Bumper Crowd Sees Muldoon Net Winner

Lincoln City at home was never going to be an easy game.

After all, this is a group that has beaten Ipswich Town over two matches and tore apart a Brighton side that was still of Championship quality on the whole though not on the day. And to make matters worse, this was also a team top of the National League and forcing its way back into the Football League after several years in the abyss.

So for our relative novices, this was a challenge but an exciting one. There was a bumper crowd at the game in spite of Blues being at home and Villa playing on TV, largely thanks to the impressive Lincoln following, and spirits were high after victory over Maidstone United at the weekend.

McDonald made two changes to his starting XI for this encounter bringing back Nortei Nortey in place of Jack Byrne and there was a first start for Ashley Sammons with Omari Sterling-James dropping to the bench. The main news for the visitors was the loss of Theo Robinson who was on his way to sign for Southend United. Not that it mattered – the former Derby County man had scored one league goal all season.

Despite an early yellow card for Harry White, the game offered few talking points in the first quarter, Jack Muldoon’s quick feet being followed by a low effort wide of the target before George Carline attempted to recreate Saturday’s second only to hit the post.

Jack Muldoon had another attempt on goal which was deflected wide before Luke Waterfall headed over from the resulting corner. And the visitors were in full flow when a lovely move saw Muldoon set up former Sheffield United youngster Elliot Whitehouse for a left-footed volley that was well taken by Nathan Baxter.

The Moors were not out of the game, Harry White impressively latching onto George Carline’s searching ball before firing narrowly wide of the mark. The half was brought to a close after Luke Waterfall’s looping effort landed just past the post much to the relief of Baxter who found himself in no man’s land.

One half out of the way, the second half to come and it was the Imps who got straight on to the front foot once more, Muldoon again the danger and he ought to have scored having raced through one on one with Baxter but the young keeper won the battle of wits.

It was that man Muldoon who would get the breakthrough six minutes into the second half. A throw-in from the right found the 27 year-old who blasted the visitors in front.

The Moors huffed and puffed but could not really threaten the league leaders despite their best endeavours in the second half. Nathan Arnold had the next effort but his low drive was cleared off the line by a covering Moors defender.

Simeon Maye had the best chance for the hosts when Ashley Sammons’ exquisite cross found the former Boldmere St.Michaels man but his connection was minimal and perhaps summed up our efforts on goal.

McDonald tried to chase the game with 20 minutes to go and added Omari Sterling-James and Luke Rodgers to the fray yet the only real effort on goal came from Alan Power, scorer of a penalty in the cup shock on Saturday, who tested Baxter from 30 yards.

The defeat was perhaps expected but there was plenty to be pleased about as this group continue to prove a willingness and tenacity to fight for the shirt. That Lincoln were kept to one and that we could have taken the lead early on showed further signs of the improvement made over the last month or so.

We remain 15th in the league and eight points above the drop zone.