By Nathan Jackson
February 11 2006

Lincoln moved within a point of the playoffs after goals from Kerr and Hughes gave the Imps a 2-0 win over a direct Torquay. Torquay's tendency for the long ball proved their downfall as Sako proved the chaser of lost causes as the Imps continues a run of just 2 defeats in the last 18 league games.

The first action of the game saw Torquay win a free kick within the first minute but it was easily cleared by City’s former Torquay striker, Martin Gritton. Torquay however were obviously desperate to continue to pull away from the relegation zone and a dogged midfield and defence meant that City couldn’t get a look in. Torquay controlled the opening period, however, they couldn’t make the most of a corner in the 7^th minute.

 

City’s first attack saw Hughes and Frecklington link up well before Yeo was fouled to win the Imps a free kick on the left. Scott Kerr whipped the free kick in, Gritton flicked it on but McAuley could only head the ball over the net. City however did take the lead against the general run of play in the 12^th minute when Gritton headed Marriott’s goal kick to Frecklington. The youngster, making his first start for the Imps then played a through ball to Scott Kerr. The midfielder took a shot from the edge of the area, it clipped a Torquay player but the ball didn’t take the major deflection some websites have claimed and Andy Marriott should have done a lot better with a shot that went less than 2mph before it found it’s way into the net and it was 1-0 to the Imps.

 

Torquay all of a sudden started losing all cohesion and it was easy to see why they have struggled for long periods of this season but they did get a chance to equalise a few minutes later when the giant, Morike Sako took a free kick, however, the 6’7 man couldn’t find the target, shooting WELL wide. Jeff Hughes then cleared the ball out for a corner, despite no players being anywhere near him, Torquay however couldn’t find an equaliser as James Sharp sent a header wide.

 

It turned into a scrappy midfield game and the only other chance of the first half an hour came when the ball fell to Nat Brown about 30 yards but the midfielder shot well over the bar and into the car park. Torquay, after not looking dangerous for roughly 20 minutes, almost got an equaliser when Sako managed to muscle passed the Imps’ defence and got 6 yards out before sending an effort goalwards. Marriott managed to get down quickly  and the ball was parried to Jamie McCombe who seemed to want to score an own goal as he messed about doing several small kicks towards the goal before Marriott cleared the ball.

 

The game slowed down again but Martin Gritton almost scored against his former club from 25 yards but the effort curled wide of the post. City finally won their first corner in the 40^th minute and despite having a odd reputation for being a dangerous side from set pieces, the Imps wasted the opportunity.

 

Torquay won a free kick 25 yards from goal in the 1 minute of injury time, however, Darren Garner’s laughable effort sailed high into the Stacey West stand and the two teams went into the break with the Imps leading 1-0.

 

City emerged for the second half without Ollie Ryan who had further damaged his chances of regular first team football with an incredibly poor performance in the first half. He was replaced by Jude Stirling. City should have doubled the advantage very early in the second half when Gritton broke through 1 on 1 with Andy Marriott, the journeyman goalkeeper saved Gritton’s effort, the ball fell to Hughes who shot over, despite having an open goal less than 10 yards in front of him and memories quickly came flooding back of last week’s win at Stockport.

 

Alan Connell then replaced Paul Robinson for the visitors and the former Bournemouth striker, had a habit of scoring against the Imps and he almost scored within a few minutes when a corner was swung in, Matthew Villis headed the ball goalwards and Connell just connected with the ball, Alan Marriott made a save at his feet when it looked inevitable that the visitors would equalise.

 

McCombe was then fouled by Sako and the tallest man on the pitch was booked for his troubles and the game became a collection of set pieces. Yeo was having a very quiet game but almost scored his 5^th goal in 6 since rejoining the Imps when he sent a shot goalwards that was well saved by Andy Marriott. Gritton almost scored when he shot goalwards from Stirling’s throw in, however, the former Grimsby man could only see both of his efforts saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

 

City did have the ball in the net again when McCombe headed in a free kick, however, it was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper. That’s the thing about football, the attacker can be stood there, the keeper could run into the attacker and for some strange reason, it’s viewed as a foul on the goalkeeper.

 

That turned out to be Gritton’s last action of the game as he was replaced by Gary Birch and the former Kidderminster man almost replicated his antics of the previous home game when he almost scored within a minute of coming on. Birch ran into the area and in between 3 defenders before shooting, however, the goalbound effort was blocked by a defender but it was a bright start from Birch.

 

Torquay could only restrict themselves to hopefully long shots and their best effort of the half came when Alex Lawless saw his header loop over Alan Marriott before also going over the bar. City started relaxing on the ball and start seemingly inviting Torquay to shoot, a tactic that has seen City concede too many late goals this season.

 

Lee Frecklington’s first start for the Imps then finished as he was replaced by Lee Beevers who was returning from injury. Beevers almost scored within a minute when Yeo crossed the ball into the box and Beevers sent a volley towards goal but it was blocked by the defence.

 

Hughes almost scored his first goal for City when Birch chipped the ball into the box and the Northern Irish defender headed the ball goalwards and only a defender on the line prevented a certain goal. Kerr was quickly booked for a foul on Sharp.

 

City fans were starting to get nervous, especially considering the amount of goals that have been conceded in the final minute this season, however those worries went away minutes later when Gary Birch again flicked the ball towards Hughes and the defender completed a brilliant week by tapping the ball passed Andy Marriott and the ball eventually found it’s way into the net and it was 2-0 to the Imps.

The game slowed faded out and the Imps won their 3^rd game in a row to continue their unbeaten run in 2006.