Sincil didn't Sizzle

The Harriers failed to set the stadium, and their fans, alight today in the heat of Lincolns' Sincil Bank as both sides struggled to create anything worthy of the name 'football'.  We improved marginally in the second half and that was probably down to the introduction of Marvin Johnson for the struggling Ahmed Obeng after the latter looked a bit overawed on the occasion of his debut for his new club.

The first half belonged to the hosts even though they must have been a huge disappointment to their expectant home fans who, in all fairness, were expecting something more positive than was being served up for them.  Their shooting was wayward almost all through the game and Danny Lewis had hardly a shot to save in the first forty five minutes.  Hamza Bencherif was the chief culprit when he shot straight at Lewis early doors and then he sent a header well over the bar some ten minutes later.

We were struggling to create anything at all with anything that we tried going astray or over hit.  When we did manage to find a player the possession was lost due to poor ball control giving the ball straight back to a Lincoln man or going out for a throw in.

The closest we, or anyone, came to scoring in the first half was when Craig Reid got on the end of a loose ball just outside the area and lashed in a shot that the City keeper Townsend tipped around the post after it had taken a slight deflection on its way towards goal.  The half petered out after that and the teams went back to their respective dressing rooms for the expected managerial forked tongue.

The second half was a much better affair from our point of view even if it still didn't quite hit the spot.

We had a major change early on with Marvin Johnson coming on and it was his pace that gave City something to think about.  Right from the off he began to run at the opposition and take them on to force them into mistake after mistake.  Craig Reid had the first chance of the half for us again when Nathan Blissett turned smartly in the area and fed him with the ball.  Again Townsend was equal to it and tipped it over the bar.

On the hour mark we almost made the breakthrough again when Kyle Storer and Johnson fed Chey Dunkley with the ball.  Again Townsend came to the rescue for his side with a well timed stop to earn himself the City MotM accolade.  At the other end Danny Lewis was in action too when he stopped Ben Tomlinson from scoring with a save that looked as if it came off his foot as he scrambled across to stop it going in.

We had another flurry of substitutions with Michael Gash replacing the hard working Reid and then some ten minutes later Blissett made way for Reece Styche.  It was in between the two that the City boss decided to replace the bust Alan Power with Arnaud Mendy.  Power didn't react well to that and stormed off the pitch littering it with his stocking ties and band on the way before brushing past his manager angrily.

The Harriers were now well in charge but for all our new found possession we didn't do all that much with it with shots still going either astray or over the bar.  Dunkley saw another chance go begging and then the worst was to come with Styche not even looking where he was aiming and the ball flew towards the corner flag and into the stand where the Harriers fans were.

The end couldn't really come too soon and thankfully once it did the Harriers fans applauded the lads for a strong display even if it hadn't been the most inspiring opening day game ever seen.  At least we've gained our first point of the season and can hopefully build on that with three points at home to Alfreton on Tuesday evening.

My Man of the Match was a choice between Josh Gowling and Marvin Johnson.  I went for the latter because until his appearance we had been visibly struggling and his inspiration got our game moving and by the end there should have been only one winner.  The Harriers.

REFEREE:

Mr K Evans Lancashire