Nuneaton Town 2 - 1 Lincoln City

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[dutchman]

MATCH REPORT: Nuneaton Town 2-1 Lincoln City



THERE was a brief moment in this intriguing encounter that Boro fans forgot they were in a relegation battle.

Leading through goals from Gaz Dean and debutant Adam Dawson, scored either side of Tom Miller’s leveller, the tension was tangible in the James Parnell Stadium as a third win of the season was a few agonising minutes away.

Influential midfielder Lee Fowler turned on a six-pence to ghost past two Lincoln men before firing a vicious right-footed drive whistling past the left post.

It was a moment of class. The type of inspirational moments that supporters thrive on. Ian Muir-like some might have said.

Even though he missed, it was a good idea. One that gets people talking.

It also gives Boro hope for the future. Something to build their squad around.

In Fowler, they have a talisman who is only going to get better the more minutes he plays.

His precise delivery created Boro’s opener and his industry was pivotal in the winning goal.

The former Coventry City man had two new teammates to familiarise himself with as Dawson, a midfielder on loan from Leicester City, and Anthony Charles, a defender most recently at Luton Town, made the starting eleven.

Jack Dyer was also preferred to Anton Brown in midfield and Adam Walker made way for Dawson as Daish shuffled his back in search of a first victory in the Boro dugout.

Goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook showed he had no hangover from the disappointment of conceding an injury-time free kick against Woking when he bravely slid out into a congested penalty area to collect Marcus Marshall’s inviting cross.

The other side of the Coventry City loanee’s game was laid bare when he was caught in possession by Ben Tomlinson and appeared to wrestle with the Lincoln frontman - but referee Simon Bennett thought otherwise and The Imps failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

Charles-Cook was beaten on 14 minutes but it was centre half Charles on the line who thumped Tomlinson’s strike from a poorly cleared long throw to safety.

Tom Anderson’s afternoon for the visitors ended on 26 minutes when Charles-Cook’s crunching challenge close to the sideline left him writhing in agony. He was later seen on crutches after Tony Diagne arrived in his place.

The first half-an-hour seemed to be following a familiar theme of late for Boro as they bobbed and weaved on the ropes without conceding a killer blow.

But then, out of the blue, it was Boro who delivered a knock-out punch.

Fowler’s central free kick fell invitingly inside the box and Gaz Dean’s sheer presence and momentum diverted the ball home for his second goal of the season.

The stadium announcement suggested the ball meandered its way home without an additional touch - but both players confirmed after the final whistle it was Dean who nudged home.

Lincoln should have equalised moments later when Karl Ledsham headed wide under no defensive pressure.

But Gary Simpson’s side wouldn’t have to wait long to find their equaliser.

Theo Streete appeared to have fairly won the ball tight to the touchline but a free kick was awarded.

Sean Newton’s cross found the unmarked Tom Miller to thunder a header past a helpless Charles-Cook.

The second half started with a flurry of activity as Ledsham crashed a volley from the edge of the box against the bar, and a minute later, Craig Curran’s header across goal bounced agonisingly back off the post.

Ben Hutchinson flashed a free kick wide from 25 yards out to end a lull of activity after the early pair of opportunities.

This spell of inactivity came to a dramatic end on 67 minutes when the lively Dawson crossed from the right all the way into the top left-hand corner of the net.

It was Fowler’s battling header and chasing a lost cause that instigated the move which led to the goal.

Charles-Cook was to Boro’s rescue five minutes later after Miller’s long throw was headed tamely away by Streete into the path of Nat Brown.

Lincoln’s captain shot low to the keeper’s left but Boro’s number one was equal to it with a strong right-arm intervention.

The final action of note was Fowler’s divine turn and shot as Boro comfortably ended the game on the front foot.

There was no last-minute heartbreak, more importantly, there was no threat of that possibility as Boro showed cool, mature heads to secure Daish’s first win as the club’s manager.