The Imps and Torquay battled out a goalless draw at Sincil Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Neither goalkeeper was really threatened during the course of the game, especially during the opening period, with a long long-range effort from Stefan Oakes, which was well kept out by Michael Poke, being the only chance of note.

Torquay had the best chances after the break with Shane Clarke heading a Wayne Carlisle effort off the line whilst Chris Hargreaves sliced over from 12 yards and ex-Imp Tyrone Thompson dragged a low shot a couple of feet wide.

Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:

Chris Sutton fielded three debutants for this Coca-Cola League 2 game against Torquay United at Sincil Bank Stadium with Nathan Baker, Eric Lichaj and Khano Smith all making their Imps' bows.

Baker and Lichaj, on loan from Aston Villa, lined up at centre-back and left-back respectively whilst Bermudian international Smith was able to take his place in the team with the Club having received international clearance following a successful trial spell with the Imps.

City started the match attacking the Stacey West Stand end and were quickly on the attack with Smith drawing Lee Mansell into a foul and when Stefan Oakes swung the set-piece into the danger area Baker headed over.

The Imps were certainly enjoying the better of the opening exchanges and a fine piece of build up play saw them come within inches of opening the scoring with six minutes on the clock. Oakes, Smith and Anthony Pulis were all involved in the move and when the ball was laid into the path of Shane Clarke, he saw his low effort clip the foot of the post before going out for a goal-kick.

Shortly afterwards Adam Watts required treatment after taking a knock in the centre-circle whilst an Oakes free-kick crashed straight into the United wall following a hand ball by Kieran Charnock.

Play continued to be centered in the Torquay half as the quarter-hour mark approached but shortly after that quarter-hour mark City were on the defensive and only a great challege from a back-tracking Smith saw him nip in and take the ball off Wayne Carlisle's feet as he prepared to pull the trigger.

Rob Burch then claimed the first corner of the game whilst the damp playing surface was certainly playing its part with any overhit pass tending to end up out of play rather than staying in the white lines.

A deflected Carlisle effort led to United's second corner of the afternoon, which City dealt with comfortably and in the 27th minute visiting skipper Chris Hargreaves picked up the first caution of the game for a late challenge on Pulis. A long Lichaj throw led to City's first corner of the game two minutes later but Baker was penalised for a push as Oakes floated the ball in from the quadrant.

Shots at goal remained at a premium as the half wore on, but in the 37th minute an Oakes thunderbolt from 40 yards forced Michael Poke to pull off a one-handed save before Cian Hughton was flagged offside as he went to latch on to the loose ball.

Hughton then connected with a Lichaj cross but couldn't direct his header goalwards whilst at the other end a third United corner saw Chris Robertson head goalwards only for Oakes to clear off the line.

Two more Torquay corners followed in quick succession and just before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of one minute was to be added, Tim Sills flicked a header just wide of the target with Burch quick to air his frustrations at his defence for letting the striker get in an effort at goal.

HT: IMPS 0 TORQUAY 0

Neither side made any changes during the break and it was the Gulls who were first to press with Nicky Wroe blazing a shot over the bar from 25 yards.

Some great footwork from Smith five minutes in saw him twist and turn his way past a number of men before being dragged to the deck and when Oakes swung the resultant free-kick into the box, appeals for a penalty as Danny Hone went to ground under Hargreaves' challenge were waved away by referee Danny McDermid.

A Smith centre then led to a corner but when it was cleared a United counter-attack saw Danny Stevens advance forward only to be denied a sight of goal by some excellent defensive work by Hughton.

Ex-Imp Tyrone Thompson then fired a low shot a foot wide before a change for City in the 56th minute saw Richard Butcher come on for Stefan Oakes in the middle of the park.

Butcher was quickly in the action, having a shot at goal deflect out for a corner but as Hughton swung the flag-kick referee McDermid spotted a push by Hone and play restarted with a free-kick to the visitors.

At the other end a Torquay corner was headed clear by Shane Clarke whilst City's response saw Smith fire a left-footed effort well over. In the 65th minute teenage debutant Baker was harshly cautioned for a mistimed challenge close to the Uited right hand flank. The resultant free-kick, taken by Kevin Nicholson, flew through a packed area before bouncing inches wide.

This led to a spell of United pressure and a minute later City had Clarke to thank as he headed a Carlisle effort off the line before Hargreaves sliced over and Thompson dragged a low shot a couple of feet wide.

City's response saw Smith come close to connecting with a long ball forward from Watts and with City preparing to defend a 73rd minute free-kick, assistant manager Ian Pearce replaced Rene Howe up front for his home debut. A third and final City switch saw Jamie Clarke come on for Khano Smith three minutes later; Clarke going on to the right with Hughton moving to the left as a result.

United's next attack saw Sills head a Hargreaves cross wide of the target whilst a neat chip from the lively Stevens fortunately bounced a foot wide of Burch's left-hand upright, much to the relief of the home contingent in attendance.

Sixty seconds before the end of normal time a long Lichaj throw-in was headed behind for a City corner but Hughton's low delivery was cleared out of play. The Fourth Official then indicated that a minimum of three minutes were to be added on.

Midway through the added time a City counter-attack saw Pearce play a ball through to the overlapping Lichaj who won a corner but when the United backline dealt with Jamie Clarke's delivery, Stevens brought the ball forward before Thompson sliced a shot wide. Referee McDermid then brought things to a close.

FT: IMPS 0 TORQUAY 0

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
6 Danny HONE
22 Adam WATTS
33 Nathan BAKER
28 Eric LICHAJ
25 Cian HUGHTON
7 Stefan OAKES
19 Shane CLARKE
23 Anthony PULIS
27 Khano SMITH
18 Rene HOWE

subs
8 Richard BUTCHER (for OAKES 56)
13 Ian PEARCE (for HOWE 73)
15 Jamie CLARKE (for SMITH 76)
4 Janos KOVACS
10 Chris FAGAN
11 Scott KERR
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE

BOOKING: BAKER (65)

TORQUAY UNITED
30 Michael POKE
3 Kevin NICHOLSON
5 Chris ROBERTSON
7 Lee MANSELL
8 Tim SILLS
11 Nicky WROE
12 Tyrone THOMPSON
14 Chris HARGREAVES
15 Wayne CARLISLE
19 Danny STEVENS
23 Kieran CHARNOCK

subs
4 Mark ELLIS
6 Chris TODD
9 Elliot BENYON
10 Scott RENDELL
21 Saul HALDIN
1 Scott BEVAN

BOOKING: HARGREAVES (27)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Danny McDermid
ASSISTANTS: James Adcock & Stephen Ross
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Wayne Porter

ATTENDANCE: 3,604 (184 visiting supporters)