Shiny happy people.

Every home game these days I exit the Sincil Bank Stadium and head towards Cross Street with the sound of the fans applause continuing long into the evening. It must be music to the ears of the players too. Yesterday that applause was joined by the tributes of the Altrincham supporters as they signalled their approval of a rip roaring second half in which their team drove the Imps all the way to the finish line but could not quite force the equaliser.

Yet for much of this FA Cup tie the most exciting moment was when a steward executed a lovely cushioned header to return the ball to the field of play as it flew into the Coop Stand. For some reason Alty’s manager had got his side set up to seemingly mitigate against the expected avalanche of City goals and when Sean Raggett fashioned a lovely header of his own that was what I expected but somehow it never quite happened like that. Altrincham changed things around after the break and emerged a much more adventurous outfit although their goal was more a product of over generous defending than anything else with Paul Farman not exactly covering himself in glory.

It all culminated in a proper FA Cup grandstand finish though as City hung on to their lead to claim the not insubstantial prize money and take another step towards a hoped for glamour tie in the third round although that is slightly getting the cart before the horse as City’s shaky cup form continued and we were reminded we have to get through the second round first.

Yet the game could and should have been put to bed much earlier as the Imps fashioned chance after chance the majority of which fell to Theo Robinson who was definitely having one of those days and left the field with a rueful expression, put out of his misery, not to mention ours, to give way to let Muldoon have a go which he did with his usual energy.

Alan Power also did himself no harm with another assured display capped off with a very well taken goal which kind of underlined the profligacy of Robinsons efforts and kept the Irishmans name very much in the managers thoughts although whether that will prompt a new contract offer in due course we shall have to see.

It was a tremendously exiting second half and just for once City did not let it slip and we can all enjoy the “unaccustomed as I am” sensation of seeing who the Imps get in the next round.