I felt half time would give MA the chance to shake things up. The structure of the game was crying out for John Akinde and in the past, our manager has been able to inject new life into the side at the break. With us already being 1-0 up, it felt like we’d go on and make the game a formality.
Now, before I continue, let me mention the curse of the Stacey West. What usually happens is I call out a player for being below par on the preview pod and he later scores against us. Mikel Mandron is the obvious one but there have been others. It struck again last night. I called Ronan Darcy inadequate for this level and yet he was their Man of the Match, grabbing a wonder goal in the process.
Was his strike the pick of all six on the night? I’d say so, a superbly struck shot with just enough lift to ensure it hit the back of the net. It was a real shock, a goal out of nothing that sparked a frenzy in the away end. Their fans got their backs up and for a short period, we looked vulnerable. Bolton might not be right up there, but they’ve got enough experience and quality in certain areas to at least cause sides a problem. They’ve got a mistake in them and you always felt we’d get chances, but for a short while, I confess to being worried. I mentioned to my mate Matt that I felt we could lose the game; he agreed.
It took fifteen minutes of nervousness before we were back ahead and when it came, the source was not surprising. walker had already had one disallowed when he lashed home a wonderful strike from the edge of the area to restore the lead. It came only seconds after Big John came on and I think he turned the game. I expected him on 45, he came on around 59 and one minute later we’re ahead.
Still Bolton didn’t relent and Darcy was the source of real worry. He’s got quite a delivery on him, curling corner after corner right under the crossbar. 2-2 was not unlikely as he teased those balls in and it took stoic defending from the red shirts to ensure we kept our lead. Luckily, he only seemed to be able to do it from the left and when they got one from the right, it wasn’t as dangerous. It did lead to a chance though and it wasn’t their only chance of the game either, a couple of long-range efforts went over and wide. I know Bolton fans think they’re poor and they’re not world-beaters, but I’ve seen worse at the Bank this season (Bristol Rovers, Accrington, Southend and perhaps even Tranmere).
We began to move forward as fatigue set in for the away side and only a brilliant display by former Shrewsbury man Toto Nsiala kept us at bay. Jorge Grant had a couple of chances which were woeful, one went out for a throw the other a brilliant opportunity which he scooped over. Don’t let that fool you though; Grant was excellent again all evening and I still feel he’s the most improved of the old players under the new manager.
One thing I did notice was Cian Bolger getting angry with the home crowd. We looked to play out from the back and I didn’t feel we did it badly at all. However, at one stage him and Shackell went short and the crowd immediately turned on them. As they moved away a cheer went up and Cian seemed to gesture to the home fans. I don’t blame him personally; he’s told to do a job and he does it. He was excellent all night and neither him, Josh Vickers nor Jason Shackell deserves to be barracked for doing as they’re told. Football fans think they know best because they watch one game a week, but really we don’t. I wouldn’t expect Cian Bolger to message me suggesting words I could have used instead of ‘debacle’ after the Sunderland game, nor would I expect Jason Shackell to follow Tom the Postman around his patch saying: ‘you don’t wanna do it like that, you wanna do it like this’, all the while.
That aside, we began to assert real dominance. Joe Morrell had a chance or two, Harry Anderson caused problems incessantly and Big John missed his usual sitter as well. At 2-1 you felt maybe they could break and get a good chance, but everything began to flow our way. After knocking on the door from 70 to 85 minutes, we finally gave up and just blew the whole bloody defence down.
It’s not often you see three goals in such quick succession but Bolton folded like a napkin as soon as the third went in. I felt a bit for them, they clearly lack confidence and after getting back in the game they fought bravely, but in the end, the better side triumphed with ease. Joe Morrell, my Man of the Match, had another surging run into the area and put the ball away to settle things. We’d barely put out bums back on our seats before Big John did something we know he can do; finished with the confidence of a 20-goal a season striker. In this goal, credit Tyler Walker who made a super run which drew the defenders with him, leaving John free to stride to the left of the area and stroke the ball home. The dejection was clear across the Bolton back line and even with four minutes left the score could have been anything.
It was nice to see a great 24 hours for Aaron Lewis capped off with an assist. He came on for his Lincoln league debut, got forward and crossed with his first touch to set up John’s second and all after signing an 18-month deal with the club. I have a feeling Lewis will be a favourite here, not least because of his backstory. Playing for free, remaining focused and not chasing the money mark him out as different and fans respect that.
I confess, with an hour to drive home and an article I intended to write I was out of the ground just as the final whistle went. I didn’t see Harry Toffolo give his shirt to fans and applaud the crowd and that stings me a bit, but serves me right. I heard thanks to Rob Makepeace on the radio and immediately the euphoria at such a strong win was dampened. I know no club is dependent on one player and I know Toff deserves every success in his career, but losing him is a huge blow on and off the field. Up until now, he’s been my Player of the Season and his work off the field is unmatched. If he does go, he’ll be sorely missed and I think it’s safe to say whatever his destination, he goes with the best wishes of fans.
If that wasn’t a kick in the balls, I then hear Michael O’Connor is definitely going to Salford. It’s like being given a bag of sweets, but as you open it up the person who gave it to you throws in a handful of brass tacks. This article is just me gently picking out the good sweets and trying to ignore the obvious negatives in the bag.
On the game, it was an assured performance in the end, but if we’d been playing a decent side, say Blackpool, I feel one or two of our mistakes would have been punished. That said, I do feel that it gives the likes of Conor Coventry and Zack Elbouzedi a bit more experience without the pressure of a narrow game. Big John changed the complexion of our attack and proved, for me, why he shouldn’t be sold this transfer window. There are no contract negotiations to make, no pressing need to move him on and he offers something different to Walker and John-Jules. No, John Akinde should remain a Lincoln player and continue to delight and frustrate in equal measure.
It’s not often we’ve seen Lincoln score 12 goals in three home matches. Without context, a run of Ipswich, Peterborough and Bolton would seem very tough, although perhaps the Trotters plight made last night a little more straightforward. Let’s not take anything away from the lads though, they were in a tough game last night against some good professionals, as well as the likes of Darcy and Politic who will play at a higher level. We did the job, got the goals to move onto a positive goal difference and took another big step towards our ultimate goal of League One football next season.
Now, bring on the Tangerines.
I agree it was a funny evening – a decent performance on the pitch and a great result – but a feeling that we had lost one member of the great team and others will follow.
But I managed to realise just where LCFC is at this moment and where it needs to stay. We need to be financially sound – we don’t want to be a Bolton or a Bury – so we do have to have a greater income from player sales than we spend on new players. So when we have significant assets that are going to lose value over the next 6 months (end of player contracts) we have to take that cash whilst it is there. It is that money that will run the football club in 2020-21.
We have established the academy to create quality football players, both schoolboys and transfer players from lower leagues – this is how we will survive and prosper.
Manager and Directors all recognise this and are pulling together. I am sure it will work and I am betting the Imps will be in the Championship in the 2022-23 season, if not before!
First time in my life I was heading home after the game that my team had won sad. Well, lets say half sad. Odd feeling…
To be honest if anybody deserves move to a bigger club / higher league to get better money it is Toff. Role model on and off the pitch. Massive loss , bigger than Bruno. Shame we can’t keep our best players but hey, only few clubs in the world can do that…
Atmosphere was flat like never and even 617 lads weren’t on it for some reason.
Big respect for Bolton fans as they are where they are and still turned up in big numbers on Tuesday night.
Main positive from last night ? Three points…
Why is it my mate and I, heading for the boozer after Bolton match, were “relieved” rather than “in high spirits” at the Imps 5-1 win? My mate reckons it’s because we never know from one match to the next whether we are going to witness a fine Imps performance or a lacklustre miserable giveaway, irrespective of who we are playing. At the beginning of the second half we all thought the worst. Then the Imps turned it on for the last 20 or so minutes. “Consisitency”? What’s that? Never a dull moment at Sincil Bank. Having said that I am really looking forward to see what MA produces.