When I started this feature, I imagined writing about us beating York City 3-0 or reliving big matches against Huddersfield Town.
Instead, welcome to the second 0-0 draw in a row. Seriously, I must be scraping the barrel if I’m reliving 0-0 draws! However, to get a good view of some former legends, it’s important to remember it wasn’t all goals and happiness under Big Keith. Every football team draws and loses matches, and on September 13th, 2003, we were good at the latter.
City went into the game in 22nd position, one place and one point above Orient. Our visitors had a side featuring some familiar faces – Lee Thorpe for one, but players such as Gary Alexander, Matthew Lockwood, and Tom Newey were stalwarts of the division and knew enough to ensure Orient would stay out of the relegation scrap. Eventually.
City once again had Mazza in goal, a back three of Futcher, Morgan, and Weaver, with Bailey and Mayo on the flanks. Midfield consisted of Gain and Butcher, with Liburd and Taylor-Fletcher joined in attack by Marcus Richardson. The game had added spice for Taylor-Fletcher, who was facing the team who had sold him to the Imps just a few weeks before. Scott Willis would come off the bench for his final league appearance at Sincil Bank, whilst the largely forgotten Simon Yeo would replace Liburd on 66 minutes.
The game should have been in Orient’s favour after just 12 minutes. Peter Gain played a sloppy backpass and Gary Alexander went one-on-one with Mazza, but he fired high and wide from just inside the area. It was a huge let-off. It was enough to spur the red and white shirts into some serious action.
City had chances, mainly from set pieces and throw-ins. Paul Mayo’s whipped delivery evaded the keeper early doors but was hacked off the line. Bailey’s throw was flicked on by Futcher (I’m writing those words every game at present), and Liburd just failed to apply the finishing touch.
The Imps almost took the lead on 36 minutes. Referee Lee Probert allowed play to continue after Richardson was fouled, and Mayo combined with Taylor-Fletcher to set up Gain, whose stinging drive from 20 yards drew a save from the keeper.
Taylor Fletcher was eager to prove a point to Orient boss Paul Brush (remember him?) and he got that chance before half time. He broke free after Richardson’s smart pass, but under pressure from two defenders, he fired against Lee Harrison’s legs.
It sounds as if City were rampant, but that wasn’t the case. Orient had good chances, Tom Newey twice forcing Mazza into saves, but in the end, a point seemed fair.
“I expected us to win by half time,” Paul Brush said. Not words he could ever utter when he was in the home dugout.
The result did see City climb to 20th in the table, finally above Boston United and just one win behind Huddersfield in 12th.
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