Match report...
There were three changes to the City starting line-up for this Vanarama National League game at in-form Aldershot with Bradley Wood, Terry Hawkridge and return loanee Jonny Margetts all coming in.City kicked off and within 15 seconds of the start an aerial challenge between Matt Rhead and Will Evans saw the latter require almost two minutes of treatment before play resumed with a drop-ball.
After City were forced to defend a free-kick into the box, an inswinging Hawkridge cross at the other end lead to the first corner of the game. This ended up with Alan Power fizzing the ball across the face of the goal and somehow nobody in the mix got a touch.
In the 11th minute a high, late challenge by Kundai Benyu on Hawkridge saw the Shots' man somehow escape with just a ticking off from referee Craig Hicks. After a quiet spell, Margetts cut in from the right before seeing his goal-bound drive blocked for a corner; this ended up seeing Waterfall come close with a header.
With rain starting to fall quite heavily as the half passed its quarter mark a great cross-field pass from Hawkridge saw him pick out Wood whose low cross was cleared for another City corner. After this was punched away by Jake Cole, a foul on Alex Woodyard ended with Sean Raggett being pulled up for a foul following Sam Habergham's free-kick.
In the 38th minute a mistimed challenge from Luke Waterfall on Idris Kanu saw the City skipper see yellow whilst the Shots man rolled around and around before springing up in the centre circle.
A couple of minutes later Aldershot's first effort at goal saw Paul Farman palm behind a Bernard Mensah effort whilst in the first of three added minutes a home corner was hooked well wide by Mensah.
The last action of the opening period saw the Imps force a corner but Arnold's low delivery was cleared at the near post.
HT: ALDERSHOT 0 IMPS 0
With no changes made during the half-time break it was as you were as the hosts restarted the game.
The first attempt at goal following the restart saw Mensah fire straight at Farman whilst at the other end a long Wood throw ended up seeing Matt Rhead have a shot charged down from a narrow angle.
At the other end, a 56th minute Mensah cross-cum-shot flew past Shamir Fenelon who slid in at the back post before colliding with the woodwork. City's response saw Arnold pick out Waterfall with a chipped free-kick into the box but the City skipper saw his header hit the post before the ball bounced out for a goal-kick.
Billy Knott replaced Alan Power shortly after the hour mark and after a ity corner was cleared, a late lunge on Wood earned home full-back Nick Arnold a deserved yellow card. Wood received a lengthy bout of treatment once Mike Hine was eventually waved on to the field of play.
Once the free-kick was taken, almost three minutes later, Knott picked out Waterfall from but the skipper headed wide at the back stick whilst seconds later Hawkridge released Margetts but he curled wide after keeper Jake Cole narrowed the angle.
A stray pass in home defence then let in Nathan Arnold but he was denied by Cole who came off his line quickly to block. At the other end Raggett was penalised for a block before Anthony Straker replaced Arnold for the hosts.
Josh Ginnelly for Terry Hawkridge was City's second switch in the 74th minute and three minutes later Jack Muldoon came on for Jonny Margetts. Jonny Giles for Shamir Fenelon was the hosts' second change and Matt McClure for Scott Rendell their third.
With three minutes on the clock Raggett was blocked off the ball as he went up for a Knott free-kick but the officials spotted nothing untoward whilst as the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added on Knott was upended inches outside the box.
Knott's free-kick led to a corner which in turn led to a Raggett header being cleared off the line. This proved to be the last action with City forced to settle for a point once referee Hicks blew for time.
FT: ALDERSHOT 0 IMPS 0
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Bradley WOOD
3 Sam HABERGHAM
5 Luke WATERFALL
8 Alan POWER
9 Matt RHEAD
11 Terry HAWKRIDGE
13 Jonny MARGETTS
25 Sean RAGGETT
28 Nathan ARNOLD
30 Alex WOODYARD
subs
4 Elliott WHITEHOUSE
6 Callum HOWE
7 Jack MULDOON (for MARGETTS 77)
34 Billy KNOTT (for POWER 61)
36 Josh GINNELLY (for HAWKRIDGE 74)
BOOKING: WATERFALL (38)
ALDERSHOT TOWN
1 Jake COLE
2 Nick ARNOLD
5 Will EVANS
7 Shamir FENELON
9 Scott RENDELL
11 Bernard MENSAH
12 Cheye ALEXANDER
16 Jake GALLAGHER
19 Idris KANU
20 Kundai BENYU
22 Callum REYNOLDS
subs
3 Anthony STRAKER (for ARNOLD 70)
10 Matt McCLURE (for RENDELL 82)
21 Jonny GILES (for FENELON 78)
23 Callum BUCKLEY
25 Mark SMITH
BOOKING: ARNOLD (62)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Craig Hicks
ASSISTANTS: Greg Read & Grant Taylor
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Craig Robson
ATTENDANCE: 3,595 (586 City supporters)
