Here we go again

By Nathan Jackson
August 21 2005

Everyone's 3rd favourite trophy to win starts up again on Tuesday and we now review our recent games in the competition. After 8 first round exits in a row, City finally managed to progress to the 2nd Round last season, where Birmingham City halted the Imps' cup run with a 3-1 victory at St Andrews.

The Imps were drawn to face local side, Sheffield United in the first round of the League Cup, known as the Worthington Cup at this stage. The first leg went horribly for the Imps as they crashed out 6-1 in front of little over 4,000 at Brammel Lane. Paul Smith got the Imps consolation.

The crowd at Sincil Bank was little over 1,000 and the slight majority of the crowd went home slightly pleased after Marcus Stergiopolous scored the only goal to give the Imps a 1-0 win but a 6-2 defeat on aggregate meant that City's interest in the competition, was well and truly thumped out of them

City had been handed another local derby, this time in the form of Grimsby Town and the game was slightly more even than the Sheffield United. City took just over 1,000 fans to Blundell Park and were the first fans cheering after Tony Battersby had given the Imps a 34th minute lead.

City managed to hold on to that lead until the 74th minute before Phil Jevons hammered the ball home from close range. It looked as though the tie was destined for extra time but Jonny Rowan gave the Mariners the win, in the 4th minute of injury time.

Grimsby went on to face Liverpool in the next round and even won 2-1.

City had been handed what appeared to be an interesting tie against Stockport County, who had just been relegated to the old Division 2 after an embarasing season. City fans were relatively confident after an excellent start to the season which saw the Imps sit 4th in the table, after 4 wins in the first 7 games.

However, it didn't go quite according to plan. Carlton Palmer gave County a 1-0 lead midway through the first half through a close range effort before Luke Beckett doubled the lead with an excellent chip in the 2nd half. Adie Mike's excellent effort got City back into the tie and within 2 minutes of that goal, the ball was in the back of the net again but Scott Willis's header was ruled out for offside.

Just as it looked as though City would get back into the tie, Stockport scored again in the 83rd minute through Rob Clare.

For the second year in a row, we had been drawn to play Stockport at home in the first round. This game was far different from the 2002/3 game.

City controlled the game and should have gone 3-0 up before half time, however, the wasted efforts were punished with 3 minutes left to go. A goalmouth scramble resulted in Stuart Barlow getting the ball in the net to give Stockport a very undeserved win.

City were the first name out of the hat this season, and the second were local side, and Championship side, Derby County. The game was pretty even up until the 30th minute when a foul on Peschisolido (sp) by Blackwood resulted in a free kick. Idiakez stepped up and curled the ball into the net.

City looked down and out until an apparantly controversial moment with 10 minutes to go, gave the Imps a chance back in. Blackwood had put the ball into the box and it had struck Idiakez's hand which was against his chest. A lot of critics had said that he hand was there because he hand a bandage around his hand. That's funny considering his hand was at his side when the ball came in and he moved his body into the ball. Gary Taylor-Fletcher stepped up to score the penalty.

Within 2 minutes, City had taken the lead. Green sent in a deep cross which Yeo slid and coverted at the far post. McCombe made it 3-1 with only a few minutes left after he slotted home from good work from Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

So City were through to the second round for the first time in 8 years and who did we get? It was only Premiership side, Birmingham City, AWAY.

City more than matched the Premiership side until the hour mark but all that hard work came undone after good work let the ball fall to Jesper Gronjkaer who's volley flew past Marriott. It was 2-0 within a few minutes after Morgan and Marriott had both tried, and failed to sheppard the ball out. However, a Birmingham player soon nipped in and slid the ball along the box where Julian Gray was waiting to tap it in.

It was 3-0 minutes later after Morgan had fouled Yorke. Robbie Savage converted the penalty. City did get a consolation though when Simon Yeo stepped up to the penalty spot after being "fouled" by Mario Melchoit and he slotted home to give the Imps the goal they deserved. It was also very pleasing to see that only 4 teams in the Premiership last season, took more fans to Birmingham than "little" Lincoln City did.