You little Tinker.

Well it worked this time didn’t it? David Holdsworth made wholesale changes to his starting eleven, in preparation for the now imminent cup replay against Mansfield and, presumably in reaction to the well below par performances in Tuesday’s home defeat to Woking.

Probably the most surprising was the inclusion of David Preece in goal but it was not a huge shock to see Andrew Boyce left out as he is another player on four yellows and would be greatly missed for the Mansfield clash if he got a fifth and a suspension. Sheridan was out too as he is in a similar position. A few weeks ago fans might have said “so what?” but Sheridan has impressed of late and will be a key player on Wednesday. Taylor was serving his ban having “suffered” a yellow last time out. He’s now on a clean sheet and, such was the sparkling form of Colin Larkin he was not particularly missed as City raced to a four goal lead at half time courtesy of a Dan Gray first goal for the Imps and a Larkin hat trick. He’s one of those players City fans have wanted to see more of. Now they know what he has to offer. It’s good to know all our eggs are not in the same basket, striker wise.

Needless to say Dartford, who are having an excellent season having been promoted last season following a rise up through the pyramid, were not going to take the first half pasting lying down and gave a better account of themselves in the second half to make more of a game of it.

With Mansfield also winning the stage is now set for a cracking cup replay, City fans have snapped up tickets in good numbers despite the match being on the TV. I said after the Woking defeat that good teams bounce back after a defeat. Does that mean the Imps are now a good team? It just might.