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Imps out of cup after mixed display
By Nathan Jackson August 14 2007
Lincoln City are yet again out of the Carling Cup at the first round stage after starting well, but eventually collapsing to an impressive Doncaster side by a 4-1 scoreline. The first 20 minutes were a huge improvement on Saturday's defeat to Shrewsbury, but then a lucky Doncaster goal changed the game and they eventually ran comfortably into the 2nd Round of the Cup.

The game started quickly with the hosts having the first chance when Coppinger lobbed over the bar. City had a great chance to take an early lead when the returning Adie Moses chipped the ball to Brown and the defender smashed a volley goalwards, it was unfortunately held by Sullivan. Doncaster won two corners and Marriott was forced into a save from Coppinger's shot.

Dany N'Guessan tried to fool the goalkeeper by shooting from wide out of the right before he won a free kick a minute later. The free kick was floated in but Brown could only head into Sullivan's hands. Paul Green then stopped a Hayter going through one on one with a brilliantly timed tackle 30 yards out.

Mark Wilson had a shot deflected for a corner before Moses blocked a Hayter effort. A few minutes later however and Hayter bundled in an O'Connor cross to give Doncaster a 1-0 lead and you could actually see the motivation slip from several Imps players.

Had to not been for some assured defending from Moses then it would have been two, but the former Huddersfield man blocked an O'Connor shot at close range. N'Guessan tried to shoot from an odd angle again, but Sullivan again easily claimed before Heffernan tested Marriott with a curling shot.

Debuting Ben Wright flashed a header wide of goal from the 6 yard area before Frecklington mirrored that within a few minutes. Amoo, moved into right back and playing quite well, put in a fantastic ball to Forrester, he inturn fed in N'Guessan but the Frenchman could again only find the stands. That was the final action of the first half.

N'Guessan had a great chance to equalise following a clever Wright ball, but his effort with the outside of his right book went agnosingly wide of the post.

Then Doncaster started to boss the game with Woods hitting the bar from 30 yards. Heffernan's header was tipped over the bar and then in the 56th minute Doncaster grabbed a 2nd goal. It came when a neat move down the right saw Coppinger ball come into the box and Wellens curled the ball into the net.

Warlow came on for Wright in a bid to get some fresh energy into the wings, but it mattered little as Marriott gifted Doncaster a goal when he dropped a cross right into the path of Heffernan and the midfielder had an open net to pop the ball into from just 2/3 yards. Coppinger was replaced Guy for the hosts.

Then came a moment that shows how the beginning of the season has effected City fans. Louis Dodds came on for Frecklington (something that the latter wasn't impressed with) before Torpey's number was raised to a huge ironic cheer from City fans who quite turned their "cheers" into a horrendous chorus of boos as Torpey left the pitch. He was replaced by Stallard and the former Shrewsbury man got a very popular reaction from the Imps supporters.

Forrester wasted a free kick in a good position as he booted it into the crowd from 25 yards. 3-0 quickly became 4-0 at Scott Kerr gave the ball straight to Guy and Doncaster broke forward, with McCammon eventually shooting the ball home in what had started so promisingly was turning into another humiliation. That goal was the 13th goal we've conceded in the last 3 competitive games for the first team.

Doncaster had many more chances to make it 5 but thankfully wasted each opportunity and City pulled one back when Forrester ran unchallenged to the edge of the area and sent an effort around Sullivan to give City their first goal of the season.

That was the final incident of another game to forget for the Imps.

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