What a contrast in the two fixtures Lincoln were involved in over the Easter bank holiday weekend. On Saturday the Imps travelled to Stockport, and at Stockport the travelling fans saw a performance that made virtually everyone fear that we would be going down. We were soundly beaten by four goals to nil. The four goals came from firstly Hattersley in the sixth minute, followed by two goals from Rowe in the 11th and 55th Minutes before the final goal was scored by Darkwah in the final minutes of the game.
This game saw Lincoln play the same back line as they had since Miller had signed, but where as the previous four games had seen us appear tough to beat it was all too easy for Stockport and they tore us apart. It was worryingly that we appeared to have reverted to our previous defensive short comings of gifting opposing players easy chances. This side had Nicolau and Sheridan in the wide midfield areas, both are hard workers who support their full backs but lack the creativity to really pose a consistent threat going forward. Laurent began the game alongside Jefferson Louis in attack, but had a terrible and rather hopeless first half. He was subsequently replaced at half time by McCammon.
The Stockport match was one to forget, fears of relegation rose again following this limp and lifeless display from the imps. 279 imps fans travelled and were not rewarded at all once again for their on going loyalty and support.
Thankfully the Easter Monday fixture at Sincil bank was a far better affair, the imps running out easy five goal winners over Darlington who are now doomed to relegation from the Conference Premier. This game saw a stark contrast to the match just two days previous. Lincoln were four nil up by half time and Darlington had had Paul Johnson sent off just before half time. Both Danny Lloyd and Jefferson Louis scored two goals a piece with Jamie Taylor scoring the other goal.
The imps were good for their goals and Taylor will be disappointed to not have added to his solitary strike in this match. For this match the imps began with Bore and Lloyd in the wide areas, I feel that both of these players give the side a far more attacking intent and also give natural width and can stretch the opposition defences and both wingers are more then capable of going round the outside of fullbacks and getting crosses into the box.
This superb performance has given the fans the chance to forget about the Stockport debacle and hope that it was a one off. The side has certainly become stronger over the past five or six matches, Saturday aside, and the signs of improvement are definitely something for us fans to grasp hold of in the hope that next season we will be up in the right end of the league table.
The imps take on Fleetwood this Friday evening live on Premier Sports, if anywhere has it. This will be a very very hard game for the imps and I don't think any but the eternal optimists are expecting anything but defeat. It will be good to see just how far behind we are a side that is challenging to get back into the football league.
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