League

Lincoln
Spectators: 6697 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1697, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Roy Pitt made the kick off which started today's match. Brett Mabbutt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Roy Pitt in the 3rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Niall Dawson in the 4th minute of play forced Rudston's goalkeeper Jeff Martin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Rudston booed when Lincoln was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sam Harban didn't get a good kick on the ball. 10 minutes into the match, Marcus Albright had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Brett Mabbutt. Lincoln's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Marcus Albright was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Brett Mabbutt made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roy Pitt in the 16th minute of play. Brett Mabbutt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marcus Albright, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Lincoln booed when Rudston was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Donald Slator didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 23rd minute Laurence Sargent managed to get in a great position but fired away a sharp shot that went outside the goal on the goalie's right hand side. It could just as well have been a goal. When Sam Harban fell near the penalty area in the 25th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Lincoln's protests and gave Sam Harban a yellow card for diving instead. In the 26th minute Roy Pitt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brett Mabbutt saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ollie Goldsmith's late challenge caught a Lincoln's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ollie Goldsmith helped the player get up and apologised. Jeff Martin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Niall Dawson in the 29th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Roy Pitt in the 32nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Brett Mabbutt saved Lincoln from getting behind. The audience thought a goal was coming when Denis Robertson got free with Jeff Martin in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 34 minutes into the match, Rudston's goalkeeper Jeff Martin had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alan Norfolk. In the 36th minute the ball was on its way in behind Lincoln's goalkeeper Brett Mabbutt, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Brett Mabbutt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marcus Albright in the 38th minute of the match. In the 44th minute, Roy Pitt got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Niall Dawson to make the kick off. Brett Mabbutt made an important save on a dangerous shot by Roy Pitt in the 52nd minute. Brett Mabbutt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marcus Albright, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Niall Dawson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rudston made a substitution. Nicky Hollingsworth replaced Ollie Goldsmith. In the 66th minute, Roy Pitt made a precise shot to the right of Brett Mabbutt. Lincoln's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. Jeff Martin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sam Harban, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 73 minutes into the game, Niall Dawson cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Jeff Martin was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 81 minutes into the match, Rudston's goal looked a bit too open when Niall Dawson came free, but Jeff Martin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Brett Mabbutt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marcus Albright, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With his leg Brett Mabbutt managed to avoid a goal in the 85thth minute, when Rudston's Roy Pitt fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Brett Mabbutt made a fantastic save in the 86th minute, when Roy Pitt sent off a good shot on target. 88 minutes into the match, Lincoln's goal looked a bit too open when Marcus Albright came free, but Brett Mabbutt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lincoln's Brett Mabbutt played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marcus Albright in the 91st minute of play. Marcus Albright received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Brett Mabbutt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Roy Pitt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rudston's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.