UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 8th November 2008, 3.00pm
Carchedi Double Beats Rovers
This game matched the weather, as it was a drab grey affair with hardly any exiting episodes to report. The only bright item on show was Louis Briscoe sporting what can only be described as an 'interesting' haircut!
Rovers' first attempt on goal came on 17 minutes when Kevin Lock headed over the bar but three minutes later the visitors were gifted the lead.
Gary Walter's free kick to the far post was headed back into the danger area where Gio Carchedi was left unmarked to force the ball home from close in.
To Rovers' credit they hit back almost immediately when a quick free kick on the right found Gavin Saunders who chipped a ball into the area and Briscoe helped the ball on into the net with his shaved head.
Any hopes of a revival were dashed just three minutes later when United regain the lead as a result of some dismal defending.
Walters made a fine run down the right catching defender Nathan Morris completely cold and his pinpoint cross to Carchedi was duly slotted home.
The second half was only slightly better to watch with Barry Woolley flicking a header just wide of the post early on and then Briscoe firing wide after making a good run down the right.
Although Rovers having all the possession they just could not force a deserved equaliser as United defended for all they were worth.
Lincoln's Mario Ziccardi was far the busier of the two keepers and he did well to beat Luke Edwards to the ball but pushed it to Saunders but the final shot sailed wide of the far post.
On 72 minutes Rovers should have been level when substitute Robbie Banks sent over an inviting cross that Jamie Barrett somehow managed to head wide with the goal gaping.
Two minutes later Lincoln had a rare attempt on goal and should have extended their advantage.
Carchedi made a fine run into the box before unselfishly squaring the ball for Sean Cann who made an awful hash of his chance and saw the ball roll harmlessly for a goal kick
Briscoe, normally deadly in front of goal, had a golden chance to equalise after he had again mad a good run into the box but with only Ziccardi put his shot left and wide of the near post.
With time running out a Banks' free-kick into the box was cleared but the ball hit a Lincoln player and was heading into the net only for Ziccardi to dive and block on the line.
In time added on, a long throw found Saunders just outside the penalty area but he dragged a shot wide of the near post.
Manager's View
"We are still scratching our heads as to how we didn't get at least a point out of the game to be honest particularly the second half.
"The chances that we had, top drawer chances, Jamie Barrett's header comes to mind and Louis Briscoe's was easier to score that to pull it wide.
"He (Louis) got the plaudits last week and got himself a goal today and he ought to have rescued us towards the end. There was the one that ricocheted off them and they saved it on the line.
"We didn't get going as we had done in the previous games but having said that when you are not playing well you have to grind out results and there was a result there for us today.
"We weren't nearly clinical enough in front of goal and we are very disappointed in the manner of their goals.
"One of the players has switched off for both of their goals and we've been punished. The disappointing one was having got back on level terms we conceded so quickly afterwards so it was frustrating.
"It was positive that we got back on terms and you are looking to have a solid five or ten minutes after that and then using that as a platform to go one and get something from the game but we conceded the goal in just two minutes after we equalised.
"The second goal, the player who hadn't started particularly well got caught and with runners inside him it was a nice pass across for their number ten to get his second.
"After the way we'd defended in the last couple of games that's been frustrating, it really has.
"Second half we got a bit of a reaction. We didn't play particularly well but we created more than enough chances to get back into the game and we didn't take them.
"We win together and we lose together and the player has held his hand up and apologised as he hasn't been at the standard he has been for the last couple of matches.
"It's a team game and we talked about Louis earlier that he got the plaudits and he's got a nice goal today but he's gutted in the dressing room because Lincoln must fancy playing against him because he missed two sitters at their place to maybe get a win for us but you can't pick out individuals. You do now and again out of frustration but it's a very together squad and I'm sure that those players who didn't have a particularly good game today their team mates will be around them lifting them up and hopefully get them focused for what lies ahead.
"An indication of the team spirit we have was Louis's haircut. They are up for pranks like that. He's lost his mojo and his ability to finish so I think he should shave it all off now. It caused a laugh when he arrived with that haircut.
"I think we missed Carl Slater today and we missed David (Blenkinsopp) as well but that's not an excuse for losing the game today.
"Everyone has to cope with the loss of key players from time-to-time and we've had two players, one through suspension and one through illness, not able to start the game today and they've been players especially in Carl Slater's case playing very well in the middle of the park and in David's case he's been ticking over with the goals ticking which are obviously much needed so yes, we've missed both of them.
"Hopefully, next week certainly Carl will return and we will see how David recovers from his tonsillitis. We gave him (David) a fitness test before the game and he was never going to last more than twenty odd minutes, which was a shame because we didn't really want to change the team around too much today but we were forced to on both those occurrences.
"We missed them both but it gave other players the opportunity to come in and Kevin Lock's come in and done okay for seventy minutes or so and Gavin Saunders did okay as well. We've got people within the squad that can come in a do a job but it's not quite clicked for us today."
