Skin of Our Teeth: Imps 3-2 Plymouth Argyle

August 17, 2025 Gary Lincoln City, Matches, Reports 2

Into the second half, and it’s like trying to unpack two suitace of duty free and the washing from a six month holiday – there is so much I’m not sure I’ll get it all covered. What I will say is anyone looking to say Lincoln City does not entertain them is clearly deluded, because we were on the front foot, aggressive, and then decided to add some real drama by folding like a poker player with off-suit seven and two in the pocket.

It started slow enough. Draper’s strike was blocked at one end before Amaechi curled narrowly wide at the other, but it felt like a tinder box, a firework with the fuse barely lit. Plymouth made four changes, a few tasty tackles went in, and then the gunpowder ignited as a rampant explosion in the warm afternoon.

With almost an hour played, the impressive Hackett won possession and floated a cross to Street, whose header was brilliantly saved by Joseph Ashby-Hammond. Obviously, the eternal poacher James Collins reacted quickest to the rebound, slotting home from close range to double the lead. It got him off the mark again, and with there being just one season since 2013/14 that he hasn’t hit double figures, it was a tasty start with plenty more to come.

He wasn’t done yet. After an innocuous-looking ball was bundled out of play, referee Carl Brook signalled for a penalty. It caught a lot of us in Upper 3 by surprise, but on the highlights, there is a clear shout for handball. Was it a penalty? Probably, yes, but it still came as a surprise. Wiredu didn’t think so, and as he discussed it along with his teammates, Rob Street held on to the ball. I thought there might be a disagreement as to who was on pens, but no, Street was just taking the heat out of the situation. He passed it to Collins, and that was that.

Almost immediately, Collins came off. On a hattrick, yes, but also likely to start on Tuesday, his legs need looking after. Ben House came on, committed a foul with his first touch, then almost made it four. Ring and Hamilton replaced Hackett and Draper, and that’s where things went awry. Draper, by the way, was excellent and a worthy candidate for Man of the Match. Erik Ring was not. Half fit? At best.

Argyle refused to go quietly, unlike 300 or so of their fans who decided the five-hour journey home would be best started at half four. They missed an incredible 15 minutes or so, which started with three bookings. Wiredu and Street both got cautioned for pulling in the area, but in truth, it had happened at every corner. Street’s shirt must be valuable as a couple of their players wanted it from his back, but without rose-tinted glasses, it went both ways. Bradley Ibrahim had been booked for a stupid nudge off the ball in the first half, and as a shock to nobody, seconds after the double booking, Ben House got one for a similar offence. There was an undercurrent bubbling, and at 3-0 I didn’t feel comfortable.

With 12 minutes left, the impressive Amaechi slipped Oseni through on goal, and the substitute coolly finished to reduce the deficit. Seconds later, Amaechi found the net himself with a fine curling strike, sparking late nerves around the stadium. If I thought 3-0 was nervy, at 3-2, I was terrified. Does anyone remember Ilias Chair and Stevenage? I could see that happening all over again.

Now, I don’t want to pick the goals apart too much, but the first came from a really poor touch by Ring. He’d also executed a pass really badly, which would have released Street for our fourth, and he looked miles off the pace. I strongly suspect he was carrying a knock. Our entire game is based on high energy, pressing and work ethic, and when one player isn’t on board, things look really dodgy. I’m not purely blaming Erik for the collapse, but he definitely played a part.

Their second was a quality finish, and while Plymouth fans think they’re in serious trouble, if they keep Amaechi fit and firing, they’ll be happily midtable.

Then, the turning point. Argyle pressed for an equaliser I felt was coming, but their momentum was halted when Wiredu went down in the area. At the time, I thought a penalty. I’ve watched it back, and from the angle, I still think penalty. If there were a different angle, it might show Hamilton (I think) winning the ball, and so I could be persuaded otherwise. What I cannot be persuaded on is the second yellow for Wiredu for simulation. I could argue for and against a penalty, but he’s gone down because of contact; the question is whether Hamilton touches the ball. However, in a tetchy game of niggly fouls, pulling, pushing and green shirts surrounding the referee, it felt like maybe the game had contributed to the official’s decision.

Reduced to ten men, Plymouth’s resistance faded, and City saw out the final moments to claim three points. Nervy? Absolutely. Deserved? Well, we scored three and they scored two, so yes. xG (2000 words in) 2.42 to us and 1.30 for them, so yes, deserved. 2-1 may be a fairer score, but we had plenty of chances. We had more shots on target (eight compared to four) and more big chances (three compared to one), so while we were hanging on, we were doing so to claim three points, our performance justified.

Still, we’re bare bones. Reports of Francis Okoronkwo being in the stands helped; a striker from Everton, I’d imagine, would be coming in to cover the wide areas. We’re still crying out for a left back, Towler doing a good job of filling in, but it’s clear he’s more a a centre back. In midfield, I actually think we looked okay without Erhahon, and whoever comes in will have a job pushing McGrandles and Bayliss out. That said, with Okewoye and Carlisle on the bench, we’re clearly in real need of numbers. We know it, the club know it, and work is being put in.

Whatever happens, I think it is safe to say the first two weeks of the season have been promising. We know there is work to be done, we know we’re short, but in patches, we look really good. In 2022/2,3 we were in a similar position, eager for signings (Diamond and Virtue came in close to deadline day) but our league form suffered because of it – three draws from Exeter, Portsmouth and Forest Green. This time, needing reinforcements, we’ve beaten two decent sides in Reading and Plymouth, neither of whom will be bottom four, and could have argued a case for a point if we’d stayed 11 v 11 in London.

For half a squad, I’ll take that, even if three of those points came by us hanging on for dear life for 15 minutes.

For me, the result was tinged with sadness. Walking back up Broadgate alone, nobody to chew over the game with, was just weird. I’ve been to games without Dad, but knowing he wouldn’t be there again, arguing, sullen, delighted, or celebrating, was tough. I am lucky in that I went straight to Wragby and sat by his bedside, telling him all about the game, but I know that is a luxury I will only enjoy for a limited time.

On Tuesday, I shall take a laptop to his house and we can sit and watch the Northampton game together, where hopefully, he can enjoy our first away win of the season and, hopefully, not his last.

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1 Comment

  1. Sorry to read about your Dad’s health Gary. He’ll really appreciate your bedside match reports I’m sure. UTI

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