Carlisle (A)-
After picking up three very valuable points in Friday’s pulsating encounter at home against Exeter, the Imps were on the road for a 350+ mile round trip to Cumbria where they would face off against in-form Carlisle.
City were enjoying a purple patch of their own since the two crushing defeats in mid-February and after an unbeaten March headed into the penultimate month of the season in fine fashion. This also meant that an unchanged side was to start Easter Monday’s game against a side who had been in fine shape ahead of a play-off push as the outsiders, meaning any slip-up may cost them especially at this time of the campaign.
618 visiting fans braved the conditions to make the trip and City wanted to reward them for their travels early on, when the combination of Rhead, Habergham and Frecklington produced an opportunity that the latter fired ferociously towards the bottom-right hand corner that an outstretched Bonham tipped clear.
The hosts looked to get on the front foot after that early wake up call and a Hope flick on was easily cleared by a combination of Bostwick and Wharton, and it was the latter who almost put City in-front after being unmarked from a Habergham set-piece but couldn’t find the target. Action was high at both ends but was yet to reach the heights of Friday’s five goal thriller just yet.
Matt Green’s effort seemed a wake-up call to the hosts after a few minutes with not much action and their response was a corner off the training ground which saw Devitt find space to fire to the left of Allsop but not enough to force the on-loan keeper into any danger although he had to be alert to palm the ball clear.
The small spell of pressure almost resulted in an Imps goal on the break with a Frecklington ball into the path Eardley whose cross was flicked onto Rowe but his swivel couldn’t provide the appropriate finish for a free-flowing move. A defence that had held firm so far kept out efforts from Devitt in the Cumbrians best opening of the half but the ball was wide of the mark. The Imps were thankful that Carlisle hadn’t punished them with their efforts in the first period and went behind from a carbon copy goal from Friday’s victory, again Eardley turned provided as he caught Carlisle napping to thread in Green as he timed his run to perfection and fire into the far corner.
It was a dagger blow to the Cumbrians who had been right in the contest but found themselves behind to a free-kick that will certainly aggravate Keith Curle but at the break the advantage was most certainly in Lincoln’s hands. The tide turned after the break as Lincoln got themselves on top and almost doubled their advantage when Eardley whipped in an inviting ball over all those in blue to the back post but Rhead was unable to direct enough power and precision behind his header.
The Cumbrians had a certain route back into the game when they were awarded a penalty only for a heated discussion between the referee and the linesman, instead awarded the Imps a free-kick. By this time the Imps had begun to shut up shop with Stockton trying one last effort in the ninety to force a point. Even six added minutes, much of that spent down towards the corner flag, couldn’t deny City a huge victory that put them sixth and with two of the current top three still to play, victories like this were absolutely vital.
Attention then shifted to a little game at Wembley. Hopefully though, a second trip to Wembley may be on the cards at the end of May in the play-offs and only when the seasons out we will begin to know the extent of two huge victories against play-off chasing sides. It begs the question; “Can Lincoln secure back to back promotions?”
