross but just as it was entering his hands, McAuley tapped it away and towards goal, the defender then took his time clearing the ball and just prevented the own goal by a matter of inches.

 

City finally woke up as Marriott played the dangerous Green through. The striker ran at goal, his first effort was blocked and the ball fell to him again and he could only chip the ball into Pilkington’s hands. Steve Scoffham, the man who claimed he scored the goal at Notts County all on his own (despite the major deflection is took) then had a great opportunity to score again when he broke down the right and was one on one with Marriott, however, Scoffham could only shoot straight at Marriott and the keep comfortably palmed it over.

 

Pilkington then made his customary mistake just after the 50 minute mark when he tried to Sheppard the ball out for a goal kick, however, Green was chasing him down and won the ball,  Green tried to cross the ball in, however, the ball went straight towards Ullathorne who quite clearly moved his hand towards the ball and prevented a likely goal. Ullathorne was only booked for this.

 

Eugene Dadi came on for the visitors. The game slowed down tremendously but the game really kicked off on the 70 minute mark. Yeo was about 5 yards offside when Frecklington played the ball to him and unsurprisingly, he was flagged offside, the Imps players weren’t happy and spent about 20 seconds moaning at the linesman. Within 20 seconds of that, Ullathorne again tried to play basketball but strangely was awarded a free kick for this. Palmer swung in a cross, it was one of those crosses that keepers can’t do anything about and Mike Edwards headed the visitors level.

 

City almost restored the lead immediately when Hughes broke down the left, he provided a ball for Yeo but the striker could only send his first time shot wide. County got a free kick with 15 minutes to go, despite the referee initially waving play on. Chris Palmer took the free kick and it went just wide of the goal.

 

Beevers replaced Kerr and typically for the Imps these days, City scored soon afterwards when Notts County’s defence disappeared. Hughes was again involved as he sent in a cross that Jamie McCombe headed past a statuesque Pilkington and it was 2-1 to City. Yeo was again involved as he tried to get to onto Green’s cross but Yeo’s bad luck continued as he completely missed the ball.

 

Birch was replaced by Gritton. Lee Frecklington had a great chance to make it 3-1 within a matter of minutes was he broke through the County defence but sent his shot towards the executive boxes. Notts County then had the ball in the net when Dadi was adjudged to have kicked the ball out of Marriott’s hands before tapping into the net. In all fairness, I personally though that Dadi had kicked the ball just after Marriott had dropped the ball to kick it and if this was the case, it would have been a perfectly legal goal……….but who cares?

 

City easily held on in added on time to record a 5^th win in 6^th, their first win at home to Notts County in 37 years and most importantly, move into the playoff places.