TLG Stat-Pack – Lincoln City form

Saturday 7th August 2004 – League Two

Shrewsbury Town 0 Lincoln City 1

Ex-Orient striker Gray Taylor-Fletcher grabbed the winner

Goal: Taylor-Fletcher 52

Bookings: Weaver 77, McNamara 90, West 90

FootyMAD match report (www.lincolncity-mad.co.uk):

“Shrewsbury Town returned to the Football League following a 12-month absence, but visiting Lincoln City spoilt the party, by registering a hard-fought 1-0 win.

In sweltering Gay Meadow heat, this highly-entertaining contest was decided six minutes into the second half when Gary Taylor-Fletcher pounced on some hesitant Shrewsbury defending to ultimately secure the points for Keith Alexander's men.

Back from the Conference when they spent just one season, the home side found Lincoln a tough nut to crack, but went close before the break with near misses from young midfielder David Edwards and returning hero Dave Walton.

He was a member of Shrewsbury's 93-94 third division championship-winning side, the 31-year-old centre-back was snapped up by Shrews boss Jimmy Quinn on a free transfer from Derby County this week.

There was nothing Walton could do when Taylor-Fletcher stabbed the Imps ahead from close range on 52 minutes, but the last quarter of an hour brought an all-assault assault on the visitor’s goal as Shrewsbury battled in vain for a share of the spoils.

City keeper made a superb save to thwart a Duane Darby header and twice substitute John Grant almost restored level terms. But Lincoln, who have made the play-offs in each of the past two seasons, held firm to clinch victory.”

Saturday 10th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Lincoln United 0 Lincoln City 3

Lincoln City: Clint Davies; Dean West, Michael Blackwood, Chris Clarke, Matt Bloomer; Marcus Ferreira (Jamie McCombe), Niall McNamara (Richard Butcher), Ciaran Toner (Peter Gain), Felipe Azededo (Simon Yeo); Marcus Richardson (Gary Taylor-Fletcher), Francis Green (Adam Kerley).

Goals: Azededo, Green, Butcher

The Red Imps started their pre-season campaign away at local non-League outfit Lincoln United, and rounded off a three-goal victory with triple strikes after the break from trialist Felipe Azededo, former Peterborough United striker Francis Green and substitute Richard Butcher. Amongst the trialists on show were ex-Leyton Orient youngster Ciaran Toner, one-time Birmingham City goalkeeper Clint Davies and Blackpool centre-half Chris Clarke.

Tuesday 13th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Ilkeston Town 2 Lincoln City 1

Lincoln City: Steve Croudson; Dean West (Peter Folkes), Kevin Sandwith (Nathan Peat), Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan (Matthew Bloomer); Simon Weaver, Richard Butcher (Michael Blackwood), Peter Gain, Gray Taylor-Fletcher (Simon Yeo), Francis Green, Marcus Richardson (Adam Kerley).

Goal: Yeo

Lincoln’s first pre-season defeat came at Ilkeston, who have been known to cause a Cup upset or two during their time. Having gone a goal behind, wide man Simon Yeo levelled matters just after the break having replaced Gary Taylor-Fletcher at half-time. But it was not to be and Chros Thompson gave the home side the points when he rolled into an empty net following a mix-up between Steve Croudson and Nathan Peat.

Sunday 18th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

FC Archachon 0 Lincoln City 4

Lincoln City: Alan Marriott; Peter Folkes (Dean West), Nathan Peat (Kevin Sandwith), Simon Weaver (Ben Futcher), Abraham Tounkara (Paul Morgan); Matthew Bloomer (Richard Butcher), Lee Frecklington (Jamie McCombe), Michael Blackwood (Peter Gain), Ciaran Toner; Simon Yeo, Marcus Richardson (Gary Taylor-Fletcher).

Goals: Yeo 3, Taylor-Fletcher

Boss Keith Alexander included a Frenchman of his own in the Red Imps’ first match on tour against an FC Archachon side managed by former French international striker Jean-Pierre Papin. It took 37 minutes for the visitors to establish a lead as Marcus Richardson and Simon Yeo combined for the latter to drive home.

Thirteen minutes after the interval, and following eight substitutions, one of those that remained – Yeo – bagged his second as he converted Jamie McCombe’s cross. The speedy striker then completed his hat-trick midway through the second period with McCombe again the provider. Gary Taylor-Fletcher rounded out the scoring after big Ben Futcher’s initial effort had been saved.

Tuesday 20th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Stade Bordelais 1 Lincoln City 2

Lincoln City: Alan Marriott; Dean West (Peter Folkes), Kevin Sandwith (Michael Blackwood (Dean West)), Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan; Simon Weaver (Matt Bloomer), Ciaran Toner (Richard Butcher), Nathan Peat (Peter Gain), Marcus Richardson (Lee Frecklington), Simon Yeo (Marcus Richardson), Gary Taylor-Fletcher

Goals: own goal, Yeo

City again emerged triumphant as they took on Stade Bordelais in the second part of their pre-season tour. With trialist Ciaran Toner again involved, it took an own goal and Simon Yeo’s fifth goal in just four games to earn Lincoln another win.

Saturday 24th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Lincoln City 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Lincoln City: Alan Marriott (Simon Rayner 74); Dean West (Matthew Bloomer 68), Kevin Sandwith (Nathan Peat 54), Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan; Simon Weaver (Ciaran Toner 68), Richard Butcher, Peter Gain, Simon Yeo (Craig Dobson 59), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Adam Kerley 77), Marcus Richardson (Niall McNamara 54).

Goals: none

Championship outfit Nottingham Forest were heald to a goalless draw in front of over 4,500 fans at Sincil Bank. Simon Yeo failed to hit the target and saw another effort saved by Paul Gerrard in the Forest goal during the first half, when Marcus Richardson also screamed a shot across the face of the goal.

Yeo again went closest in the second period, despite only playing 14 minutes during that time, when he raced clear of the visiting defence but stubbed his shot wide of the target with Gerrard isolated. Alexander made a series of switches to allow trialists such as ex-Cheltenham Town front man Craig Dobson to have a run-out, but Lincoln could create no more openings.

Tuesday 27th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Kettering Town 2 Lincoln City 5

Lincoln City: Alan Marriott (Simon Rayner 61); Dean West (Kevin Sandwith 53), Michael Blackwood (Nathan Peat 49), Ben Futcher (Ben Dixon 51), Simon Weaver (Peter Folkes 66); Matthew Bloomer (Danny Steadman 71), Richard Butcher (Niall McNamara 61), Peter Gain (Ciaran Toner 56), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Laurence Hall 66); Simon Yeo (Craig Dobson 56), Marcus Richardson (Francis Green 46 (Michael Frew 79)).

Goals: Richardson 2, Yeo, Blackwood, Butcher

It took just six minutes for City to take the lead against Town as Marcus Richardson found the back of the net. That man Simon Yeo doubled the score soon afterwards as he tapped home a Gary Taylor-Fletcher cross and Richardson then added a third ten minutes later when he scored with a looping header.

Michael Blackwood, recently signed, notched the fourth just a few minutes after the half-time interval, but Wayne Diuk reduced the deficit back to three with his own effort. Former Kettering favourite Richard Butcher made it 5-1 with a 25-yard blockbuster that may have been similar to his fantastic strike at Roots Hall last season. Simon Underwood grabbed a consolation for Town just before the end.

Saturday 31st July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Lincoln City 2 Watford 2

Lincoln City: Alan Marriott (Simon Rayner 81); Dean West (Peter Folkes 87), Michael Blackwood (Kevin Sandwith 79), Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan; Simon Weaver (Ben Dixon 83), Richard Butcher (Nathan Peat 79), Peter Gain (Ciaran Toner 72), Simon Yeo (Niall McNamara 79); Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Adam Kerley 87), Marcus Richardson (Francis Green 58). Sub not used: Craig Dobson

Goals: Richardson, Taylor-Fletcher (pen)

Championship side Watford were the second such side to depart Sincil Bank having only managed to grab a draw with the Imps. After a less-than-exciting first half, the second period came to life when Marcus Richardson handed the home team the lead by getting a stretching toe to a Gray Taylor-Fletcher cross, although he was injured in the process and was replaced by Francis Green.

Ten minutes on the scores were level as Paul Morgan was adjudged to have pulled Heidar Helgusson back and the referee awarded a penalty. A former Lincoln player in Paul Mayo made no mistake from the spot, and it was 1-1. Nine minutes from the end Green was brought to the ground by Sean Dyche and Taylor-Fletcher converted the penalty as Lincoln re-took the lead.

After a ding-dong battle, the nine substitutions made by Keith Alexander took their toll and City were just unable to hold onto the win. Ashley Young’s pacy flank-play allowed him to cross for Gavin Mahon to smash the ball into replacement ‘keeper and Canadian international Simon Rayner’s goal for 2-2.

Summary – Shrimpers vs. Red Imps last five matches

Southend United

L0-2 (home; Cheltenham Town; League Two)

D0-0 (away; Grays Athletic; Pre-Season Friendly)

D0-0 (home; Brighton & Hove Albion; Pre-Season Friendly)

D1-1 (away; Billericay Town; Pre-Season Friendly; Drewe Broughton)

D3-3 (away; Dagenham & Redbridge; Pre-Season Friendly; Drewe Broughton, Wayne Gray 2)

(Won 0, Drawn 4, Lost 1, Scored 4, Conceded 6)

Lincoln City

W1-0 (away; Shrewsbury Town; League Two; Gray Taylor-Fletcher)

D2-2 (home; Watford; Pre-Season Friendly; Marcus Richardson, Gray Taylor-Fletcher [pen])

W5-2 (away; Kettering Town; Pre-Season Friendly; Marcus Richardson 2, Simon Yeo, Michael Blackwood, Richard Butcher)

D0-0 (home; Nottingham Forest; Pre-Season Friendly)

W2-1 (away; Stade Bordelais; Pre-Season Tour; own goal, Simon Yeo)

(Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 0, Scored 10, Conceded 5)