He receives the ball he has his back to the goal, nothing seems to be on, the defence relax. Then a twist. It doesn’t look possible but the ball ends up in the back of the net. The crowd drools. Another fantastic goal from a fantastic player. Wayne who? We’re talking about Ashley Grimes. What a shame just 2884 were there to see it, not helped by an away following of just 90. Was automatic promotion and relegation from non league such a good idea when the likes of Grimsby and Mansfield Town are denied to us? Anyway, pass it on, Ashley Grimes is no great shakes. Whatever slim hopes Lincoln City had of signing Grimes are disappearing with every goal this mercurial player fashions out of nothing. The first was none too shabby either. Enjoy it while it lasts.
City went into this one a bit battered and bruised. Stephen Hunt and Gavin Hoyte missing from the starting eleven. As if that wasn’t enough crocked defenders, Julian Kelly went off to be replaced by the not inconsiderable presence of Kanyuka. In reality City huffed and puffed particularly in the second half where they did well to avoid conceding. This game might have had a grandstand finish had Morecambe got one. The effort of playing all the games in hand is taking its toll although it was mentioned in the old codgers department, the Echo stand, that it was refreshing to be able to field a quality replacement in Clapham and the substitute’s roster does have more of a squad feel about it. We saw what Trevor Carson was about too with several more than decent saves.
Steve Tilson was concerned that playing catch up was having an effect on the players fitness;
“Obviously nice to keep a clean sheet, it wasn’t a very good game to watch to be honest but we had Hunty, Hunty cried off this morning, Julian Kelly was touch and go, Gavin Hoyte got injured in training last night so we couldn’t do any team play whatsoever but, fair play to the lads they stuck together, like I say it wasn’t a fantastic game but everyone played their part from Trev in goal who made two or three very good saves to Grimesy with two very good finishes to the rest of the team sticking in there collectively and keeping them out.
Tilson was asked about Ashley Grimes (very ordinary)
“The second goal was absolutely first class, you could say he’s won us the game but Trev right through to Delroy have played their part today.
“Brilliant finish, there’s probably premiership players can’t do that eleven in eleven is a decent return (if you say so)
“I’m just wary that we’ve played a lot of games in a short space of time and we are picking up injuries from that.”
No rest for the wicked, it’s Aldershot away this Tuesday, they drew 0.0 with Macclesfield on Saturday and sit three places and two points below the Imps so a win, once again would cement City’s position whilst keeping the Shots looking nervously down at the relegation scrap below them. You may recall this is the venue the team reached, through the snow only to be sent home again. After the trifling matter of Chesterfield a rare one match week but March is particularly gruelling with no less than eight matches to play so it will be seen that, healthier by far as City’s position is we are by no means out of the woods yet.
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