By theimps.tk
August 11 2009

Despite the best efforts of most of the City players, it was Janos Kovacs' mistake that cost the Imps a defeat and yet another exit from a cup competition at the first stage. City were more than matching their Championship opponents, but other than a brilliant Howe effort, the Imps never really looked like scoring. Lincoln's tradition of being rubbish in knock-out competitions continued as Barnsley have become the latest club to beat City in this manner. It's now four years since the Imps made it past the first stage of any knock-out competition, losing every single Playoff, Carling Cup, FA Cup and JP Trophy tie since beating Crewe 5-1 in August 2005.

It generally started well for the Imps as they more than matched their loftier visitors, but the first real chance of the game came in the 12^th minute with Barnsley's Kayode Odejayi seeing his volley turned behind by Swaibu, several successive corners for the Tykes were cleared by the Imps. An Aaron Brown cross went wide just minutes before a header was put behind by Connor. Howe sent a volley just over the bar from distance.

Barnsley responded with Burch having to produce a decent save to deny Mackem. Then came the best effort of the game so far when Rene Howe chested down a ball about 30 yards out and sent a vicious volley goalwards, only to see it denied from sailing into the top right hand corner by a brilliant save from the goalkeeper. It would have been arguably the best goal seen at Sincil Bank in recent years.

Connor and Clarke both had efforts denied before the half-time whistle was blown.

Rob Burch had to be alert within minutes of the second half as Butterfield shot from 30 yards. The Imps were generally the team on top but couldn't really create any chances and Burch was keeping the Imps in the game from the occasional Barnsley attack, Bobby Hassell also being denied from close distances.

Clarke was denied by Steele before Bogdanovic replaced Macken up front, a substitution that changed the game. Howe was denied a run on goal as he was flagged offside, that despite being clearly several years onside. From the free kick that resulted from this, the ball was played forward and instead of just booting it clear like usual, Kovacs tried to dribble his way out of trouble and was dispossessed by Bogdanovic and Burch could do nothing as the striker smashed his effort on the underside of the bar and into the net to make it 1-0.

Burch kept City in the match with many fine saves before Peter Jackson's brilliant tactical nous saw him bring on Chris Fagan in the place of Stefan Oakes, the only midfielder who was actually creating anything and that was the final action as far as the Imps were concerned and the game fizzled out into nothingness and City were out again.

Kovacs mistakeknocks City out of the cup

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 11/08/2009 23:58

theimps.tk
11/08/2009 23:58

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