Now, dear reader, I am going to give you a choice. Read only the next few sentences if all you want to know is what happened.
Put simply Scott scored after 4 minutes and United defended for the rest of the game. The game itself was poor with neither side playing anything like good football.

Atkins elected to return to 5 at the back, and put Waterman into the midfield, producing one of the most defensive formations seen this season. Lincoln began aggressively and Weaver on the left lost McNiven before shooting weakly at Woodman. United responded with Savage crossing deep from the right for Andy Scott to slam home from 10 yards into the top left hand corner.

   Lincoln's response was immediate. They hoofed the ball long and direct, and Oxford simply whacked the ball back, time after time. Lincoln forced a steady succession of corners and free kicks but lacked the quality to punish United whose breaks became increasingly sporadic. The Imps seemed content to create chances purely from set pieces and United were happy to waste as much time as they could get away with.  Lincoln were utterly incapable of crossing a ball in a manner that could cause Oxford any problems. Cornelly headed over from a corner but the dry, bumpy pitch was denying either team the opportunity to get the ball down and play. It does need to be said that neither side seemed particularly interested in doing so.

The U's defence were keeping their shape well, and McCarthy in particular was showing great commitment. It speaks volumes of the lack of quality in Lincoln's play that the best chance of the half fell to Foley, who headed a Savage cross wide.

The second half began with Lincoln actually passing the ball a little. Unfortunately normal service was soon resumed and the lousy crossing continued. United's time wasting and lack of ambition became ever more obvious, indeed at one point Bobby Ford found himself taking a corner aiming at just one team mate in the box!

Lincoln piled on the pressure and Woodman reacted quickly to dive at Cornelly's feet to prevent him shooting. At times Oxford were retreating into a 5 4 1 formation, but again and again crosses went behind or were coped with with ridiculous ease. Hunter replaced Ford as Atkins sought to stiffen a midfield that could justifiably have needed an outlet to relieve the pressure.

 On 75 minutes Futcher headed wide from a Gain free kick, but for all the huffing and puffing for the last period of the game, this was to be Lincoln's last chance of note. Louis replaced Foley and made an impact by flicking on a McNiven throw for Scott's header to be tipped over the bar by Marriott. United played out 5 minutes of stoppage time at the expense of a punch up and 2 bookings to be greeted by the boos of the frustrated Lincoln fans and the cheers of the happy but slightly embarrassed United ones.

Next Match-Home to Boston 1st March 2003

             

            
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