It was a cold Tuesday night as the men in Amber took on the Imps of Lincoln City last night. The U’s who were searching for any sort of form made 5 changes with Jubril Okedina, George Thomas, Elias Kachunga, Sulley Kai Kai and Gassan Ahadme returning. It gave the U’s a more attacking look which we hoped would get us out of this poor run of form. Despite live European football on tv and the colder weather, the attendance was not bad with 5103 including 358 from Lincoln ready to watch the game.
Prior to the match, due respect to former England manager Terry Venables was made in the form of a minutes applause.
Lincoln kicked off with the U’s playing toward the south stand. Duffy had an early chance for the visitors but his shot was cleared. There then followed two moments which defined United’s current form and the state of football in general. Lincoln got themselves in a tangle and Ahadme took the ball off him by the side of the penalty area and appeared to taken out. Referee Rock blew his whistle, but booked Ahadme for diving. It appeared similar to the Harry Kane penalty incident against Malta a few days ago. I was watching from the north Habbin so my view wasn’t best. No VAR of course. Moments later a breath of wind must have affected Lincoln’s Dylan Duffy as he went down in the box. The challenge from Jordan Cousins was minimal but referee Rock thought it a penalty. Unlike the other decision, this was right in front of me. It was a very poor decision for the gentlest of contact. Soft it was but Mandroiu lashed in the penalty and the U’s were behind. To add insult to injury Cousins was booked too. I thought two wrongs don’t make a right.
For United the game started to drift as the players were clearly affected by both decisions. They should have been good enough to turn the game around but confidence was already at a low ebb. The players looked lost and disjointed with Jensen in the visitors goal mostly a spectator. Hamilton for Lincoln had a couple of efforts, one blocked and one saved by Jack Stevens. Then fate struck another blow from a corner Sulkey Kai Kai miskicked his clearance to concede another corner. As this one was headed clear it fell to Duffy who fired in an effort which deflected past Steven’s for 0-2. You could have heard a pin drop. Duffy fired in another effort saved low down by Stevens. The referees poor evening continued when he got in the way of a George Thomas free kick. I thought play had to be restarted but referee Rock brought the ball back another 10 yards before dropping the ball for Thomas to attempt a shot which was charged down. Not sure that should have been allowed to happen. Smith fired over the bar as the home side laboured. Half time came at 0-2 with a couple of debatable decisions keeping us warm on what was turning into a very cold evening.
United kicked towards the NRE but unsurprisingly it was the visitors who were running the show. They looked bigger and stronger. They were also winning most of the headed duels. Adelakun for Lincoln had an effort blocked before Mandroiu had a further effort cleared. The U’s were playing statues. Further efforts from Hamilton and Mandroiu were saved by Jack Stevens. The gloom was deepening. Then Lincoln changed Duffy for Brown, the U’s changing KaiKai and Kachunga for Brophy and young McConnell. Moments later the U’s had a real chance as Ahadme burst through in the box. Despite being clearly held back by defenders, Referee Rock decided to penalize Ahadme for handball in a decision as daft as the one involving Newcastle United last night. Ahadme was facing forward when a defender played the ball against his running arm. It was ridiculous.
United on 75 replaced Andrew and Thomas with May and Lankaster. Lincoln replaced Malala and Mandroiu with O’Conner and Vale. Vale was then booked for a foul on Liam Bennett before the U’s produced their best football on a disappointing night. Brophy fed the tricky McConnell who fired wide. Moments later Jack Lankaster headed goal ward but it was too close to the keeper. Shortly after Adam May hit a belter from just outside the box but his goal bound effort was tipped wide by Jensen. Lincoln though scored again following a corner, O’Conner hit the post from 6 yards, the ball fell nicely to Vale to side foot home from close range for 0-3. Kymani-Gordon came in for Okenabirhie on 86 just before Mitchell was booked by the referee for something he said. Brown had a late effort saved by Stevens but the game was lost. On 93 Shodipo replaced Eyoma for Lincoln. Before the referee blew for full time.
I write this report after learning that Mark Bonner had been sacked and me speaking to Chris Mann on Radio Cambridgeshire. The news was sad but inevitable. Changes need to be made both at Coach and player levels. Really only Liam Bennett and Glen McConnell emerged with any credit from a disjointed performance. The early decisions from the referee hurt United when a break would have been handy. With confidence visibly sagging a fresh impetus was needed. To save the season, victory over equally struggling Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup on Saturday will keep the season alive. Defeat well………….