Globe Arena, Saturday 23 Feb 2019, League Two, 3pm.

Attendance 2352 with 717 away fans.

Shrimps – Halstead Mills Old Sutton Conlan Kenyon c Cranston Ellison Mingoia Mendes Gomes Bennett, subs used Mandeville for Cranston 56, Collins for Carlos 56.

Imps – Gilks O’Connor Shackell c O’Hara Pett Andrade Toffolo Bostwick Rowe Eardley Akinde subs used McCartan for Andrade 71, Rhead for Akinde 73, Bolger for O’Connor 84.

Ref was Martin Coy, let the Imps get too physical at times, booked only Bostwick, must be a social worker.

Weather – bright and sunny, no wind, pitch starting to look tired but still better than Oldhams!!

So we had two away wins and we play top of the league. JB decided to stick with a winning side, with hindsight (which is a wonderful thing as we all know) too many on the day were not up for the physical battle and we ended up second best to a well drilled and organised top of the league side. The Imps started well, first to every second ball, very quick free kicks and throws, no respite at all as they chased and harried us into errors.

From one such situation the visitors struck early. Cranston wanted too long and underhit a pass, it was intercepted and fed out to Andrade who cut inside and struck off the underside of the bar from outside the box. Andrade again had another effort cleared for a corner as they continued pressing. Halstead saved from a free kick and the dangerous Rowe had a shot drilled into Halstead which he parried. It took 31 minutes for The Shrimps to muster an attack, Old just missing a back post cross. Then Conlan had a shot blocked as the intense pressing from the Imps took its tole as the half wore on.On half time Cranston had a deflected free kick easily gathered by Gilks. So although we did come into it, we were behind at the break.

Lincoln came out refreshed, a Rowe free kick deflected into the side netting for a corner on 48 as the pattern continued. JB warmed Mandy and Colloins up, juts as he was about to make the change the visitors struck again. Andrade had a shot well blocked by Conlan but it fell nicely for him to slot underneath the advancing Halstead for 0-2 on 57.

Mandy and Collins came on for the restart, the out of sorts Cranston and knackered Carlos making way. At this point Lincoln players starting dropping like flies with nobody near them, a bit like Cheatenage. They made subs and generally ran the clock down very professionally. On 81, Gilks made a wonder save from Sutton at the back post as the home side at last threatened. Gilks hooking the Sutton effort away when it looked in. Aaron Collins then slipped his marker on the left and cut in and tried his luck from 25 yards but Gilks again made it look easy.

The last action belonged to Pett, who dribbled a shot that Halstead saved easily, but Lincoln were comfortable in truth, very physical and organised and look a good bet to go up automatic. The 7 on the bench for them, with respect, would most probably start for us.

Our season will not be defined in games like this, its in the coming weeks against Yeovil, Notts County, Macclesfield and Cambridge where our destiny is in our hands.

Sometimes, in a season its time to put the hand up and say we we’re beaten by a better side on the day, and this was one such game.

Onwards to Huish Park, Freez.