1. Freestone
2. Jenkins
3. Howard
4. Cusack
5. Todd #
6. O'Leary
7. Coates
8. Mazzina @
9. Sidibe
10. Watkin &
11. Roberts

    ---

12. Keegan @64
13. Romo
14. Williams &9
15. Jones
16. De-Vulgt #71

    ---

 Lincoln

1. Marriott
2. Barnett
3. Bimson
4. Holmes
5. Morgan
6. Black
7. Finnigan
8. Sedgemore
9. Gain
10. Thorpe #
11. Battersby @

    ---

12. Walker
13. Brown
14. Pettinger
15. Buckley #80
16. Cameron @87

A disjointed, uninspired and rather half hearted effort from the Swans today, who collapsed rather lamely under the efforts of a workman-like Lincoln team. And unfortunately they cannot claim to have been beaten by a quality side - Lincoln were robust and direct, but unlikely to be anything other than mid table material, which leaves us staring into the abyss.

The first half was generally dire fayre, with neither side finding any great fluency, or creating any clear cut chances. This was partly excused by an unexpected storm bringing a 10 minute deluge, which for a period made playing conditions tricky, with the Swans players in particular struggling to stay on their feet. Throughout, Lincoln looked the more likely side to score, with a couple of headers going wide and over the bar from close range, as our makeshift centre half pairing of Todd and O'Leary failed to cope easily with the Lincoln air raids. Their best effort though was a rasping drive which Freestone saved well.

The Swans' response was also based on the high ball, usually searching out the heads of the lanky Sidibe and Williams, who replaced the injured Watkin after only 10 minutes. This failed to create any clear cut openings, and our better efforts were from long range, with a neat chip from Coates just eluding the bar, and a rasping shot from 25 yards by Mazzina just clearing the angle of post and bar. But in a half in which we seemed unable to string passes together and in which our midfield pairing of Cusack and Mazzina failed to exert any influence or control, it was not surprising that we went into the break without having once tested the abilities of Imps keeper Alan Marriott (who, of course, some morons managed to confuse with Andy Marriott!).
Steve Watkin went off
injured after 9 minutes

There was still plenty of hope though at half time - surely we could raise ourselves to something better than this? But it was not to be, as we quickly conceded a sucker breakaway goal when a cross from the Lincoln left found Lee Thorpe unmarked, and he volleyed past Freestone from close range. We rallied briefly, and could have equalised when a Roberts cross fell to Coates in the six yard box, but was unable to connect with a volley which would surely have found the net. A minute later another cross found its way to Williams in front of goal, but he was unable to get any power into an effort which, at least was our first strike on target. But then it was all over as Todd connected with a Lincoln player in the box, who fell like the proverbial sack of spuds, and referee Mr Ross has no hesitation in awarding the decision to the home side. Steve Holmes cracked home penalty, though Roger came agonisingly close to saving it.

Indeed, had it not been for Wales' no 1 between the sticks, we would probably have lost this by 5 or 6. He had already made a couple of excellent saves, but he then kept our hopes alive with two brilliant point blank saves from scorching efforts from the home side, who also contrived to miss an open goal when Thorpe blasted over, with our central defence now completely awol. The hopes of the Swans fans were raised beyond all expectation when the inspirational Keegan and DeVulgt were brought into the fray - surely two players of this calibre would turn the game around for us ;-) But alas, we were soon three goals down when a high ball caught Todd one on one with Thorpe, who raced passed him to knock home an easy clincher. There was still time for Freestone to make a couple more close range saves, and for Stu Roberts and Williams to fashion a couple of decent late strikes on goals, before the referee's whistle mercifully brought this one to a close.

Freestone 8 - Saved this from being embarrassing
Jenkins 6 - A decent performance at right back
O'Leary 5 - Struggled with the robust attack
Todd - 5 As above, but hopefully he will be the better for the experience
Howard - 5 Mediocre in defence and poor coming forward
Coates - 6 Little influence in second half, but not a bad first period
Mazzina - 6 A few nice touches, but little influence
Cusack - 5 We needed him to take hold of the midfield, but he was generally anonymous
Roberts - 6 Kept trying, but didn't make much impression today
Watkin - substituted early due to injury
Sidibe - 6 A few nice touches and some game running, but didn't threaten

Williams - 5 Looked uncomfortable in central striking position
Keegan - 6 A couple of crosses late on
DeVulgt - 5 No real impression, and hopelessly out of position

The tactics we deployed here looked familiar - defending deep, with Cusack protecting the back four, and Roberts and Coates doubling up on the flanks, whilst we look to break out of defence on the counter. This was the style that brought us the championship two years ago, but this time the execution was all at sea. The team did not operate as a unit at all - passes went astray, players failed to read each others intentions, our midfield failed to give us any kind of platform, and several players (Williams in particular) looked uncomfortable in the roles being asked of them. Most worryingly, when plan A went wrong, there was no plan B to revert to - no change of tactics, no swapping things around, no attempt to mix things up; Lincoln finished the game at a stroll. But on a positive note - one or two players showed flashes of what they can do - Roberts, Sidibe, Mazzina etc, and if we can get the Smith/Bound combination back soon, then we will no doubt be a far more solid unit, to give us a platform on which to build. Otherwise, things could be looking bleak.

Soccernet.com

Lincoln turned on the style to secure a 3-0 win over Swansea at Sincil Bank.

After a slow start, the Imps took the lead in the 49th minute when Lee Thorpe converted a left-wing cross from Kingsley Black.

Roger Freestone produced a stunning save to deny Black but the Swansea goalkeeper could do nothing to keep out a 63rd-minute penalty from Steve Holmes.