Town 1 - 0 Lincoln

The Mighty Mariners put in a massive performance at Sincil Bank to record their first victory there in almost 50 years.  Gary Jones scored the all-important goal to give Town the advantage going into the home leg.  It was Town's second away win since the start of 2006, and a big turn round from the defeat at Lincoln just a few weeks ago.

There were superb performances all over the park from Town players with Futcher having one of his best games in a Town shirt, and Parkinson silencing his critics with a great match.

There was a tremendous atmosphere to greet the two teams, meeting for the 99th time in their history. Rob Jones partner was having difficulties with the birth of their first child and so the big defender and Player of the Year was missing for this important game. Ex-Lincoln man Futcher deputised, and Parkinson was preferred to Goodfellow. Reddy was on the bench, and Newey came in for the injured Gary Croft who was on the bench.

Town won a corner after 30 seconds, and with the ball bobbing all over the place no-one could get in a telling shot, and the ball was cleared to Forrester who lost control. Immediately afterwards Parkinson was fouled and Curtis Woodhouse's free-kick was headed out for a second corner to the Mariners.

The short corner resulted in a free-kick to Lincoln.

After 6 minutes, Futcher conceded a free-kick after looking to win a good tackle, and Forrester hit the wall, and the ball was turned behind well by Futcher for Lincoln's first corner which fortunately was a poor one.

Mendes almost got away as Futcher found him with a good ball.

Lincoln's next long throw was headed goalwards but Mildenhall was in the right position and got Mendes away who won a throw-in near the corner flag.

Macca looked to be having trouble as Gary Croft warmed up along the line. Town had a couple of chances as Futcher tried to get in to head the ball, and then went down as the ball came across again but the referee waved play on.

Lincoln broke down the right after Cohen gave the ball away, though Town broke the move. Then Cohen got into the box and shot with the effort being blocked.

Futcher challenged very well when he had two forwards to contend with.

Newey and Woodhouse combined well but Newey's cross hit the first man.

Cohen, Macca and Bolland all challenged for the ball with Bolly conceding a free-kick and being spoken to by the match official, and the Lincoln free-kick was dealt with comfortably. Then City gained a corner, and the ball went into the net after the referee had spotted a foul on Whittle.

Before he restarted the game, Macca was replaced by Gary Croft on 17 minutes.

Woodhouse hit the wall with Town's next free kick.

Lincoln robbed Woodhouse through Green, and Robinson placed the ball in the net but was three-yards offside.

Goal!: 21:26: Bolland volleyed the ball hitting Gary Jones behind, and when the ball came back from Parkinson, Woodhouse and Jones finished the move off to put the Mariners into the lead!

Lincoln immediately won a corner, but turned the ball behind for a Town goal-kick.

Mendes and Bolland played the ball upfield well, but Marriott claimed the ball.

Mendes turned in a low shot which was blocked, and after a tussle between Kerr and Woodhouse, the referee booked Woodhouse, then Whittle conceded a free-kick about 27 yards out, and when it came in, a great save from Mildenhall kept the scores level, and then Robinson was booked for fouling the Town keeper.

Lincoln came again through Beevers and Forrester, with Futcher staying strong and clearing the danger.

Mildenhall punched clear after McCombe had threaded a long ball over.

Mendes won a throw for Town 10 yards from the corner flag, but the ball went out for a goal-kick.

Lincoln then broke, and Woodhouse conceded a free-kick just outside the box, Kerr drove the ball in and Justin cleared well, with Beevers blasting a shot goalwards with Mildenhall turning the ball over for a corner which came to nothing.

Lincoln attacked through Kerr with a couple of minutes to go to half-time but Whittle skied the ball in his own box, and the Mariners got the ball to safety.

Lincoln were on top immediately before the break and Futcher needed to head the ball out for a corner and when the ball went out to Hughes there was a great block from a Town defender.

Cohen brought down Forrester, and became the second Town man to be booked, and Lincoln had a chance as the ball came over, but fortunately it went out for a Town goal-kick.

Half-time: Town 1 - 0 Lincoln

There were no further changes during half-time.

Parkinson got in the box, and looked to get in a shot on goal after 47 minutes, but there was a double ricochet which gave Lincoln a goal-kick.

Mendes found Jones who back-heeled to Mendes and then Bolland blasted a shot onto the face of the bar, and Parkinson smacked the ball just over.

Lincoln played the ball right across the goal after 51 minutes and the resulting throw-in was put out for a corner by Futcher as Lincoln went up for another set-piece which was harmless.

Croft and Forrester battled for the ball with Mildenhall collecting the loose ball, and he hit long to Bolland, but again Lincoln came away with the ball.

Jones headed on the ball from a Mildenhall goal-kick, and Cohen's cross seemed to go out for a corner but the linesman signalled a goal-kick.

Lincoln's next shot was deflected for a corner after 56 minutes, and the inswinging corner caused problems with the ball coming in and then being cleared to the halfway line before being returned into the Town box.

Forrester tried a clever attempt with the ball over the head of the Town defenders, but this time his effort was off-target, as Lincoln looked to make a change.

Lincoln brought on Lee Frecklington for Francis Green after 60 minutes, and Yeo for Beevers.

Town were conceding possession in this period of the match, with much of the play taking place in the Town half.

Lincoln's next long throw was put out for a second one by Cohen, and then another, before Lincoln played the ball over the goal-line for a goal-kick.

Cohen looked to find Bolland and then Croft won a free-kick from substitute Yeo. Woodhouse curled it in to Whittle whose header was on target but easy for Marriott to collect.

Gary Jones brought the ball away, and found Cohen, though the youngster couldn't gain control.

Croft and Mildenhall almost contrived to give Lincoln a chance as each left it to the other. Then at the other end Town tried to get in an attack before Lincoln again pressed with Whittle getting in a vital tackle, and next Newey doing well to clear the ball.

With 22 minutes left Reddy came on for Gary Cohen.

Newey went into the area, skipped past Forrester, and won a corner, after beating 3 men. Woodhouse floated the corner and the ball was headed behind for another corner, but it was out of play.

Newey looked to be injured after his run, but he played on for a few minutes to see if he could run it off as Toner warmed up.

Newey crossed the ball towards Jones, but Lincoln cleared.

Bolland was caught in the chest by Frecklington as Lincoln broke and shot wide, with some being surprised that no foul had been signalled on the Town man.

Lincoln made their final change bringing on Gary Birch for Robinson.

Lincoln won a set piece as Yeo was fouled just outside the box, and Bolland was fouled by McCombe.

After 78 minutes former Lincoln player Toner replaced Mendes.

Town then won a free-kick after a foul on Reddy, curled in but missed everyone and chased by Toner. Croft took the resulting throw-in but only to see Marriott collect.

Reddy got the ball just outside the box and initiated a period of Town possession, before Lincoln gained a free-kick to relieve the pressure.

Brown took a long throw-in which Whittle headed out for a home corner, and Parkinson volleyed clear, and as it came back in Mildenhall was almost beaten by the bounce off the pitch.

Reddy went down the line and crossed for Jones, but the cross was intercepted by a Lincoln defender and as the ball was played forward by Birch Futcher fouled him and was booked.

Birch chipped the ball over towards Yeo, but he was caught offside, to use up some more time.

Reddy, and Toner played the ball to Parkinson and his long-range effort beat Marriott but drifted only just wide.

Kerr crossed, and Mildenhall claimed, and dropped it into the centre circle, where Town won the battle before Marriott claimed and rolled out to McAuley.

A long McAuley throw was met by Futcher, and with Gary Jones in attendance, the Mariners won a goal-kick as three minutes of added time was signalled.

Reddy put Parkinson away, and Parky found Reddy who went down with no result, and then Forrester drove the ball wildly out for a throw-in.

Lincoln got the ball forward and Kerr scuffed his shot and won a corner, with Futcher heading out for another corner, and Lincoln hit the top of the bar after a great save by Mildenhall.

Full-time: Town 1 - 0 Lincoln