Match Reaction: Shots vs Lincoln City

Last updated : 17 February 2011 By Stray Shots

Shots manager Dean Holdsworth was disappointed but philosophical following yet another draw at the EBB Stadium as The Shots threw away a two-goal lead to draw yet another fixture.

Speaking to the clubs official website following the match he said:  ”At two-nil we were in total control of that game. Total control of the game.

”One piece of poor play led to another piece of poor play led to a poor piece of marking led to the ball in the back of our net then we looked a little bit frail.

”We played well and I spoke about it at half-time how we’d hit them through the middle and passing the ball along the floor which we did, and it was a great second goal by Alex Rodman and there was only one team in it and I’m actually devastated because we were in total control until one ball in the box.

”The lads are all disappointed and it wasn’t through lack of effort but we’ll learn from it and take the positives.”

Lincoln City manager, Steve Tilson meanwhile bemoaned the fact that it took his side an hour to get going saying:  ”At two-nil down I’m obviously pleased with getting back into the game and getting a point but I’m just disappointed that we didn’t start until about an hour into the game.

”They [his players] didn’t create too much in that hour but they’ve set their standard and they were a little bit below that in the first hour but after that I felt that once we scored the first one then obviously got the second one, there was only one team that may be looking to win it.

”At 2-0 down we could have folded but as the game went on we seemed to get better, we seemed to work harder and in the end we got a point.

”It was a decent pitch to get the ball down and play on it – our pitch is very difficult but tonight it was a very zippy surface and it was a good pitch for us but we didn’t start playing until the last thirty-minutes, but the positives are that we worked hard and fought our way back into the game and I think before the game you would have taken a point – and we got a point.”

Supporters meanwhile had this to say:

Shots Talk

"Fair play to lincoln who never gave up (from what I was reading) but I definately think that's 2 points lost tonight.
"It sounded like we went 2-0 up and then, as usual, just sat back"
  - czechshot

"ok...im going to be the one to say this.
"Worryingly this run reminds me of the start of the season under KD, we just cant finish off teams!
"I have confidence in Deano to turn it around, but it means that mid table obscurity is the best we can hope for"
  - shotsblue

"I think that the result of the match rested on our substitutions. I sense that Dean is rotating the first eleven with a view to who to keep for next season, and who to release.
"For me, after going 2-0 up, I would have replaced Danny Hylton (whom I think is really Conference National standard - sorry Danny), with McGlashan, as it would have been a straight swop, as opposed to changing our shape too much by introducing Sills & Halls. This would have stretched Lincoln, as they were already committing numbers forward to get a goal back.
"Unusually for me on a messageboard, I am going to be critical. Ben Harding was a passenger tonight, as he has been for some time. In the defensive midfield role he is not involved enough, whereas his counterpart - Luke Gutteridge is putting in lots of quality work. Wade Small works best as an old - fashioned inside - forward, working and feeding behind a big striker, and is of little use on the wings. He is easily worked off the ball, due to his slight stature.
"I also agree that the team looked tired on the hour mark - for what reason I do not know. Looking at the positives - we continue to pick up points to keep us away from the drop zone."
- Stenhouse
 
"First half was pretty even for the first bit, neither side really creating any worthwhile goals and then came the penalty.  I was at the opposite end of the pitch so couldn't tell if it was handball or not, so will wait until I see the replays.
"From that point onwards until the O'Keefe's goal it was as bad as we've played all season, we were absolutely awful and if I'm being completely honest, I don't think we deserved to get anything from the game. Having said that, I'll take a point after what was arguably our worst performance of the season.
"I struggled to think of a MOTM as I genuinely don't think anyone player particularly well and the midfield, with the exception of O'Keefe, gave the ball away so much that we rarely got near their goal"
- Nathan Jackson
 
"I thought the game was pretty dire, but when Ashley Grimes is generally poor for the entire match, but scores the equaliser, you know that overall, it wasn't THAT bad on the night. Subs made at the right time, because it changed the game.
"Paul Green and Claps were @#$%& though and I just felt as though we would always be in danger with them two on.
"I still don't believe it was a pen."
- Rob Patterson