The Imps pulled off a massive result today over relegation rivals Stockport County, thanks to an Ashley Grimes Hat trick against the hapless hatters defence. They needed his three and Adam Watts who got one at each end as the Imps held on to pull off a precious 4-3 win.
The Teams & Schemes
The Hatters Go 4-5-1
1 Glennon
17 Halls 6 Assoumani 26 Grieve 7 Vincent
4 Turnbull 8 Tansey 14 Poole
11 Demontagnac (Yellow) 12 Griffin
9 Elding
subs
2 Lynch 3 Williams 15 Mainwaring 16 Pilkington 19 Fisher 20 Rose 25 Ormson
The Imps Go 4-4-2
24 Carson
16 Kelly 4 Watts 6 Hone 23 Hunt
7 Carayol 14 O'Keef (Yellow) 15 Howell 9 McCallum
29 Grimes 18 Facey
Subs
20 Musselwhite 2 Green, 5 Swaibu, 10 Broughton, 11 Kerr Yellow, 17 Jarrett, 27 Hutchinson.
But To The Game Fellow Footy Fans to the game…………………
Two tribes went to war throwing caution to the wind on a Cheshire battlefield not out of place at the Somme. Certainly the skills of the artizans might be found wanting but when it comes to entertainment these two desperate relegation duelists delivered it with aplomb. From the opening exchanges all in attendance felt that attack would be the only form of defence that counted. A fantastic opening goal on 5 minutes saw Facey flick on to Grimes who coolly chipped a twenty yarder just inside the left hand post.
Any confidence drained from Stockport like a Hatter who has mixed his best single malt with his bottle of mercury. madness indeed as Stockport showed why they are where they are with an appalling illustration of how not to pass before Elding conjured a great cross that was saved by Carson. Winger Carayol then went down holding his hamstring to end his lack of contribution for the Imps and was replaced by Kerr as the Imps moved to a central midfield trio. Scotty for all his sins would then play a Captain's game.
Cruncher Kerr began as he would have wanted proving a psycological point, but with an adverse affect. His first contribution was a needless free kick for a niggly challenge that is typical of him and O’Keefe. Tansey duly executed a decent free kick that Carson could only parry, allowing Griffin to pounce for the equaliser. Given the Imps plight you would have expected the statues in our defence to have at least tried to react faster than they did. But 1-1 it was and the ascendancy was with the now vociferously backed hosts.
Hone and Hunt then failed to clear allowing Elding to waste a wonderful opportunity. Grimes was then denied a second by a wonderful save at the expense of a corner. A fabulous saving challenging from Kelly following that Imps corner denied County a second as they cut our midfield motorway asunder. Just as the half looked to end honours Stockport gave away a free kick, Hone headed the ball back to Watt who bundled the ball inside the far post.
The second half seemed to be a subdued affair until the hour mark. McCallum then showed his ability out muscling two men superbly to tee up Grimes who duly completed his brace form a couple of yards. Just as you felt we would close out the game David Poole turned inside and fired home a smart drive from just inside the box. Quiet what Hone was up to who knows.
Fortunately an immediate response from the Imps saw Howell charge forward, Glennon parried only for man of the match Ashley Grimes to complete his hat trick. McCallum then fed Grimes again but his snapshot went wide. McCallum himself then had an optimistic drive that looked good for the cameras but was never going to trouble a statistician whose pencil was growing shorter by the minute.
Hunt was then beaten all ends up by Demontagnac who cut inside and delivered a cross that Watts headed down into his own net 4-3 and game on. The Imps then got out of jail went Howells tackled Elding superbly and just in the nick of time. Facey scored but was deemed offside and then put one inches wide as the 4th official signalled an interminably long 5 minutes of injury time.
With Hereford not playing and Barnet drawing the Imps are bottom but just two points from safety. Significantly they have 1 game in hand over Hereford in 23rd (level on points), 5games on Stockport and 4 games on Barnet who are both tied on 24 points (two ahead of the Imps)
Stockport 3 - 4 Lincoln City HT 1-2
Scorers
Stockport Griffin 25 Poole 63 Watts og 74
Lincoln Grimes 5, 60 & 65 Watts 45+3
Attendance 4,348
Ref: Steve Rushton
Match Stats
Possession Stockport 45% Lincoln City 55%
Shots on target Stockport 3 Lincoln City 5
Shots off target Stockport 3 Lincoln City 6
Saves Stockport 3 Lincoln City 3
Corners Stockport 2 Lincoln City 2
Fouls Stockport 14 Lincoln City 10
Yellows Stockport 1 Lincoln City 2