Skin of Our Teeth: Imps 3-2 Plymouth Argyle

August 17, 2025 Gary Lincoln City, Matches, Reports 2

You cannot possibly complain about the lack of entertainment with the Imps this season.

In the four matches we’ve played in, there have been goals, red cards and lots of incidents. We’ve grabbed six points but, today, could quite easily have tossed three away. Glass-half-empty fans might lament the last 15 minutes and a real slice of fortune from the referee. Glass-half-full fans will laud the 70 minutes in which we put a decent side to the sword. Those in the middle may be in a minority.

Today was a weird one from start to finish, on and off the field for me. It was the first game at which I knew, definitely, that I would never see a game live with my Dad again, and it was tough. It seems such a short space of time between us leaving Wrexham, looking to the future, and now, with him at home on end-of-life care. He’s still here, fighting, and my first port of call on my way home was his bedside to tell him about the game. Never have I felt so lonely as I did walking back to my car after such an incident-packed game, with only me to discuss it with.

I’m trying to mix up my pre-match routine as well. Corn Dolly, Treaty and Gwynne’s was the routine I share with Dad and right now, it’s a bit too painful to do without him, so it was a 10k run with Chris Wray, Stack with his family and to the ground. It meant that I felt like I was in unfamiliar territory by the time I got to my seat.

That soon dissipated when the team was announced. Dad always has problems recognising new players, but the sense of familiarity is strong in a side with just two new faces. Skubala shuffled his pack following the midweek Carabao Cup success at Harrogate Town, with George Wickens returning in goal, Collins leading the line, and Freddie Draper starting deeper after his cup goal. Conor McGrandles also marked his 150th appearance for the Imps, but absences included Jack Moylan, seemingly out for the long term. Erik Ring and Ben House featured on the bench.

The first five minutes belonged to the visitors, who have a handful of cracking players.

Argyle threatened first when Caleb Watts tested Wickens inside 60 seconds. Watts was a livewire for much of the afternoon, a horrible presence in midfield. Horrible presence could be used to describe a few of the Plymouth players who, fired up by their managers long ball comments, seemingly came for a battle against the Lincoln of old. Perhaps they’d seen Terry Fleming and Colin Alcide in the fanzone, because it was a tetchy encounter throughout.

City responded in perfect fashion. On five minutes, Bayliss seized on hesitant defending to drill a precise first-time finish into the bottom corner. It was a cracking finish, and it seemed to come from nowhere, with Tom ushering Reeco away as both men shaped to shoot on the wrong foot.

We almost doubled the lead shortly after. Collins burst into the area and, under pressure, squared for Rob Street, who blazed over. Plymouth looked a little ragged, giving away possession poorly, kicking the ball out and not dealing with the Imps’ press. From a corner they tried to break, but one of their lads seemingly shoved Collins as he went past, and the ball came back for a free kick. I begged for Bayliss to hit it, but Reeco instead fired high over the bar.

Ryley Towler picked up a booking, and he was having a tough time with Xavier Amaechi. For a while I wondered if we might bring hom off, as moments later he committed another foul, but who could come on? Charlie Carlisle, against a winger who has scored against the likes of Fortuna Düsseldorf in the last two season? No, we’ll keep the centre back covering at left back, despite the card. We dealt with it well as a team, shifting the press slightly to keep them playing to their attacking left where possible, but it is little things like that not every sees (including me, as Chris spotted it).

City also had a great chance from Collins after clever work by Darikwa. he worked hard to keep a flick on in, and delivered a superb ball which Collins nodded towards goal. Ashby-Hammond managed to pull off a superb save to deny us another. From the resulting corner it became evident that holding, shoving and pushing was going to be a problem for referee Matthew Russell, who had to talk to players. It was a futile conversation, as the issues didn’t really stop.

Plymouth did continue to carry a threat, with Ryley Towler blocking Kornel Szucs’ strike and Matthew Sorinola heading over from a promising position. Wickens then denied Amaechi’s low effort after good work from Bali Mumba, ensuring the Imps went into the break a goal ahead. It felt like an earned lead, but not a safe one. Plymouth might have been hurried and a little panicked by our press, but it takes a lot of effort and energy, and looking at the bench, we may not have had the legs to keep that up for 90 minutes.

Despite the flurry of chances, the 1-0 lead seemed fair at halftime. City had worked hard out of possession, with Conor McGrandles turning in another great display. Freddie Draper was thriving in the deeper role, winning plenty of flick-ons, and Reeco impressed out wide also. The pairing of Bradley and Hamer rarely put a foot wrong, and City were workmanlike at times. Nobody can accuse of of not looking like scoring either, especially when the likes of Collins can flash shots on target from 20-odd yards out.

He’s been huge for us. I know he scores twice in the second half (spoiler alert), but it’s everything else he does. His runs draw defenders, and he’s always driving standards. Once or twice we played a bad ball and he’s on it, straight away, but only one. He doesn’t bitch all game like Maguire used to. Everyone likes a leader who says his piece and then shuts up.

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1 Comment

  1. Sorry to read about your Dad’s health Gary. He’ll really appreciate your bedside match reports I’m sure. UTI

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