The Imps kicked off for the third time to get the second half going, attacking the away end of the ground and needing more aggression and intensity according to Mark Hone. A brief period of Lincoln possession showed glimpses of positive play and Hopper was noticeable by his clattering tackles but he also attracted the attention of referee Andy Haines who entered the City number nine’s name in his book. Rotherham continued to press forward but this only allowed a quick counter attack from the Imps with a corner coming from Bramall’s cross as yellow shirts surged forward.
Bramall again featured in Lincoln’s next attack with the ball again going over for a corner. First Fiorini with a shot and then Walsh with a header threatened before a stalwart tackle by Jackson at the other end was enough to keep Rotherham at bay. A corner was well gathered by Wright who released Norton-Cuffy as the game became increasingly stretched. Walsh in space on the left saw his cross cleared as the Imps battled to get back in the game.
Moments later Bramall’s cross from a diagonal ball from a flourishing Fiorini bounced awkwardly causing Hopper to shoot over. By now the home crowd had gone somewhat quiet with all the noise coming from the away section. Now it was Rotherham who sought to counter attack in between periods of Lincoln dominance with Jackson and Walsh showing some much needed aggression in contrast to the first half.
With half an hour remaining Millers boss Paul Warne reshuffled his pack, reinforcing his defence in the face of sustained Lincoln pressure sending on MacDonald and Harding for Barlaser and Kayode. Moments later Scully was replaced by Cullen for the Imps. A foul by Richard Wood earned him the third yellow card of the evening. Wood then won a free kick in a tussle with Teddy Bishop as the Imps continued to make more of a fist of it.
Michael Appleton’s second substitution saw Sørensen come on for Bishop with 20 minutes remaining. A succession of decisions seemed to go Rotherham’s way, testament perhaps to their greater skill at managing the officials.
On 75 minutes Odoffin replaced Oliver Rathbone in the host’s final substitution.
A Rotherham free kick came off Adam Jackson’s shoulder for Rotherham’s sixth corner of the game. Hopper headed it away with Walsh clearing the return shot. As the game entered its final ten minutes the home supporters were stirred to urge their side on. Then just as the commentators were saying how Hopper looked to be tiring, the Imps striker found the net from a Bramall pass in a move initiated by the excellent Fiorini.
Cullen put Marquis through but he was foiled by Macdonald. Moments later a rejuvenated Lincoln forced a corner, conceded by Wood. Lincoln remained camped in the Rotherham half save for the odd foray by the Millers who were hanging on by a thread with four minutes plus added time remaining and Bramall, Walsh and Fiorini seemingly everywhere. More pressure from good combination play by Lincoln necessitated a sharp save from Vickers in the Rotherham goal.
As the clock passed 90 minutes a further five were added as a tiring Rotherham hung on desperately to their narrow lead and Lincoln looked a different side from the first half. In the dying moments a great knock down from Hopper saw first Cullen and then Sorensen denied by the excellent Josh Vickers.
In the end there was no return for City but it has to be said, the second half performance was a vast improvement on the first as players stood up to be counted. Much as the travelling faithful will have left the New York stadium disappointed at the result, there is no doubt that they will have taken away a feeling that this Lincoln City side are up for the fight.
Mark Hone picked Cohen Bramall as his man of the match for the way he initiated so much of Lincoln’s attacking moves. Fiorini is also deserving of an honourable mention for his creativity as well as Tom Hopper for his exemplary work rate, rewarded as it was by a consolation goal. At the back, Walsh and Jackson were much improved after half time. Other results mean Lincoln slip to eighteenth in the table but remain 8 points clear of the drop zone.
As for Rotherham, well they march on, but not without an overwhelming sense of relief at having come away with all three points, a result that keeps them four points clear at the summit of League One.
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