Day 82

The Lincoln Under 18s cranked out another win—this time a convincing 5-2 display against Braintree Town (there's really a place with that name? Really?). Our youngsters are now 2nd after five games. Maybe they're not as bad as I thought.

Bore pulled up fit enough to start against Luton, but Ansah did not. Russell stepped in on the left wing, and I swapped Taylor in for Platt on the bench, while we fielded an otherwise unchanged team.

We could have taken the lead in the fifth minute, when Russell crossed to an unmarked Koroma. The striker's header was weak, however, and the Luton keeper saved easily.

A good attacking play on the right side gave us another chance around ten minutes into the match. The final chance fell to Barnes-Homer, whose shot whistled just wide of the post. Luton attacked quickly in response, with strikers Fleetwood and Crowe threatening.

In the 18th minute a Koroma pass was deflected into the radius of Russell. The winger raced in front of his man to claim the ball, then drilled a low shot towards the near post. Luton goalkeeper Mark Tyler reacted too slow, and had barely begun his dive when the ball nestled into the back of the net.

Russell went close twice more before half time. One up in a fairly even encounter, it was the winger's influence giving us an edge.

I sent the lads out for the second half with instructions to stay tight at the back—keep the ball and attack on the break. Luton had already shown a capability to punish any lapses in concentration.

A poor pass from centre half George Pilkington nearly gave us another goal in the 49th minute. Shuker intercepted the sloppy cross-field ball, then played it through for Koroma. The striker raced clear of Blackett and fired a powerful shot goalwards. It thundered off the crossbar, having beaten the keeper, and bounced clear.

Koroma had another chance in the 53rd minute, but couldn't keep his header down. We were in control. Russell, Koroma, and Shuker all threatened over the next few minutes, before Gowling's close-range header from a Shuker corner doubled our lead.

Luton pulled a goal back moments later. Curtis Osano got the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, and turned to shoot. Marques blocked the shot, but the Luton defender was first to the rebound and tucked it away. 2-1 after 63 minutes.

I took off a tired-looking Koroma for target-man Richard Pacquette before play resumed. The match turned to a cagey affair after that—neither side willing to give an inch defensively, but both eager to attack. Ansah replaced Barnes-Homer in the 73rd minute, then Pacquette took a serious knock on 76 minutes.

Luton piled on the pressure, but it was my boys who scored the next goal. Russell bounded down the left wing and crossed low to the near post. Ansah was first on scene, and the young forward made no mistake. 3-1 up with eight minutes to spare, we looked assured of the three points.

Shuker, who appeared dead on his feet from exhaustion, nearly cost us a goal two minutes later. He lost possession in a vulnerable position, but Gowling got across just in time to cover. Taylor came on for Shuker moments later to help us run out the game.

It was a victory we both earned and deserved. A strong defensive display coupled with great performances from Koroma and the wingers Shuker and Russell. Man of the match went to Josh Gowling for a fine defensive performance and a goal.

But it should have gone to Russell, whose goal and assist were just a fraction of his immense, game-changing contribution. On another day, Russell could have easily scored a hat-trick. His boundless energy on the left wing set the tone for the team, and he showed a cutting edge that we've tended to lack in prior matches. (And he works so beautifully with Koroma.)

The result turned out to be the final nail in the coffin of Luton manager Gary Brabin, who was unceremoniously sacked after the match. I've never caused anyone to lose their job by being my awesome self before, so I'm not sure how to feel about this. I guess I should be glad that it wasn't me. I've not had the chance to chat with Brabin, so it is only on a professional level that I can relate to the news.

My job appears to be safer than ever before. The fans were described as "jubilant" after the victory, and both fans and board are happy with my performance. But I know it could just take one bad run to turn them against me. An injury crisis and a broken confidence would cripple this team, and probably put me out on the street. It's a dog-eat-dog world, this football management business.

We stay second in the league, unbeaten in the past five matches.