Sloppy Imps left with it all to do

By theimps.tk
May 13 2006

Despite being sloppy, City controlled the game against Grimsby but still came out with a 1-0 defeat after a Jones open goal. City had 2 goals disallowed before Jones scored one of Grimsby's few chances of target but with the Imps poor away record, Grimsby have more than 1 foot in the final

City kicked off the game but were quickly on the back foot as the visitors won a corner after a good Beevers tackle. The ball came in and after a bit of a scramble, the Imps managed to get it up the other end of the pitch, however, it quickly came back and the visitors had another corner. It was hooked in but Whittle fouled Marriott and City won a free kick.

 

City won a free kick in the 6^th minute when Green took a clear dive. Forrester, Brown, Hughes and Kerr all stood over the ball before Forrester eventually hit the free kick. It hit the wall and fell to McAuley, his cross went out for a corner. Hughes hit the corner in but it went over EVERYONE and out for a throw in.

 

Hughes was at the centre of the attack again when he burst down the left and sent in a cross, however, Marvin Robinson’s header lacked power and it was an easy catch for Mildenhall. 14 minutes had gone when the Imps created another chance when Forrester latched onto Kerr’s through ball, however, with Green and Robinson charging forward, Forrester decided to be selfish and try for himself from an unrealistic angle and it hit Whittle and was cleared.

 

Minutes later, the Imps won a corner, Hughes swung it in and Jamie McCombe rose and nodded the ball between Mildenhall’s legs and into the net, however, it was quickly ruled out for a foul that only the referee appeared to see and even Sky replays didn’t indicate what was wrong with the challenge. Grimsby legend, John McDermott then went off due to injury and he was replaced by Gary Croft.

 

City had another goal disallowed on 20 minutes although this one was obvious as Forrester’s shot was deflected into the path of Robinson and the striker struck home from a position that was at least 5 yards offside. Then the predictable happened. After failing to deal with a corner, a scramble eventually saw Grimsby play the ball out left where Woodhouse played the ball square and found Gary Jones who had an open goal to aim into and it was 1-0 to the Mariners with their first meaningful shot on goal.

 

City won a corner quickly but unsurprisingly, it came to nothing and after the ball was cleared. Woodhouse was booked after raising his hands at Scott Kerr. The game slowed right down, not helped by Mildenhall taking 45 seconds to take each goal kick (you can check the timers if you don’t believe me). City won another free kick about 25 yards out and Hughes took it and despite it appearing to go wide, Mildenhall palmed it and it almost landed at the feet of Forrester but instead fell to the visitors.

 

Robinson was lucky to avoid a possible red card as he appeared to throw a fist at Mildenhall whilst in the air but the referee decided to award just a free kick. Lee Beevers almost gave City an equaliser when Grimsby cleared a corner straight to him, Beevers’ first time bullet was heading in before an excellent save from Mildenhall.

 

Another crap corner from Scott Kerr (said whilst trying not to sound surprised) was headed wide by McCombe who tried desperately to try and keep Kerr’s rubbish delivery in play. City won a free kick in injury time but McCombe’s header went wide. The half time whistle went and despite controlling most of the half, the Imps found themselves behind.

 

Grimsby could and probably should have doubled their lead early on in the second half when Paul Bolland picked up the ball 30 yards outside of goal and sent a beautiful shot towards the goal but it rebounded off the bar. 6 minutes later and Robinson won the ball on the right before crossing the ball, it almost reached Forrester but the striker seemed to have little interest and Whittle managed to come from behind him and win the ball.

 

Forrester tried his luck from 35 yards soon after but considering he wasn’t even looking at the goal, he hit it well wide of the goal when hooking the ball over his shoulders. Yeo came on for Green and Frecklington replaced Beevers. It was however a long time before the next moment of noteworthy action as Yeo finally got his first touch in the 70^th minute, just under 15 minutes after coming on and he played the ball to Hughes but the defender’s shot went well wide. Michael Reddy replaced Cohen for the visitors.

 

Gary Birch then made his first appearance for a while when he replaced the ineffective Marvin Robinson. City won a free kick but when I tell you Scott Kerr took it, you won’t be surprised when I tell you that it went well over everyone and out for a goal kick. Ciaran Toner then replaced Junior Mendes and the ex-Imp was greeted by mild boos.

 

Futcher was booked for the visitors but Hughes’ free kick proved as useful as a Scott Kerr corner as the Grimsby defence had absolutely no problem in clearing the ball. Parkinson was unlucky not to double the lead for the visitors but luckily for the Imps, his effort went just wide of the post.

 

3 minutes of added on time were indicated and Lee Frecklington’s effort forced a corner. Hughes put in the ball and after 2 failed attempts, Bat Brown headed the ball goalwards but it was cleared off the land before McAuley’s follow up hit the bar and went over before the referee blew his whistle for full time.