Feet on the ground: Imps 2-1 MK Dons

Usually at this point I say something like; ‘we came out far stronger in the second half’ or ‘the visitors seized the initiative after the break’, but the truth was it was just end to end once again. Not in a thrilling, chance after chance way, but in an equally matched teams looking for an opening way. Usually, if you’re 0-0 at home the crowd get a bit edgy, but Danny’s press conference certainly helped the 8900 or so home fans remain in good voice. 

Maybe they could have snatched something on 54 minutes with an Alex Gilbey effort across goal. Perhaps we should have scored from John Akinde’s 60th minute header. It was engrossing, absorbing and for a short while. MK made a couple of changes which helped them in the short-term Jason Shackell put in a huge tackle on Aneke just past the hour, before John Akinde had an effort deflected wide two minutes later. It was becoming end to end and it was nail-biting stuff too. I thought one goal might win it and on 64 minutes, a goal came.

Considering the balance of play, the goal itself came from nothing. A big boot over the top caught us out and the sub Healey slotted it home. It felt like a sucker punch, like a blow below the belt. These two teams had played some great football and yet it was a big punt that opened the scoring. It was a goal that, last season certainly, we would have been proud of ourselves.

For a second, just a split second, my heart sank. We’d matched the visitors, perhaps been a shade better, but what lay in store for us? Paul Tisdale’s teams are always well organised and in Moore-Taylor they had a player epitomised that desire. They had defended resolutely and in numbers and despite our fans cheering as loud as the visitors, trying to egg on the team, it felt like a pin had been pushed into our hopes. For a split second.

Then I heard the growl of four Rolls Royce Merlin engines, right on cue. The Lancaster Bomber, a symbol of Lincolnshire and of our heritage, provided a fly past.

Then I heard the growl of four Rolls Royce Merlin engines, right on cue. The Lancaster Bomber, a symbol of Lincolnshire and of our heritage, provided a fly past. The whole stadium erupted, Yes, we were 1-0 down, but we’re Lincoln City, not the Lincoln of old, not the side that go 1-0 down and crumble. This is Danny and Nicky’s Lincoln City, this is the new Red Imps that never say die and in one fly past, everything seemed to lift once more. I’m sure the performance would have been the same had it not happened, but as a supporter it was a massive moment. To be honest, it was a little moving.

Akinde immediately volleyed wide, Eardley smashed a drive over the bar and Dean Lewington had to resort to another of those ‘clever’ fouls to stop Big John surging away once more. It was ten minutes of belief, Lincoln looking for an opening. We saw Matt Green warming up as in the aftermath of Lewington’s foul the ball drifted across. Instead of heading for goal, Big John nodded it smartly to Shay McCartan who smashed a goal of real quality into the top corner. I’ve seen those go all over, high, wide, not very handsome and I think one even landed in my back garden once, but this time it tore into the back of the net. Only one team was ever going to win at that point. Sorry MK Dons, but today you were the supporting role. 

They didn’t give up though, only a linesman’s flag prevented them taking a 2-1 lead and full credit to their management, they didn’t time waste or game manage, they wanted the win as much as we did. 20% of the season gone, did Tis think he needed the win? Maybe. They ensured it was a competitive and energetic game right into the final minutes. 

Our first booking came on 87 minutes, not long after MK Dons’ got their fifth. Strong referees? All for it mate.

Those words, ‘final minutes’ never used to mean much to Lincoln fans. It was usually the time to get out early, knowing that the game was over. I can’t remember how many times BC (before Cowley) I used to sit with my head in my hands, knowing that hope had gone around 82 or 83 minutes. By 85 we’d be going through the motions. Not now though. We don’t just play to the final whistle, we seem to gain strength from the closing moments. There’s a belief we will pull something out of the bag. Today, Sincil Bank fizzed with belief. It was almost visible, bouncing from fan to fan player to player. Today, we were going to with. It was for Tim Smith, the brave man who led the teams out prior to the game. It was written in the stars, I could hear it on the roar of the Lancaster engines. We were going to win. 

And we did. 

Those final few minutes saw almost 9000 home fans pushing the ball into the net, or those behind the goal sucking it in. Of course, it needs someone to actually put it home and with what was the first decent set piece of the afternoon, Jason Shackell gave us the win. Textbook Lincoln, a set piece delivery that evaded the grasp of the keeper and ended up in the back of the net. Luke Waterfall did it, Sean Raggett did it, Bozzy has, Wharton has, hell even James Wilson got one that way too. This time it was out captain for the day who lifted the lid on a charged afternoon. 2-1 with virtually the final touch of the game.

 I love a trick, a well placed one I mean, not a fanciful and decadent trick, one that has a purpose and end product. I want a player to get me off my arse in anticipation and expectation.

Did we deserve it? I think we edged what as a very good and competitive game of football, played in the right spirit by two teams who will almost certainly be involved in the top seven for a majority of the season. I thought to a man we were excellent, there wasn’t one who let us down. Akinde was excellent, a little eager towards the end to hang on to the ball but certainly a handful. Shackell and Bozzy were excellent again too and the full backs provided some good support. Tom Pett was hugely influential in the middle of the park and his drive and endeavour kept us going all afternoon, as did that of Shay McCartan. Michael O’Connor was full of hard work and Harry Anderson was a constant threat too. In goal, Josh Vickers did what he had to do when called upon.

I know what you’re thinking, there’s one player I haven’t mentioned. I’m going to end my piece today by talking up the qualities of Bruno Andrade. I may be biased, I’m a fan of wingers, players who get beyond full backs, players who drive at goal whenever they can. I love a trick, a well placed one I mean, not a fanciful and decadent trick, one that has a purpose and end product. I want a player to get me off my arse in anticipation and expectation. That is Bruno Andrade all over. He was my Man of the Match today on an afternoon where six or seven had a decent shout at getting it. 

So there we go. We’ve beaten a very good side 2-1, we’ve had a spine-tingling afternoon which was a credit to League Two football. It is one win, nothing more and nothing less, but right now, typing this, it feels every bit as good as the day we beat FGR 3-2, or the evening after we beat Torquay 2-1. The difference is we played well throughout the game and I don’t think we’re anywhere near our best yet. 

Frightening really.