The Imps slipped to defeat at the hands of their hosts Cheltenham Town, a solitary goal from Danny Wright was to win the day for The Robins.
City started the game with an enforced change to the side which won at Swindon Town on Tuesday evening, Michael Bostwick missing out through suspension so Elliott Whitehouse came in to make his first League Two start for the Imps.
The game kicked off in weather conditions which were far from ideal with the wind blowing torrential rain into the faces of the Imps defence in the first half and arguably gave the home side a little of an advantage. In fact the first effort of the game came as Jordan Cranston nipped in with the wind holding the ball up as Nathan Arnold tried to get onto it, the Town full back ran into the area and fired at goal, Josh Vickers stood tall though and blocked. Before you could blink the Imps were up the other end of the field as Billy Knott received a pass from Josh Ginnelly and fired a shot at goal that Scott Flinders saved.
Cheltenham tested the reflexes of Vickers through Mohammed Eisa who let the ball bounce and fired a volley towards the top corner but The Imps’ ‘keeper was equal to it, diving to his right and stretching every sinew in his right arm to save.
Cheltenham’s attacks were always helped along in the howling wind, but City continued to defend with the usual dogged determination, up the other end Alex Woodyard got a shot away after bustling his way past Jamie Grimes who had no answer to the Imps skipper, unfortunately the effort looped over the bar.
Carl Winchester chased a ball through the middle and ran onto it ahead of Sean Raggett with the wind playing a part, the Town midfielder got his shot away but he couldn’t keep his effort down and it flew into the home supporters behind the goal. Eisa danced his way forward, set his shot up but his curled effort wasn’t precise enough as it went wide with Cheltenham sensing they may just open the scoring. They did so with half an hour gone, Danny WRIGHT receiving the ball inside the box from the right before managing to squeeze it in across into the far corner despite the dive of Vickers.
Town pressed for a second before the break as Brian Graham ran forward on the right shooting from the right angle of the box but it went wide of the mark. Knott up the other end had a chance as the space opened up in front of him around 25 yards out, his shot however didn’t force Flinders into a save.
HALF TIME
Cheltenham 1 The Imps 0
City started the second half on the front foot and both flanks were being utilised often with Ginnelly featuring heavily and he had the first opportunity, Town struggling to clear as Knott won the ball back, it went through to the number seven and his shot flashed just past the far post.
Eisa was a threat for the home side in what was a rare foray forward for Town in the opening ten minutes or so of the second half, his shooting boots weren’t on though as the ball flew over the top. Arnold picked Ginnelly out at the other end of the field with City making a quick break, Ginnelly heading the ball on target but Flinders was straight behind it to gather.
The Imps won a corner with 25 minutes to go as Raggett was just denied a chance to head at goal. Whitehouse tried an audacious backheel at the near post which was deflected wide for another flag kick. It was only half cleared and Woodyard won it back, fighting for possession he fed Whitehouse and the cross was turned towards goal by Green but Flinders made a fantastic reaction save to tip over.
City were pushing forward more regularly going into the final twenty minutes of the game, meaning the threat of the counter attack was always prevalent but the Imps were resolute in defence when called into action. Jordan Maguire-Drew was so close to netting City an equaliser as he smashed a shot goalwards but Flinders somehow saved the effort which swerved in the wind, it was a stop which brought almost a standing ovation by the home supporters who breathed a sigh of relief.
Going into the final five minutes the Imps pushed forward with purpose but couldn’t quite make the pressure pay dividends.
Full Time
Cheltenham Town 1 The Imps 0
Cheltenham Town
24 Scott FLINDERS
2 Jamie GRIMES
3 Jordan CRANSTON
8 Kevin DAWSON
9 Danny WRIGHT
11 Carl WINCHESTER
15 William BOYLE
20 Mohammed EISA
21 Brian GRAHAM
25 Joe MORRELL
28 Taylor MOORE
Substitutes
1 Jonathan FLATT
4 Kyle STORER
14 Daniel O’SHAUGHNESSY
17 Jerell SELLARS
18 Matthew BOWER
27 Freddie HINDS
GOAL: WRIGHT 30’
Booking: Dawson 64’
THE IMPS
21 Josh VICKERS
2 Sean LONG
4 Elliott WHITEHOUSE
7 Josh GINNELLY
10 Matt GREEN
11 Billy KNOTT
15 Rob DICKIE
23 Neal EARDLEY
25 Sean RAGGETT
28 Nathan ARNOLD
30 Alex WOODYARD
Substitutes
1 Paul FARMAN
3 Sam HABERGHAM
5 Luke WATERFALL
8 Ollie PALMER (58 for GINNELLY)
9 Matt RHEAD (77 for KNOTT)
12 Ellis CHAPMAN
14 J MAGUIRE-DREW (64 for ARNOLD)
Booking: Raggett 70’
Referee: C Sarginson
Assistants: M Amphlett & O Bickle
Attendance: 3,312 (738 Imps’ supporters)
