Nationwide League Division Three - 6/3/04 - Whaddon Road
John Ward's Cheltenham snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in an enthralling contest at Whaddon Road last season.
Ward is something of a Lincoln City legend, having made over 200 appearances for the Imps between 1971 and 1982, but there was no room for sentimentality with three valuable Division Three points at stake.
Marcus Richardson gave the Imps an early lead, latching onto a through ball and slotting the ball past Shane Higgs with three minutes gone. After their setback, Cheltenham battled their way back into the game and Paul Brayson came close to netting an equaliser. After a period of sustained pressure, Grant McCann levelled the scored with a well struck free-kick.
There had been appeals for a penalty after Richard Liburd handled a Martin Devaney cross, but the referee adjudged the offence to have taken place outside the area. McCann fired home from the edge of the box after 32 minutes and Liburd was cautioned for his deliberate handball.
Three minutes before half-time Liburd was given a second yellow card and his marching orders after a foul on Cheltenham right-back Antony Griffin. Ten-men Lincoln rallied and scored on the stroke of half-time. It was Richardson again, this time from the penalty spot. The big striker had been brought down by Michael Duff and he stepped up to send Higgs the wrong way and restore his side's advantage.
The second half was dominated by Cheltenham, but stubborn defence from Lincoln frustrated the Robins and as the final whistle approached it appeared as though Keith Alexander's men had done enough to claim the win.
Ward introduced Kayode Odejayi in place of Brayson and the Nigerian began to cause problems immediately with his height and pace. John Brough came close with a powerful shot on the turn and Damian Spencer blazed over the bar after taking advantage of some loose defensive play.
The breakthrough finally arrived with three minutes remaining and it was former Lincoln skipper John Finnigan who broke the hearts of the travelling fans. Devaney's corner was half-cleared and the ball fell to the midfield dynamo, who struck the ball on the half-volley past the despairing dive of Alan Marriott.
It looked as though a point had been saved, but deep into injury time, Odejayi leapt highest to head home a Devaney cross and seal an unlikely, but thrilling win for Ward's improving team.
Cheltenham Town (1) 3 (McCann 32, Finnigan 87, Odejayi 90)
Lincoln City (2) 2 (Richardson 3, 45)
Cheltenham: Higgs, Griffin (Gill 71), M. Duff, Brough, Victory, Devaney, Finnigan, Forsyth (Cleverley 65), McCann, Spencer, Brayson (Odejayi 78).
Lincoln: Marriott, Weaver, Morgan, Bloomer, Wattley, Sedgemore, Gain, Liburd, Green (Pearce 87), Richardson (Cropper 70), Yeo.
Referee: L.E. Cable (Surrey)
Attendance: 3,783