Cod Almighty | Match Stats

Saturday 29 August 2015

Conference Premier

Lincoln City 1

Grimsby Town 1

Attendance: 5848

Hey, there’s no-one to criticise and many to laud (judgment deferred on Gowling). Robertson and East were staunch and unflustered fellows on the flanks, while Amond and Bogle were tireless. But the fulcrum of the team was the leader, the organiser, the head and shoulders of everything: Mr Craig Disley.

One team existed on that pitch. One football team was on that pitch. One professional football team was on the pitch. Town overwhelmed these very limp Imps from the off and only Bradley Wood saved them. The post Gowling hour saw Town continue to dominate. They didn’t give up – esprit de corps.

Not worth dignifying them with analysis. They never change. It may have been hot in the city, but for all their dreams and schemes Lincoln are as they always seem to be. Without Hearn the Hunter they have laughable strikers. Without Wood they’d have a completely useless defence. A mid-table annoyance at best if Hearn remains injured. He may keep them up this year if that’s all they have. Changing yet changeless as canal water, armoured and effete. They never change. What a bunch of steampunks.

Just about stayed sane enough to remain in the ground and create a wall of sound.

Mr S Bennett (Staffs)

If Gowling did touch Rhead at chest/head level then the referee can’t be expected to ignore it when he was staring at it from five yards away; we’d go bananas if it were the other way round. It’s all about trust, and he didn’t accumulate much in his performance before and after as Rhead had spent the game, and the immediate run up to the incident, wrestling, pulling, pushing and fouling Gowling. Town tended to get free kicks in soft, non-threatening times and positions. Shall we say 5.878. No bonus or penalty points for the penalty, but generally swayed on the side of caution and didn’t disfavour the home team.

By crook and by hook goals were scored. Impish incompetence, Townish tenacity.

In a word: febrile