Lincoln City
What question has the answer 1471 days?
By theimps.tk
August 31 2009
When our JP Trophy game against Darlington kicks off, it will be 1471 days since the last time City actually won a game in any nationally known knock-out competition. We take a look at the 20 matches of this description, including spirited performances, a lot of goals and a few local derbies. As Marvin Robinson was heading a fifth beyond Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup just over four years ago, not many fans, if any, imagined that we would be sat here over 35,000 hours later waiting for a win in a knock out competition.
The run without a cup run started little over a month after the Crewe victory and it was an excellent display for the Imps at Premier League Fulham. In what is widely regarded as one of the best games involving Lincoln during the last ten years, the Imps came from two goals down twice before Brian McBride's 119th minute winner for Fulham.
A few weeks later and the scoreline of a 2-1 defeat didn't tell the full story. Tranmere had taken the lead before Nat Brown equalised for City. The game should have easily been different as despite a blatent foul outside the box that denied Robinson a free run on goal, the Tranmere goalkeeper was allowed to stay on the pitch, just minutes later and the winning goal was scored for the hosts and City were out.
Back in the days when MK Dons were actually not a very good side, the Imps were denied by a deflection and Clive Platt's brace in the replay sent the Dons through. Paul Mayo had pulled City level in the game but City were otherwise poor and never looked like progressing.
Skip forward to the end of the season and a City side who had looked average during the entire season had gotten into the Playoffs. The Imps would face Grimsby Town, a side who they had beaten 5-0 a few weeks earlier, and City did have two goals disallowed early on in the first leg, but Grimsby deservedly won 3-1 on aggregate, Ben Futcher scoring the deciding goal midway through the second half of the second leg. It was the last match that Keith Alexander would have as our manager.
His replacement was his assistant, John Schofield and "Scoff's" first cup game came at Scunthorpe. Scunthorpe quickly took a two goal lead, the first from Steve Torpey. Late goals in the game from Stallard and Frecklington took it to extra-time, with Lee Beevers putting the Imps ahead in the first half of extra time. However, Shane Paul, a former Lincoln City trialist, drew them level before Ian Baraclough scored the winner just over a minute later.
Grimsby were again the opponents a few weeks later, this time for a JPT game. Grimsby's hoodoo over City continued as they held City to a 0-0 draw and won the penalty shoot-out when Forrester missed. It is a game quickly forgotten as the only game that City failed to win during the month of October 2006, also coming between a 5-0 win at Barnet and 7-1 win against Rochdale.
A few more weeks went by and the Imps were drawn against Port Vale and despite a spirited display against a Port Vale side a division above them, the quality showed and Vale went through 2-1, although City did have a goal disallowed with a minute to go.
The less said about the Playoff defeats to Bristol Rovers, the better.
Two thrashings to sides that City have generally good records against didn't help John Schofield's cause. The second game of the season saw a 4-1 defeat at Doncaster Rover's Keepmoat Stadium in the Carling Cup, but it wasn't long before a 5-2 home defeat to Hartlepool in the JPT was followed by Schofield's sacking a few days later.
Peter Jackson's first cup task as Lincoln's manager was to navigate beyond a Forest side who would end the 2007/8 promoted. City were lucky to get it to a replay after an own goal at Sincil Bank rescued the game after an Alan Marriott mistake. City were well beaten in the replay, losing 3-1 at the City Ground.
Last season's false dawn saw a brilliant performance at Derby County's Pride Park. City took the lead thanks to Ben Wright's close range header, but a Nathan Ellington hatrick won the game for Paul Jewell's men.
A 0-0 draw at Leicester City was seen as a good result, but dreadful penalty taking saw the Foxes progress as they worked their way to promotion straight back to the Championship. Then came the games that changed a lot of fans opinions about Peter Jackson. City put in two poor performances against a Kettering side who didn't play that well themselves. Dany N'Guessan rescued a replay but a last minute goal from Iseyden Christie won that replay for the visitors.
Then we get onto the recent game against Barnsley, again a spirited display but another defeat for Peter Jackson's Imps.
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31/08/2009 02:06
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Cheers Keith47424 - Hinckley Imp
theimps.ka Best Newcomer award winner 2007-2008 season.
Comments thoughts????
Cheers Keith47424 - Hinckley Imp
theimps.ka Best Newcomer award winner 2007-2008 season.
he wont fancy a home game if darlo win tomorrow night. be a bit of a fan backlash
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