Lincoln City 2 Southend United 1

Darryl Flahavan battled on despite a first half injury.

This match, played on a terribly substandard pitch at Sincil Bank - for anybody who wasn't amongst the 250 visiting supporters the length of the grass really had to be seen to be believed - but that didn't hide the fact that once again United simply did not perform. It was not as bad as Kidderminster, but in all honesty a 'performance' like that will probably never be repeated in the remainder of the Club's history, however Rob Newman's side certainly put up an inept showing against their hosts whose only tactic was a long throw in.

Although City's long throw tactic seemed to be one more than the Shrimpers had. Southend were powderpuff and attack wise United didn't know what way to turn. Unbelievably Graeme Jones started up front again with Tes Bramble - returning from sickness - pushed out onto the wing once more replacing Steven Clark whilst Damon Searle was left out in favour of Ian Selley, another man returning to full fitness.

The match itself was far from a spectacle; in truth it was awful, with no excitement in the entire ninety minutes. Selley saw a shot deflected just over the crossbar by Paul Morgan on five minutes, but as early chances went, that was just about that.

Darryl Flahavan, who struggled in the first half having picked up a strain to his ankle in an accidental collision Adie Mike battled on well and made a fine stop from Stuart Bimson's long range free kick on 29 minutes. The only other action of the half, just before the interval saw Jay Smith scuff a shot well wide after Leon Cort had flicked on a Kevin Maher corner.

In a second half that was equally as dull as the first the only difference was goals, and inevitably more of those arrived in the way of the hosts.

City took the lead on 62 minutes, and it seemed all so easy as Pater Gain was allowed to saunter through the Shrimpers defence, completely unchecked before mishitting a low shot past Flahavan.

Neil Jenkins' equaliser was a stunning effort.

The second goal arriived on 71 minutes, this time United's suspect defence fell asleep from a Paul Smith corner and Simon Yeo was allowed a free header at the far post which Flahavan somehow completely missed.

Flahavan redeemed himself slightly by making a neat stop from Mike's deflected shot before the last asction of the match saw United pull a goal back on 75 minutes and amazingly iy was a superb strike. Following a foul on Bramble, Maher laid a free kick to Neil Jenkins who smashed a sweetly struck shot past the helpless Alan Marriott and into the top right hand corner.

It's just a shame that United never endeavered for an equaliser. Certainly a match that will be forgotten.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com