Day 33

Somehow Mali made it to the Second Round of the Under 20s World Cup, despite being thrashed 5-0 by France. My boy Kanouté was especially woeful in that game, I'm told.

Shuker was passed fit for today's match. I put him in the starting lineup, with plans to sub him off in the second half.

Today wasn't just my league debut. An insane nine players in the starting lineup were also getting off the mark. None of the five chosen substitutes had previously appeared for Lincoln in a competitive match, either. Our opponents, AFC Telford, were in a similar position, with five starters making their debut and four new subs.

We are obviously unrecognisable from the Lincoln side that was relegated from League 2 last season; it seems AFC Telford are barely recognisable as the team that was promoted from the Blue Square Bet North (aka Conference North) last season.

The pundits declared central defenders Marques and Byrne key players for Lincoln and Telford, respectively. I thought Olembé would be the one to watch.

Early signs were that I was right. Olembé broke free on four minutes to shoot just wide with the keeper beaten, then looked dangerous again ten minutes later. In the 23rd minute, he won possession and nearly set up Smith. Then a minute later he won a free kick on the edge of the area.

We looked the stronger side throughout the first half, although Telford got in behind our defence a couple of times. Our best chance perhaps came from Barnes-Homer, who blasted just wide of the post from 20 yards out. Shuker struggled, and was largely anonymous.

Then, on the stroke of half time, Marques popped up—unmarked—to head an Olembé corner past the keeper. He scored on his debut. And we were off to a great start.

I took Shuker off for Taylor at half time. He's clearly not ready yet.

We added a second goal almost from kick off, with a beautiful link up between strikers Smith and Barnes-Homer—with whom I'd voiced my disappointment during the half-time team talk. Then a knock-on header from Smith put Barnes-Homer in for his second and our third. Looks like they could be a winning combination.

We didn't ease off the pressure after that. Smith got the goal he deserved for a brilliant second-half performance when Olembé bounded down the left wing and crossed to the near post.

A clearance from Christophe on 67 minutes sent Smith on route for a possible fifth Lincoln goal, but Blackburn dragged him down. The defender was perhaps lucky to escape with a yellow card, since Smith had an unobstructed run to the goal. At the other end, brave defending from Josh Gowling prevented Telford getting a consolation.

Smith and Barnes-Homer both went close as the match drew towards a close, and Olembé nearly scored direct from a corner, then Telford's Andy Brown scored a fine individual effort to give his side an injury-time consolation.

I'm pretty bloody happy with a 4-1 win on day one—especially after that second-half performance. Olembé was, as I predicted, a decisive factor, with two assists and man of the match accolades. Smith's effort of two assists and a goal was a pleasant surprise, while Barnes-Homer's two goals paint him as an excellent signing already.

My opposite number, AFC Telford manager Andy Sinton, praised me for Lincoln's playing style. I couldn't be happier to hear that—playing attractive football is almost as important to me as winning matches.