They say the result is all that matters, and maybe, in a local derby, that is true.
Performances do matter, but when it comes to game against Grimsby, there’s a special feeling that makes the result all important. Or, should I say, there’s a special feeling when the game is in a competition people care about. Like the Lincolnshire Senior Cup. Perhaps the Bristol Street Motors does that for some fans (nearly 500 who went to Grimsby), but not for most. Not for me.
I feel dirty watching these games. I know that as a socially aware, politically motivated individual with strong views about corporate greed and the like, I really should hate the BSM Trophy. I don’t. I’m the opposite of a hypocrite, though. I dislike the Premier League and their growing influence, and I understand and respect why many dislike this trophy, but I just don’t. However, I’m also someone who does not watch the Premier League and who could not name more than three or four players featuring for each Premier League team right now. For me, a hypocrite is the person moaning about playing Under 21s in this competition and then following a Premier League team on the side. Just for the record.
It’s been evenly matched so far. City have threatened with a couple of crosses into the box, but Cadamarteri couldn’t quite make clean contact on Ring’s delivery.
⌚️ 18′ | 🐟 0-0 🔴 | #GRILIN pic.twitter.com/NeX7l0BXVa
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) October 8, 2024
Anyway, I still don’t love the competition, but I see its value. Not the prize money, which is nice of course, but the value to our squad. We made nine changes to the side that won at the weekend, that’s nine players getting minutes they otherwise would not have got. Including subs who didn’t start on Saturday, it’s actually 11 players getting minutes. A full team in a competitive (sort of) fixture. That’s got to be good for the side, right?
How did the game go? Well, in a nutshell, after a quiet first half which they probably edged, the game sparked into life when Cods substitute Jason Svanthorsson gave them the lead just before the hour mark, pouncing on a spilt Wickens catch.
However, the Imps were quick to respond. Just eight minutes later, Bailey Cadamarteri met a Jack Moylan free kick with a well-placed header to level the score, breathing new life into Lincoln’s efforts. From there, we pushed on, making several attacking changes in a bid to complete the turnaround.
As the game neared its conclusion, both sides created chances to avoid a penalty shoot-out, with Grimsby looking particularly dangerous through Svanthorsson and McEachran, who saw efforts narrowly miss the target.
🪄 MOYLAN MAGIC!
⌚️ 90+4′ | 🐟 1-2 🔴 | #GRILIN pic.twitter.com/YXLx5zXv0E
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) October 8, 2024
In the dying moments of added time, just as it seemed penalties were inevitable, Moylan struck a stunning effort from 25 yards that found the back of the net, sealing a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Lincoln City.
Instead of a full match report, I’ve decided to use the group stages of this competition as a learning exercise, as I’m sure Michael Skubala has. Therefore, I’ve selected six ‘Good and Bad’ elements and put them together to try to give you an overview of the game without treating this too much like a full fixture.
Because, despite what I said earlier, no game can really be treated as a full fixture when the competition also involves Under 21 side, or when Swindon can actually pull out a 4-0 win.