By Nathan Jackson
March 25 2007

Lincoln City's defence yet again failed to do their job as Swindon comfortably scored 3 goals to gain the 3 points. City took the lead after making a comfortable start to the game, but then for no reason we started playing hoofball, then Swindon took complete control until the final 10 minutes.

Swindon kicked off the game but it was the Imps who started well, with Paul Green and Ryan Amoo working well to put a ball into the box, unfortunately it was easily cleared by the Swindon defence. Then Mendes wasted a guilt edged chance when Lee Frecklington caused Smith to drop the ball on the edge of the area, the ball fell to Mendes but instead of taking his time and assessing the situation, he shot first time and the ball went well wide of the target.

Mendes again wasted a good chance within 60 seconds, a Ryan Amoo cross was driven into the box and over everyone to Mendes, again he shot first time and his shot went across goal and well wide of the target, much to the frustration of every City fan in the ground.

In his record breaking appearance, Alan Marriott almost gifted Swindon the lead with their first chance of the game. A long range free kick found it's way to Marriott, but he fumbled and the ball bounced on the line several times before eventually being cleared by Morgan. The ball found it's way up the other end of the pitch. Amoo sent a ball into the box and Mark Stallard was there waiting to smash the ball home to give City the lead. It was an almost identical goal to his first against Rochdale earlier this season. Ironically City began to resemble the Rochdale that got thumped 7-1 at Sincil Bank earlier in the season.

After playing reasonably good football until this point, City then for no reason started to play hoofball, and unsurprisingly it was Swindon who suddenly started to capitalised. They were level within a matter of minutes. Paul Morgan and Nat Brown were both at fault as Jutkiewicz mishit his shot, and Christian Roberts found himself unmarked in the area and his first time shot went past Marriott to draw Swindon level.

Then Stallard went off the pitch with an injury to the head. City were now clearly on the back foot, but Holmes almost levelled for the Imps but his shot went straight at Smith. Stallard again wasted a great chance as his shot from the area again went straight at Smith.

Swindon kept pouring forward but couldn't find themselves getting any shots in, however with just over 10 minutes left of the half as a long ball over the defence was returned back in, it found unmarked Corr and he easily shot into the net past a out of position Marriott.

Stallard again went off injured before Zaaboub was booked for pushing Amoo. Smith collected the ball at Brown's feet after he'd been set free from a free kick. That was the final action of a first half that City had struggled to defend.

City again controlled the opening stages of the second half, however it was Swindon who extended their lead just 4 minutes after the break. Yet more shocking defending saw Corr pass the ball to the edge of the 6 yards area, and Lee Peacock had an easy time in slotting the ball home with no Imps within a reasonable distance.

Lincoln won their first corner of the game after the goal, but Kerr's header could only be directed straight into the hands of Smith. Amoo wasted a good chance as he ran forward with the ball and instead of passing to players that would have been a better option, he decided to shoot from 25 yards out, it'll come as no surprise when I say that it went over the target. Amoo was then replaced by Hughes and Forrester came on for Mendes.

Weston replaced Corr as the game suddenly died as everyone in the ground knew that Swindon had effectively won the game. The passion had totally gone from City's game, and when we did get towards the goal it would only seethe ball constantly past around ebfore the ball was given away. However, when Beevers replaced Morgan the tide started to change.

Within a few minutes of the substitution Forrester provided Holmes with a clever ball, the on loan Luton man crossed the ball and after several minutes it bobbled to Stallard, he chipped the ball over the on-rushing Smith and into the net. All of a sudden the Imps were full of energy and were well on top. Jamie Forrester should have equalised minutes later when he found himself 8 yards out, his volley went straight at the goalkeeper again.

A well worked free kick on the edge of the area saw the ball fall to Frecklington, the youngster could only shoot well wide though. Jutkiewicz then injured himself and after 5 minutes finally went off the pitch, to be replaced by Grimes. Frecklington wasn't another great chance as he selfishly tried to score from 30 yards despite having several players in much better positions. That was the final chance of the game.