Day 194

My Under 18s won again—that’s two games in a row. This one was rather easier than last week’s upset of Norwich; they beat last-placed Alfreton 2-1 at home. Coach Grant Brown singled out Aaron Rice, on his comeback after three weeks out injured, as the most impressive performer.

I put Jean-François Christophe in the central midfield spot vacated by the departed Michael Richardson. Christophe hadn’t played a first-team game since being stretchered off against Fleetwood in October—three months ago. I tested new boy Chris Birchall’s versatility by playing him out of position on the left wing, since Olembé’s still a few days from being fit following his injury. Francis Laurent dropped back to right midfield to replace Shuker, with Ben May starting alongside Barnes-Homer in attack. Kanouté kept his place at the back, and Bore returned at right back after being rested in the previous match.

Birchall had the first shot on goal—an unlikely effort from a tight angle just inside the box. We looked the slightly better team during the opening 20 minutes, but it was anyone’s game.

Poor Christophe had to come off injured just before half time. They say a player is most vulnerable to injury when he’s just recovered from one—looks like the lad’s fallen victim to the statistics. I brought Park on in his place, shifting Birchall into a central midfield playmaker role.

York broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, capitalising on lax marking to get in behind the defence. Oyebanjo had an easy finish from Tønne’s left-wing cross.

A fine save prevented Barnes-Homer from equalising 15 minutes later. Substitute Omar Koroma broke free on the right wing, and sent a hard cross towards Barnes-Homer. The striker flicked the ball goalwards, denied only by Ben White’s quick reaction.

We paid the price once again for poor marking in the 80th minute. Oyebanjo found himself in space on the right wing, then crossed to Reed in the penalty area. The York striker couldn’t believe his luck, left unmarked with the goal at his mercy. He fired home for York’s second, leaving me shaking my head in disbelief. Are we completely inept without Olembé and Shuker?

Koroma tried to make something happen from the restart, bursting down the right flank and crossing to Park. The Australian’s header was well saved, however, and the goalkeeper again stood in the way when Koroma broke free of his man a minute later.

York should have scored a third goal in the 88th minute, after Oyebanjo turned Nutter inside out, but the striker put his shot wide. Kanouté gave them another chance barely a minute later. He beat Reed in a footrace for a long ball, then turned right into the path of the York striker. Reed hit a fierce shot towards the bottom corner, just beyond the stunned goalkeeper. At 3-nil behind, we were down and out. I can’t believe we’ve been eliminated at the Second Round from a competition I thought we could win.

I yelled at the players for giving York three easy goals. Bore was the worst performer; he had an absolute shocker of a second half. The one and only bright spark for me was Koroma’s spirited display off the bench. He’s been brilliant this season; I’m glad that he’s still hungry for more.

Christophe’s out for another three weeks. The Lincoln fans are furious. The media is shocked. We have four days to pick up the pieces ready for a league tie against Newport County.

In other news, Scott Bulloch ended his trial early to join League 2 side Hereford. I never got to see him in action. I offered Benjamin Laurant—the other winger on trial—a contract. I think we could use a third talented winger. If he does really well, I might even be able to drop Olembé into defence without gutting our attack.