Lincoln City look forward to nine games aginst teams out of the play off frame in the run in to the seasons end.
The final game on May 8th against Yeovil is the only fixture against teams currently sat above City, whilst two games in 10 days at Easter against Swansea and Northampton will be crucial in the Imps hunt for a spot in the Play Offs.
Last nights 2-2 draw with Southend left the Imps just one point outside the play off pack, with a game in hand over Yeovil in seventh place.
Citys hunt for that elusive spot has been aided by new signings Kevin Ellison, Kevin Sandwith and Jamie McCombe. McCombe and Ellison both featured in last nights game with Sandwith a late substitute. Their second games in an Imps shirt brought poor first half performances, but they did pick up in the altogether better second half. Ellisons horrendously weak defensive header was intended for Marriott but fell comfortably for Constantine who netted in examplory fashion.
The game didn't fully live up to expectation after the superb 4-1 win over Mansfield on Saturday, but the resilience shown in the second half mirrored their determination from the clash with the Stags. It has been a long time since the last City team who turned bad performances into a result, but the Southend clash proved that that fighting spirit is now there in abundance. Simon Yeo's equalising strike also displayed the quality that runs throughout the side. With players of Yeo's pace on the bench City will always be able to push teams to the wire. This ability to run at teams for a full ninety minutes should prove too much for the teams hunting points to stave of relegation. Macclesfield, Carlisle, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers and Darlington will all be running themselves into the ground in the final push against the drop, but this could lead to spaces and opportunities for the right players to come on and claim glory. Certainly Simon Yeo and Richard Liburd will be important players in those closing moments of any game, possibly aided by the further ariel threat of Jamie McCombe who should take a place on the bench following Simon Weavers rest against Southend.
It is this danger for opponents in the last 15 minutes that will push City to the play off spot they crave. Although the season has been blighted by goals conceded in the last 10 minutes (Cheltenham and Cambridge stand out) its that same precarious period of time that should see City to Cardiff.
A further boost to City will be the return of Richard Butcher scheduled for the April 12th clash at Northampton. If Butch can retain fitness his strength and vision in the midfield will hopefully be the ingredient lacked in the first half of the last two games. Whilst Ben Sedgemore has deputised nicely he has wained in recent weeks and teams have taken advantage of that. Butchers steely resolve and powerful strike will be useful additions to the Imps arsenal.
It would be hard to comment on the side without noting the amazing contribution of the 'Terrifying Trio' of Francis Green, Marcus Richardson and Gary Fletcher. With pace to outrun greyhounds and clinical finishing these three have scored 30 goals between them in a season none of them began at City. With boisterous centre man Marcus Richardsons ability to hold the ball up before releasing the pace of the other two, and Gary Fletchers probing runs with the ball always creating space City have at times looked breathtaking on the attack. With 9 goal Simon Yeo surpassing last seasons total mainly from the bench goals have been in plentiful supply, another crucial component of a succesful season.
The final game on May 8th against Yeovil is the only fixture against teams currently sat above City, whilst two games in 10 days at Easter against Swansea and Northampton will be crucial in the Imps hunt for a spot in the Play Offs.
Last nights 2-2 draw with Southend left the Imps just one point outside the play off pack, with a game in hand over Yeovil in seventh place.
Citys hunt for that elusive spot has been aided by new signings Kevin Ellison, Kevin Sandwith and Jamie McCombe. McCombe and Ellison both featured in last nights game with Sandwith a late substitute. Their second games in an Imps shirt brought poor first half performances, but they did pick up in the altogether better second half. Ellisons horrendously weak defensive header was intended for Marriott but fell comfortably for Constantine who netted in examplory fashion.
The game didn't fully live up to expectation after the superb 4-1 win over Mansfield on Saturday, but the resilience shown in the second half mirrored their determination from the clash with the Stags. It has been a long time since the last City team who turned bad performances into a result, but the Southend clash proved that that fighting spirit is now there in abundance. Simon Yeo's equalising strike also displayed the quality that runs throughout the side. With players of Yeo's pace on the bench City will always be able to push teams to the wire. This ability to run at teams for a full ninety minutes should prove too much for the teams hunting points to stave of relegation. Macclesfield, Carlisle, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers and Darlington will all be running themselves into the ground in the final push against the drop, but this could lead to spaces and opportunities for the right players to come on and claim glory. Certainly Simon Yeo and Richard Liburd will be important players in those closing moments of any game, possibly aided by the further ariel threat of Jamie McCombe who should take a place on the bench following Simon Weavers rest against Southend.
It is this danger for opponents in the last 15 minutes that will push City to the play off spot they crave. Although the season has been blighted by goals conceded in the last 10 minutes (Cheltenham and Cambridge stand out) its that same precarious period of time that should see City to Cardiff.
A further boost to City will be the return of Richard Butcher scheduled for the April 12th clash at Northampton. If Butch can retain fitness his strength and vision in the midfield will hopefully be the ingredient lacked in the first half of the last two games. Whilst Ben Sedgemore has deputised nicely he has wained in recent weeks and teams have taken advantage of that. Butchers steely resolve and powerful strike will be useful additions to the Imps arsenal.
It would be hard to comment on the side without noting the amazing contribution of the 'Terrifying Trio' of Francis Green, Marcus Richardson and Gary Fletcher. With pace to outrun greyhounds and clinical finishing these three have scored 30 goals between them in a season none of them began at City. With boisterous centre man Marcus Richardsons ability to hold the ball up before releasing the pace of the other two, and Gary Fletchers probing runs with the ball always creating space City have at times looked breathtaking on the attack. With 9 goal Simon Yeo surpassing last seasons total mainly from the bench goals have been in plentiful supply, another crucial component of a succesful season.
It certainly looks good for Lincoln heading into the final stretch of the season. Hopefully come May that decision against Huddersfield will be nothing more than an infuriating anecdote from a succesful if not turbulent season.