By theimps.tk
August 19 2009

Despite being second best for the majority of the match, Lincoln came out on top at Valley Parade against a Bradford side who barely managed a shot on target, also missing a penalty. Howe and Fagan both scored their first goals for City. If there's one way to bounce back from a disappointing result at the team with the lowest crowds in the division then it's to get a great result at a club with the biggest crowds. Neither side went into the game with any major signs on confidence. City had won just one of their opening three games in all competitions, whereas Bradford had yet to win, nor score.

City enjoyed the opening of the game by creating several chances and set pieces, Jamie Clarke having the most guilt edged chance, but he put the ball into the crowd when free in space. Clarke was again guilty of wasting a good chance when a Scott Kerr through ball saw Clarke one-on-one, only for the midfielder to get it tangled between his legs and hit it out of play.

Bradford started to come into the game and almost scored with their first chance when Kovacs hit a weak back-header towards goal, but great recovery work from Hughton saw him deny Hanson. Kerr was booked for a foul on Flynn before Fagan was booked for a tangle with Ramsden. O'Brien hit a free kick straight at the wall.

Hanson was booked for a challenge of Hughton before Evans hit an effort straight at Burch and the goalkeeper was hero a minute of two minutes later. Shane Clarke was adjudged to have handballed a corner in the area and Bradford were awarded a penalty. Flynn stepped up and Burch palmed it away with ease and the defence cleared it. A goalmouth scramble seconds later saw Brandon's close range shot go wide.

The second half started with Andy Hutchinson replacing Scott Kerr and it wasn't long before City were on the back foot again as Kovacs blocked a Brandon effort before Oakes sent a thunderbolt over the bar. Chris Fagan then wasted arguably the best chance he had to open his account for the Imps when he rounded the goalkeeper but stalled shooting and it was blocked on the line.

With the second half looking a bit dull, it raced into action just as the hour turned when Jamie Clarke outpaced Simon Ramsden to put himself through on goal, but the new Bradford signing pulled Clarke to the ground and City had a penalty. Howe and Fagan argued long and hard about who would have it, Howe eventually coming out on top in the argument to slot it past Eastwood and it was  1-0 City.

Eastwood was beaten again 58 seconds later and Chris Fagan again found himself in a position on the edge of the area when he disposed a Bradford defender and hit the ball confidently between Eastwood and into the goal for his first goal in Imps colours.

With the Imps now controlling the game, Howe almost made it three but had his effort cleared off of the line. Both sides made substitutions with Clarke going off for John-Lewis for the Imps and Colbeck, Boulding and James O'Brien replacing Brandon, Thorne and Bullock for the Bantams.

Bradford were now starting to come into the game but failed to score. Lee Bennett also made his debut for the Imps as a cameo'd appearance.

Howe and Fagan show Bradford how it's done

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 19/08/2009 01:09

theimps.tk
19/08/2009 01:09

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