A goal just before half-time from Rotherham's Reuben Reid ensured City's 2008/09 Coca-Cola League 2 season got off to a losing start at a blustery Don Valley Stadium.

The lively Reid netted what turned out to be the only goal of the game shortly before the break when he latched on to a high ball over the top before he showed good pace and strength to get the better of Aaron Brown and once he got the ball under control, finished neatly past the advancing Rob Burch.

City certainly had their chances throughout the course of the 90 minutes but found that killer touch elusive with Kevin Gall, Gary King, Ben Wright and Stefan Oakes all denied by home 'keeper Andy Warrington and the United defence.

Gall's effort on the quarter-hour mark was perhaps the best opportunity but the striker was denied by Warrington as he went through on goal.

Match report by John Vickers at Don Valley Stadium:

Manager Peter Jackson, in his first League game in the dugout since March 1st, handed five of his eight summer signings their City debut, namely goalkeeper Rob Burch, defenders Janos Kovacs and Aaron Brown, midfielder Stefan Oakes and on-loan striker Kevin Gall. A sixth, David Graham, was on the bench whilst a calf injury ruled out Frank Sinclair.

With the traditional opening day sunshine being well hidden behind grey clouds, the two teams emerged into wet and windy conditions for this first ever Football League game at Don Valley Stadium.

The Imps were looking resplendent in their new third strip of navy blue and old gold halved shirts and were backed by a healthy band of travelling fans who were no doubt hoping the showers kept off as referee Andy Haines got things underway.

STARTING FORMATION
BURCH
GREEN	KOVACS	BEEVERS	BROWN
JOHN-LEWIS	KERR	OAKES	KING
	WRIGHT	GALL

Rotherham kicked off and they were the first to press with Ryan Taylor testing Rob Burch with a low drive from just outside the box whilst a second effort, this time from skipper Pablo Mills flew wide of the target.

The Millers then forced the first corner of the season in the fifth minute with Marc Joseph making a hash of things on the edge of the box and when the ball came back out Burch showed good hands to claim Danny Harrison's low effort.

City, playing into a strong breeze, responded with Lenny John-Lewis winning a free-kick on the right. Stefan Oakes swung in the set-piece which was met by John-Lewis but he could only direct his header wide. After making contact with the ball, the teenager fell to the floor somewhat heavily and required treatment both on and off the pitch before he was able to return.

At the other end, and with 15 minutes played, Mark Hudson wrong-footed Janos Kovacs before fizzing a powerful right-footed shot a couple of feet wide. City's response was immediate with a Ben Wright flick-on setting Kevin Gall free. Gall was having his shirt pulled by a backtracking defender but it was a fine tip behind by goalkeeper Andy Warrington that denied the Carlisle loanee. From the resultant corner, Gary King fired into the side-netting from skipper Scott Kerr's near post delivery.

A relatively quiet spell followed with the blowy conditions playing a dominant role in proceedings; a chip from Oakes which sailed well over the bar being the highlight just before the half-hour mark.

Things livened up on the half-hour when a ball over the City defence saw Burch come out of his area to chest and then block the ball. The home fans, some distance from the both instances, were appealing for handball but referee Haines was on the spot and was happy to let play carry on.

At the opposite end of the field Paul Green did well to draw a foul from his marker, but Oakes' delivery was headed clear by Harrison. A sweeping City move down the other flank then ended with a great Aaron Brown ball in being sliced over his own bar by Ian Sharps. Nothing came of the resultant corner though.

Burch positioned himself well to claim Jamie Green's low drive whilst at the other end King latched on to a long Kovacs clearance but his centre into the area failed to produce the goods with neither Gall nor John-Lewis able to get the ball under control.

With the half 90 seconds from added time, the Millers took the lead when a ball over the top set REUBEN REID through down the middle. Reid showed good pace and strength to get the better of Brown and once he got the ball under control, finished neatly past the advancing Burch.

City were almost on level terms straight from the restart when King saw his effort blocked by Warrington whilst Wright's follow-up effort was somehow cleared from inside the six-yard box.

Two minutes of added time passed without incident so Reid's late effort separated the sides as they went in for their half-time breather.

HT: ROTHERHAM 1 IMPS 0

An unchanged City were out well in advance of their hosts for the start of the second period. Rotherham were also unchanged as the Imps got the game underway again.

With the sun trying to break through the clouds, City stopper Rob Burch was quickly called into action, punching away a goalbound Danny Harrison effort a minute after the restart.

At the other end John-Lewis volleyed over after good work from Gall had seen him send a cross into the box whilst a Beevers free-kick was flicked into Warrington's arms by Kovacs.

In the 54th minute, Lee Frecklington and Dany N'Guessan were thrown on by manager Peter Jackson in place of Lenny John-Lewis and Gary King. The change saw N'Guessan go wide right whilst Stefan Oakes looked to have been given a free role to allow Frecklington to partner Scott Kerr. The Millers made a change of their own three minutes later with Alex Rhodes being replaced by Micky Cummins.

A deflected Gall effort led to City's fourth corner of the game but Kovacs was unable to get Oakes' ball in under control and as Rotherham counter-attacked Burch held Reid's low effort.

City stepped up the pressure again on the hour mark as N'Guessan won another corner but again Oakes' centre led to a goal-kick as Frecklington ghosted in at the far post. A Green cross was then taken off Wright's head for what turned out to be another unproductive flag-kick.

With the Imps looking to make their pressure count, Oakes came within inches of levelling matters when his 25-yard free-kick was superbly tipped over by Warrington. The experienced 'keeper was again in the action as he sprinted off his line to deny N'Guessan after a superb Beevers ball opened up the home defence as the game entered its final quarter.

A rare Rotherham attack led to their second corner of the afternoon in the 72nd minute but City stood firm and cleared for a throw-in. As they responded both N'Guessan and Oakes had efforts blocked by defenders.

A third and final change for the Imps in the 76th minute saw David Graham come on for Ben Wright up front.

City continued to look the more likely to add to the scoreline with a rasping N'Guessan drive poleaxing Marc Joseph as he flung himself to block the ball. Time, however, was quickly ticking away as the game entered its closing stages.

Graham's first touch in anger saw him volley a long Beevers throw a foot wide whilst Frecklington was inches away from connecting with a great Green centre as the 85th minute came and went.

Two Rotherham corners two minutes later eased the home fans' nerves and the Millers were certainly in no hurry to take either of the flag-kicks as they looked to count the remaining time down.

A great piece of defending from Jamie Green saw him flick a great Oakes centre off Gall's head and before the throw-in could be taken ex-Imp Peter Holmes replaced the sponsors 'man of the match' and United goalscorer Reuben Reid.

With no indication from the Fourth Official as to how many added minutes there would be, Kerr had a weak effort held by Warrington before the hosts were able to get the ball to the other end of the field. After almost three and a half extra minutes, referee Haines brought the first game of the 2008/09 season to a close.

FT: ROTHERHAM 1 IMPS 0

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
4 Janos KOVACS
5 Lee BEEVERS
3 Aaron BROWN
7 Stefan OAKES
11 Scott KERR
14 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
21 Gary KING
9 Kevin GALL
15 Ben WRIGHT

subs
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON (for JOHN-LEWIS 54)
12 Dany N'GUESSAN (for KING 54)
17 David GRAHAM (for WRIGHT 76)
16 Danny HONE
13 Ayden DUFFY

ROTHERHAM UNITED
1 Andy WARRINGTON
3 Mark LYNCH
19 Jamie GREEN
15 Alex RHODES
12 Marc JOSEPH
23 Reuben REID
25 Pablo MILLS
5 Ian SHARPS
20 Ryan TAYLOR
4 Danny HARRISON
10 Mark HUDSON

subs
7 Micky CUMMINS (for RHODES 57)
8 Peter HOLMES (for REID 90+1)
2 Dale TONGE
6 Nick FENTON
30 Steven CANN

GOAL: REID (44)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear)
ASSISTANTS: S Clayton & Michael Denton
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Bobby Madley

ATTENDANCE: 4,748 (1,200 City supporters)