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N'Guessan gives 10 man City victory
By Nathan Jackson March 24 2008
A Dany N'Guessan double either side of half time gave the Imps a 2-1 win over promotion chasing Hereford. Scott Kerr was also sent off for the Imps just a minute before Lincoln's opener. It wasn't a great performance by the Imps but it was enough to beat a surprisingly poor Hereford side. Martin Pembleton was also given his first team debut.

City had the first chance of the game when John-Lewis hit the ball from 20 yards out but saw his chance go wide. Dany N'Guessan almost converted a Paul Green cross as City looked uncharacteristically dangerous in the first few minutes. Hereford responded by seeing two dangerous free kicks dealt with well by Marriott.

A slow half saw Gary Hooper break free of the defence in the 12th minute but Marriott was out quickly to claim the ball. Ben Wright was denied a free run on goal by Dean Beckwith. Scott Kerr sent in a corner that saw the Hereford unchallenged. Kerr then hit a free kick from 25 yards out go straight at the wall.

A few minutes later and the game came to life when Clint Easton and Scott Kerr went for the ball. Kerr went in with a double footed challenge and unsurprisingly saw red. He was far from happy with the decision and let the referee know this. Hereford's free kick broke for Dany N'Guessan and the Frenchman ran the length of the pitch. He beat several players before sending a low left footed drive past Brown and it was 1-0 to the Imps. Pembleton came on for his first team debut as he replaced Forrester.

City were lucky that the visitors didn't equalise thanks to a lucky deflection when Marriott was alert an just got to the ball. That was the final noteworthy incident of the first half.

It was a slow start to the second half and it got slower when John-Lewis required treatment on an injury sustained to his right leg. Johnson fired wide. The visitors just drew level just after the hour mark when Hooper got behind the City defence and flicked it over Marriott to give Hereford an equaliser that had been coming.

Smith was booked for a rash challenge on John-Lewis before Johnson fired over from close range. Ridley was then taken off because of injury and was replaced by Adie Moses. Guinan, a striker who regularly scores against the Imps, replaced Simon Johnson. Guinan was fouled by Moses but Hooper sent the free kick straight at Marriott.

City were awarded a penalty when a John-Lewis cross was about to reach Wright, he was upended by Easton and the referee gave a penalty. N'Guessan stepped up and placed it to the goalkeeper's right. John-Lewis hit the bar soon afterwards but that was the final chance of the goal and the Imps secured their first home win in nearly a month.

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