By Nathan Jackson
February 10 2007

Mark Stallard grabbed the only goal of the game with a header against a Torquay side that rarely caused the Imps any worries. City wasted several chances to extend the lead but Torquay didn't even manage to have a shot in the second half as City moved back into the race for automatic promotion.

Torquay kicked off the game but neither side failed to create a chance in the first 5 minutes. A questionable free kick just after the 5^th minute mark saw the game’s first chance, but fortunately Marriott saved Mark Robinson’s effort. The goalkeeper almost gave a goal away soon after though as he failed to hold a cross, the ball fell to ex-Imp Thorpe who had an open goal to simply tap into, however he couldn’t get it on target and the ball went high over the bar and out of the ground.

 

Jeff Hughes’ effort following a free kick went out for a corner. Frecklington stepped up but he hit it straight at the first defender and it was easy to clear for the defenders. Another corner just a minute later was easily claimed by Miller.

 

The game was slow as a midfield battle ensued. Easter had a chance blocked by Kerr, before the midfielder ran up the field, supplying the ball to Beevers and City won another corner. Again this went straight to the goalkeeper, but veteran Miller almost cost his side a goal a minute later as Weir-Daley’s cross was palmed out by Miller, it feel to Stallard but his first time shot went wide of the target.

 

With just over 23 minutes gone, Lee Beevers picked up the ball on the left and ran goalwards. He looked up and crossed the ball into the box, and Mark Stallard was there to head the ball into the net for the second time in as many home games, and City had a deserved 1-0 lead.

 

Lee Mansell almost drew Torquay level but his weak effort didn’t trouble the goalkeeper, before Stevland Angus was booked for a foul on Frecklington, the former Scunthorpe and Cambridge defender wasn’t on the pitch much longer as he brought down a surging Beevers run right on the edge of the box, the referee produced the red card. City failed to cause Torquay any more problems before half time.

 

Kevin Hill replaced Paul Smith for the visitors as half time. Just like the first half it took 5 minutes for the first chance, Amoo’s control almost saw Stallard have a one on one with Miller. The keeper saved well from Spencer Weir-Daley just before the hour mark, but within a minute he almost saw his time on the pitch come to an end. As a corner came in, Weir-Daley tried to poke it past Miller, but the two got tangled and all of a sudden, virtually every player on the pitch got involved. Beevers got booked for City whereas Thorpe and Miller also saw yellow.

 

Kerr’s hard work saw him with a one-on-one in the 64^th minute, but he chose not to run on goal and shot wide from 25 yards. Amoo then failed to connect properly with a Stallard cross. 10 minutes later and Thorpe was replaced by Cook for City, not long afterwards Robinson found himself in the book for a foul on Amoo. From the free kick a deep Hughes ball into the box saw an Amoo effort blocked on the line.

 

Weir-Daley was replaced by N’Guessan for City, whilst Hockley came on for Jarvis for Torquay. N’Guessan didn’t stay on the pitch long as he was injured in a collision with a Torquay player. He went off and was replaced by Owain Warlow. That was the final noteworthy incident of the game as City went up a place to 4^th.