By Nathan Jackson
March 3 2007

Lincoln City's 4 months run of playing crap continued with Mansfield Town comfortably winning at Sincil Bank. It was the 3rd game in a row where City have made a mediocre side look like world-beaters, and City wasted a great chance to go back up to 3rd place.

City started the game well but Mansfield won the game’s first corner. It found it’s way to D’Laryea, but he could only direct his shot out for a throw in. N’Guessan won a free kick for City, and after an Amoo shot went out for a corner, Frecklington’s centre went out for a goal kick.

 

Arnold wasted a good chance for the visitors before Forrester won another corner, this one was caught by a completely unchallenged White in the Mansfield goal. The ball found it’s way down the other end and it resulted in Beevers giving away a penalty after the defence had just stood there allowed Arnold to run through on goal. Marriott continued the common trend of him diving the wrong was as Conlon slotted the ball into Marriott’s right hand side of the net. Beevers was booked for the challenge.

 

Kerr was injured in a challenge, but he was instrumental in Frecklington breaking forward, however the young midfielder seemed afraid to shoot when through one on one, and was easily tackled when looking for an unnessacery pass. Moses was then booked for a foul on Simon Brown. N’Guessan was booked for persistant fouling, that came just 10 seconds after the referee had ignored Arnold double-footed tackling Kerr from behind. It was a theme throughout the afternoon, a City player would be fouled, the ref would ignore it before giving Mansfield a free kick for the exact same thing just a few seconds later.

 

Early on in the second half, Simon Brown and Arnold burst forward 2 on 1 with Moses, Brown wasted the chance though as he selfishly tried to score, Marriott easily claimed. 2 minutes later and the exact same thing happened again, this time it was Arnold running forward and he did what his team-mate couldn’t as he shot across goal and despite Marriott getting a touch, it trickled into the net.

 

Mansfield thought it was 3-0 from an identical situation again, fortunately this time Brown hit the side netting. Just as Brown was about to break though yet again, Beevers’ leg caught the striker as he ran to get to the ball, the defender then received the marching orders for only the second time in his City career.

 

Weir-Daley replaced the disappointing N’Guessan just minutes before Frecklington was replaced by Warlow. All of a sudden City looked like they could actually be bothered. City won several corners, but in true Lincoln City style, they were wasted. Former City target Matt Hamshaw came on for Simon Brown.

 

Good work from Kerr saw him distribute the ball to Warlow, the youngster took the ball forward and crossed the ball to Forrester, he hit it first time to score only his second open-play goal this calendar year. Hughes almost equalised but White saved relatively easily. Kerr had a decent effort block, before Weir-Daley appeared to blatantly dive to win a penalty, the referee wasn’t fouled. Boulding came on for Boulding, and Ryan replaced Green, but City couldn’t find an equaliser.