Lincolnshire cup semi final

Lincoln City 1-1 Scunthorpe United
Lincoln win 4-3 on penalties

Until now the Imps had only faced lower league opposition in pre season. Today saw the first real test of the pre season campaign as League One Scunthorpe United rolled into town for this Lincolnshire Cup semi final. On top of this it was also the Imps open day with various attractions for the kids to do and stuff before the match. Activities included a climbing wall, various football related fun games and there were also plenty of stalls of various sorts such as hook-a-duck. Its a shame Felice wasn't here today as he is a bit of a dab hand at hook-a-duck, according to local legend. One of the high points was the release of the Imps new away shirt. We have gone back to the same design of the 1998/99 away shirt which graced what is now League One for a solitary season. We actually wore the kit in what for me was the standout game of the season a 1-0 away win at Blackpool which was the first jollyboys weekend away i had as a fresh faced 20 year old. Paul Milner didn't have many memorial moments at City but i always look back at his header from a Fleming corner at a crumbling Bloomfield Road with huge fondness. Almost as fond as a certain individual claiming to be able to drink 16 pints and then proceeding to throw up his guts all over the Counting House pub floor.
Even with all this i still hate the shirt. I didn't buy it first time round and wont be buying it this time either. Unless it is on sale at the end of its cycle. I can't bring myself to post a picture of it on here but you can check it out on the official site. For those who don't know we seem to have modelled it on one of the most successful and iconic club sides in the British isles. I just hope that TNS don't mind us paying homage to them. I can't think of any other sides that win things and wear green and white hoops can you?

As this match was played on a Sunday it meant that our normal pre match chip shop wasn't open. Fear not the all you can eat Chinese Buffet restaurant YO-YO was a more than adequate replacement. We got in there at about 12.15 and i managed to get in four courses before i was stuffed.

Before the match i had the pleasure of meeting up with fellow Pittsburgh Riverhounds fan (and Steel Army member) Graham and his family in the Trust suite. We chatted for about half an hour swapping stories and stuff and had a great time. The Riverhounds haven't had the best of years but look good to make the playoffs at the expense of FC New York.

We don't go into the Trust Suite (Formerly the Centrespot) often but it's certainly a big tick for Lincoln. Quite a few clubs have bars at their grounds but very few are open to both sets of fans in the way that the one at Lincoln is. It just goes to show that fans of different clubs can have a drink together without a full scale riot breaking out. We bid Graham and his family farewell and strolled out of the bar at just gone 2.15

The crowds for these type of games are normally poor and as such only the CO-OP Lower and the Echo stand were open. We decided to see how the other half live and went in the Echo stand. Although you always get zero atmosphere for any game in this stand you do get a great view and the legroom is by far the best in the stadium. Quite a few fans had the same idea and i would say that by kick off the stand was about half full. Rather disappointingly no programme was issued for the match but i did manage to bag a colour teamsheet from one of the Lincoln directors. As this is a competitive match only players signed to the club can be played so none of the trialists we have with us were able to feature. This meant that we could get our first clue as to what will be our be our first choice starting eleven once the season kicks off on August the 13th. Obviously things can and will change as we have a couple of injuries but we got a rough idea of where things are heading so to speak.

Before the match i didn't think we would win. I don't know the ins and outs of Scunthorpe's squad but i overheard they had a strong team out. However Lincoln totally controlled much of the contest. And its not very often i get to say that.
Last year we were lacking in pretty much all areas but the defence was a real problem. New centre-back Josh Gowling looks to be the leader we were badly lacking. It seems as if he and Danny Hone will form the first choice pairing this year with Watts (who played at full back) as the back up. Apart from a lapse of concentration from Hone late on we looked solid for most of the game with Gowling taking charge at the back. Midfield is where we have the most competition for places but early indications seem to be that Simon Russell will be the creative force going forward. Fuseini looks to be getting sharper and sharper and his passing was spot on today. Lincoln took the lead through Sam Smith after a mistake in the Scunthopre defence. Smith has bagged a couple already in pre season but it will be interesting to see who keeps the target man position alongside Jamie Talyor when Perry regains fitness. I have a feeling Tilly will go with Perry due to his 17 goals last season but we will wait and see.

Scunny's keeper was having a poor match and made a couple of goofs in the game although Lincoln failed to take advantage. Lincoln really did get some nice passing moves together and often left the Iron chasing shadows. Neither side was going for it hammer and tong but there was still a nice tempo to the Lincoln play. The Imps continued to miss the better of the chances that did come along without looking in any danger at the back. In the last ten or so minutes Scunny did improve a little, but only in the way that being chased by five lions is better that being chased by six.
Then after being outplayed for 89 minutes United scored when a through ball along the ground was neatly controlled by Chris Dagnall and slotted past Anyon in the Lincoln goal. As this was a cup game it meant only one thing. Penalties. Oh the joy.

I have never seen Lincoln win a shootout, indeed the only shootout i think they have won in the last 17 years was a FA cup reply away at Bury in 2002. After totally outplaying Scunny and failing to put them away i was convinced that we had blown it. However this time Lincoln stood firm and converted four from their penalties. Josh O Keefe was the only Imp to miss when his shoot came off the bottom of the post. Scunny had their first kick well saved by Anyon and blasted one high over the south park end of the ground.

So after beating the defending Champions Lincoln now welcome Grimsby to Sincil Bank for the final on Tuesday. Lincoln played really well today. It was great to see us knocking the ball around so well. Wait a minute...Is that an outbreak of optimism i can sense?