So disappointing.
We were so good for the first half and yet completely the opposite for the second half.
We are now conceding soft goals. The defence has moments of brilliance (Wilson's goal saving tackle for instance) and then go to sleep and concede two poor goals that should have been stopped.
On the plus side Ennis and Randell were good, Jephcott was back on the scoresheet and the left side was revitalised with the re-introduction of Broom.
Camara was a surprise name on the bench, Mayor was house hunting in the Preston area 😃 , Jephcott and Ennis led the attack and Crichlow made his debut in place of Gillesphey.
The game started at a frantic pace, each side keen to assert some authority.
Jephcott was doing well by dropping team and linking play and also finding some great passes and one of these found Randell who was clear on goal but instead of shooting he looked for a pass and the delay enabled the Lincoln defenders to clear.
A similar chance happened at the other for Marquis and he also chose to pass instead of shooting and Crichlow cleared the danger.
The Grant and Broom combination on the left was causing problems, we are more direct on that side when Broom plays and it was Broom who had a shot well saved.
Lincoln did have some very good opportunities but either shot other the bar or wide of the post.
We got our deserved goal when Houghton played a neat pass to Ennis out wide, he tricked his way past a defender and layed the ball back to Jephcott who fired a low shot into the far corner. 1-0.
We really needed to grab a second goal while we were on top. We didn't and paid the price.
The second half was a different game.
We stood off Lincoln and allowed them to play.
Edwards went to close down a player high up the pitch, the ball was played into the space vacated by Edwards and Scully raced past Wilson and his near post cross was finished off by Marquis.
That was really poor from Edwards to commit himself like that.
We rallied and tried to stem the flow of Lincoln attacks, although the left side struggled to be the same force as the first half.
A Randell free-kick was well saved.
Passes went astray, we were lethargic and couldn't stem the Lincoln attacks.
Houghton picked up an injury and was replaced by Camara to much expectation. Randell moved into the quarterback role.
Edwards was also replaced with Garrick coming on at RWB although late in the game it was all change again - Jephcott was subbed, Law went to LWB, Garrick went up front, Grant moved into midfield and Broom shuffled over to RWB.
The killer blow came in the 92nd minute when we failed to clear a corner and it was headed in. 1-2.
The first half performance didn't deserve that, the second half performance did.
Game over.
Ennis did well up front, he surprisingly win a lot of headers but Jephcott didn't have the pace to feed off them.
He also did well holding up the ball and fending off the Lincoln centre-backs.
Jephcott did well with his passing and linking play, he will make a very good midfielder.
Wilson made a superb goal saving tackle, Scarr was dominant in the air and Crichlow did well on his debut - he has a languid style of play.
And yet collectively the defence conceded two soft goals and it could have been more.
Edwards was poor today, he gives everything but the team needs something better defensively and in attack.
He commented himself too much for the first goal which highlights the problem of playing with wing-backs.
Camara didn't make the expected impact and was largely anonymous.
Broom gave the team a new attacking dimension on the left - he's direct and fast and linked well with Grant.
That combination play just doesn't happen on the right side.
Randell did well in both roles although his lack of pace in the Camara role let him down at times. Two different players for that same role.
Cooper's kicking was poor and he looked off it today.
Overall frustrating and disappointing.
Man of the Match - Ennis.
Cooper 5, Wilson 6, Scarr 6, Crichlow 6, Houghton 5, Edwards 4, Randell 7, Broom 7, Grant 6, Jephcott 7, Ennis 7. Subs - Camara 5, Garrick 5, Law n/a.
