Lincoln City 0-2 Chesterfield

Better, but not quite good enough.
That would be my of summing up yesterday's game. I must admit that going into the game i wasn't very confident of getting a result. Chesterfield have only lost 4 matches all season and although they hadn't won in the last five matches they were 5 points clear at the top of the division and were also the joint top scorers in league two.
Back in September the Imps had run Chesterfield quite close at there new B2 Net stadium, and that was with Chris Sutton in charge! For long periods of the game the Imps had matched the league leaders, it was certainly a lot better than the 0-5 and 1-5 kickings Bury and Shrewsbury had given Lincoln when we faced them at Sincil Bank.
After a bright opening period form Lincoln, Chesterfield took the lead (isnt that always the way it happens?) Julian Kelly blasted a back pass which Imps keeper Carson didn't have a cat in hells chance of controlling; this allowed the on rushing Chesterfield striker a simple tap in as the ball cannoned of Carson into his path. Not on for the Imps end of season DVD.
Lincoln were having plenty of the ball and possession in their opponent's half but werent forcing keeper Tommy Lee in the Chesterfield goal into many/any saves. Lincoln did manage to concede their 2nd penalty in two games, tough, but Carson made a save from what was a poorly taken penalty, one that was in my view not a penalty at all, so justice was done you could say.
The second half was much the same as the first with Lincoln putting in plenty of effort but Chesterfield kept them at arms length. Carson in the Lincoln goal pulled off a couple of great saves and thoroughly deserved his man of the match award. Chesterfield made the points safe when they headed in from a corner with about 10 minutes left and that was that.
That win now puts Chesterfield 8 points clear at the top and are looking odds on to be champions. Given that, i expected their fans to be more noisy than they were, that said to them, beating a midtable side like Lincoln maybe isn't much to get excited about?
As for the Imps this defeat didn't hurt too much. Stockport got thumped at home 1-4 in the relegation battle six pointer with Macclesfield, and Barnet got a draw at Cheltenham. There are plenty of sides in betweeen Lincoln and the drop zone but i am just focusing on the red line. As i write this Lincoln sit 10 points clear of the red line with three games in hand on Stockport, and two in hand on Barnet(soon to be three) who are eleven points behind Lincoln. Lincoln have a very welcome midweek off this week while Barnet travel to Southend United. Most of the other sides in the lower midtable area also play midweek with Macclesfield v Morecambe being perhaps the biggest game.

The week coming up

I have booked a day off on Tuesday to go and watch Lincoln reserves take on Leeds at Sincil Bank with a 2.00pm kick off (Free admission to season ticket holders!) Wednesday night is the Bassetlaw Derby with Worksop taking on Retford (at Retford) Next Saturday sees Lincoln travelling to North London to take on Barnet. A win there could/should go along way to preserving our league two status, and the Retford Imps will be there folks.


I couldn't finish this blog entry without what i think is one of the quotes of the season. For the past few seasons Chesterfield have been pretty much a one man team with Jack Lester banging in shit loads of goals for the club. He was on the bench today but did come on late on in the match. As he has scored plenty of goals against Lincoln my thoughts were "Oh fuck here we go again". One time Vine Inn left back and former 5 a side keeper Felice's response to former Nottingham Forest striker Lester coming on was "Prph! Cunt isnt good enough to lace my boots" pure gold and it must surely be one of the quotes of the season. I tip my hat to you sir. I would have answered the phone during the old Firm match today, but i was busy writing this shit you know ;-)