Woking 3 Imps 1
Terry Hawkridge and Nathan Blissett came in for Greg Tempest and Craig Stanley for this Vanarama National League game at Woking.
Conditions were very blustery as referee Wayne Barratt led the two teams out of the tunnel and once the pre-match formalities with the two captains were done and dusted he got things underway with Woking kicking off.
The game was three minutes old when Woking won the game's first corner but Bradley Wood was on hand to clear the danger. A couple of minutes later Paul Farman was forced to tip behind a low bouncing effort from Bruno Andrade but it wasn't long before the hosts were on the offensive again.
John Goddard was the architect as Woking grabbed a sixth minute lead as, after he created space on the left, he squared for Dan Holman to fire home his 11th of the season.
City looked for a quick response and were almost gifted a leveller when a Wood cross was chested back strongly by Joey Jones, forcing home stopper Jake Cole to claim the ball on his line.
In the 13th minute Jack Muldoon was taken out crudely by Cameron Norman after he flicked the ball past him and with Muldoon back in the action after treatment, Matt
Rhead flicked on a Wood throw only to see Cole gather under his bar.
Goddard appeared to kick out at Wood as he prepared to take a throw-in and after referee Barratt had words with the Woking man, City pressed forward with Blissett denied by a brave Cole save at the back post.
In the 27th minute Blissett latched on to a Rhead flick on following a Farman drop-kick but ran out of pitch after rounding Cole and a hesitant Woking defence.
With the match littered with stoppages there was no flow to the game and it wasn't until the 40th minute until things livened up as, after Hawkridge was taken out on the half way line, referee Barratt unbelievably let play continue and Woking duly made the most as the break ended with Joe Quigley doubling their advantage.
Play restarted a good two minutes later with Hawkridge in need of treatment and when it did Muldoon had a snap-shot held well by Cole. Greg Tempest eventually replaces Hawkridge.
As the fourth official indicated a minimum of four additional minutes Rhead was flattened by Norman who saw yellow when it should have been a red. Another questionable decision by the referee and more work for City physio Kev Oxby. When the free-kick came in from Tempest, Waterfall was penalised for a foul on Cole.
HT: WOKING 2 IMPS 0
The teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half so it was as you were as the hosts restarted.
City were the first to press with Muldoon firing into the side netting after a Blissett effort was charged down whilst at the other end a swift Woking counter-attack following a cleared Imps' corner ended with Holman firing against the post.
Three questionable decisions against the Imps followed before Craig Stanley replaced Alan Power in the middle of the park. Stanley's first touch saw him volley goalwards only for Cole to palm the ball away and out for a throw-in.
On the hour mark Howe headed a Sparrow free-kick wide of the target before Blissett set up Stanley who again was denied by Cole. Muldoon was then left grounded after he was taken out on the right but once again the officials failed to award the obvious.
Andrade went in late on Beevers before Farman saved well from Holman and when the Imps got the ball in the box via a long Muldoon throw, play was halted after the referee spotted a push by Howe.
Shortly afterwards, Andrade advanced down the right and saw his cross prodded home by Holman for his second of the game. Conner Robinson replaced Nathan Blissett after this further set-back.
After a scrappy period, City reduced the arrears when a long Wood throw was flicked on and over Cole by the head of MATT RHEAD. City had 14 minutes in which to salvage something from the game.
City kept pressing with a Muldoon shot deflected out for a corner which ended up with Sparrow slicing a shot wide. Appeals for a penalty after Robinson was dragged to the deck were then waved away by the referee.
In the 86th minute Goddard went in late on Wood. After Goddard picked up a deserved booking, Wood was also cautioned for his reaction as was Sparrow for dissent.
Sparrow had two great chances shortly afterwards but on both occasions he fired over and after Terell Thomas replaced Dan Holman for Woking, things hotted up in added time.
The incident of note came after Andrade fouled Beevers close to the corner flag. Players from both sides got involved and once things calmed down Beevers was shown a red card to add to the misery.
The clock continued to tick on and five minutes over the 90 Kieran Murtagh replaced Andrade for the hosts. The last action came a good two minutes later when Robinson won a corner for City but this ended with Muldoon firing over from range.
FT: WOKING 3 IMPS 1
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Bradley WOOD
5 Luke WATERFALL
7 Jack MULDOON
8 Alan POWER
9 Matt RHEAD
12 Terry HAWKRIDGE
18 Lee BEEVERS
21 Matt SPARROW
26 Callum HOWE
29 Nathan BLISSETT
subs
3 Greg TEMPEST (for HAWKRIDGE 44)
4 Craig STANLEY (for POWER 58)
6 Chris BUSH
14 Conner ROBINSON (for BLISSETT 69)
13 Aidan GRANT
GOAL: RHEAD (76)
BOOKINGS: WOOD (86), SPARROW (86)
SENDING OFF: BEEVERS (90+3)
WOKING
1 Jake COLE
2 Jake CAPRICE
4 Mark RICKETTS
5 Brian SAAH
7 Joey JONES
11 John GODDARD
14 Matthew ROBINSON
15 Bruno ANDRADE
19 Joe QUIGLEY
20 Dan HOLMAN
26 Cameron NORMAN
subs
8 Kieran MURTAGH (for ANDRADE 90+5)
16 Kadell DANIEL
22 Terell THOMAS (for HOLMAN 89)
23 Jimmy KEOHANE
18 Nick HAMMAN
GOALS: HOLMAN (6, 68), QUIGLEY (40)
BOOKINGS: NORMAN (45), GODDARD (86)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Wayne Barratt
ASSISTANTS: Lee Forrester & Louis Marks
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Michael Taylor
ATTENDANCE: 1,432 (215 City supporters)
