By Nathan Jackson
March 28 2005

A professional performance from Lincoln saw the Imps beat local rivals Scunthorpe United 2-0 on Monday night in front of the Sky TV cameras with goals after just 31 seconds and 79 minutes from Yeo and GTF giving the Imps a well deserved 2-0 victory over our county neighbours.

City couldn't have got off to a better start. Scunthorpe went on the attack but City gained a throw in. Francis Green sent the ball long after the McAuley throw, Yeo latched onto it and nudged it past two Scunthorpe defenders before thundering it down to Musslewhite's left and sending the crowd into the most intense celebrations seen at Sincil Bank in a very long time. Everyone in the ground except the 1,433 Scunthorpe fans went mental.

City gained posession straight from Scunthorpe's re-start and could have extended the lead quickly but Musslewhite tipped over Futcher's header. Scunny then had a decent chance when Beagrie tried to control the ball before it fell to Ridley who sent the ball in, eventually the ball fell to ex-Imp Baraclough but the ball went quite a way over the goal. City were in control of the game and almost scored again when good work from GTF saw Green run down the left but under pressure from Ridley, Green sent in a very deft chip which went just went wide.

Butcher came close from 30 yards on the 20th minute before Scunthorpe got their first shot on target. Beagrie then made a good contribution minutes later but his curling shot was easily held by Marriott. Yeo won a 28th minute corner, Sandwith's inswinger was met by the head of McCombe who headed the ball over the bar. Butcher sent a 30th minute long range effort wide. The half slowed down with the only effort left in the first half saw great interplay from Yeo, Green and GTF with only a magnificant Musslewhite save preventing it becoming 2-0 before the end fo the half.

The 2nd half started as quickly as the first with City getting a free kick roughly 30 yards out. The free kick was taken by Sandwith who tested Musslewhite with a excellent shot although the Scunthorpe could have saved it without giving away the corner. City were still firmly in charge of the game with Scunthorpe's chances coming few and far between. City weren't exactly troubling the Scunthorpe defence but too say the ball was spending considerably more time in Scunthorpes half would be nothing but accurate.

Then came an amusing little moment, Scunny were about to bring Cleveland Taylor off the bench and when the Imps fans saw who was coming off, it brought about the most sarcastic cheer you'd ever hear with just over 5,000 Imps fans greeting the disappearance of Peter Beagrie, maybe ol' short legs will mention that he did naff all when he's only Soccer Night Extra on Thursday, oh, wait, hold on, he's never on when Scunny lose so nevermind ah.

City finally broke through again 10 minutes from time. Green played the ball through to GTF who took his time before neatly chipping the ball over Musslewhite, it appeared as though the ball was going fairly over but it dipped and sent the Imps fans into delight. That was the only worth while incident for the remaining period and the Imps strolled, suprisingly easily towards their 3rd victory in a row and are now just 3 points off 3rd.