Day 153

Koroma and Woods returned to the starting lineup for today’s televised match against Grimsby. It was captain Rui Marques’s 200th career league appearance (and his 22nd for Lincoln).

Koroma opened the scoring after just 13 minutes, calmly slotting home Barnes-Homer’s excellent pass. He nearly doubled his tally two minutes later, sliding in to meet Olembé’s cross. But the ball rebounded off the inside of the post and got hacked clear.

We missed Koroma while he was out injured, so it was no surprise to have his influence felt at such an early stage. Our attacks were all Koroma and Olembé during the opening half hour. But Shuker’s the one who next found the back of the net, chipping his free kick over the wall and past the keeper from just outside the box in the 31st minute.

I got worried when Koroma went down injured a short time later, landing awkwardly after a tackle at the end of one of his winding runs. After lengthy treatment on the sidelines, the striker returned to the pitch, but it wasn’t clear that he’d shaken off the knock.

Barnes-Homer hit the bar with a looping header on 62 minutes. We appeared well and truly in control of the match. Still struggling with his knock Koroma made way for Laurent moments later. The Frenchman could have made an immediate impact, first running on to Shuker’s through ball then rising to head Olembé’s cross. But neither of his efforts hit the target.

He didn’t miss in the 74th minute, though, when he volleyed Shuker’s low cross past the keeper from six yards out.

Gowling should have added a fourth ten minutes from the end of the match, with an easy far-post header. But the central defender’s effort sailed high over the bar. It didn’t matter, however, as we held on for a comfortable 3-0 victory. Koroma made the difference on his return, although credit has to be given to Shuker for another brilliant right-wing performance and to the defenders for keeping a tight ship.

Barnes-Homer went another match goalless. He’s playing well, though, so hopefully it won’t affect his confidence.

We’re back on top of the league, but it’s likely to be only temporary. Mansfield still have to play, and their opponents are the woeful Kettering—who are propping up the table with a measly nine points and just two wins.