Caldwell off as Grecians are denied late ‘winner’

By Ben Thomas

LINCOLN CITY 0

LINCOLN: Wickens 6, Darikwa 6, Hamer 7, O’Connor 7, Roughan 8, McGrandles 6, Bayliss 7 (Clucas 76, 6), Hackett 7 (House 84), Jefferies 6 (Ring 65, 6), Makama 6, Collins 5. Subs not used: Jeacock, Jackson, Hamilton, Okoro.

EXETER CITY 0

EXETER: Whitworth 7, McMillan 7, Turns 6, MacDonald 7, Hartridge 7, Purrington 6, Mitchell 6 (Jones 76, 6), Trevitt 6, Francis 6, Watts 6 (Cox 64, 6), Magennis 6. Subs not used: Harper, Cole, McDonald, Aitchison, Yogane.

Att: 8,971 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Declan Bourne 7/10

THE match officials were the target of Exeter City assistant-boss Kevin Nicholson’s ire after they had a late ‘goal’ chalked off in the stalemate at Lincoln.

Nicholson was taking media duties after angry manager Gary Caldwell was sent off for his reaction after a stoppage-time winner was ruled out for handball from Angus MacDonald.

And Nicholson said: “It’s really frustrating as we had a gameplan and the players played it to perfection.

“We’ve done everything, including scoring a perfectly good goal, which has been taken away apparently for handball.

It’s very hard to explain.

“You’re not allowed to talk to them [officials] for a certain time after because they lock themselves away and have their chats.

“From our point of view it’s really disappointing that something we can’t control has taken away from what would have been a great three points.

“You don’t want to come out and bash officials, but today I think we’re all in agreement that it was particularly poor.”

The Imps had the better chances in the first half as captain Paudie O’Connor headed Tom Bayliss’ corner over. And Bayliss rattled the crossbar with a header of his own.

Exeter stopper Joe Whitworth produced a good stop to keep out Jovon Makama on the hour mark.

James Collins fired wide of the mark from Sean Roughan’s dangerous cross.

Down the other end, Caleb Watts shot wide after Demetri Mitchell nodded the ball into his path.

Exeter threatened to steal the spoils late on, but sub Pat Jones could only fire straight at George Wickens.

And the Grecians had the ball in the net in stoppage time, but Ryan Trevitt’s effort was ruled out due leading to the incensed Caldwell’s sending off.

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala thought his side were the better team, saying: “We did everything we could, but we did not have the quality in the final third.

“It was a good performance, but we just couldn’t get that goal. We had half-chances, we had set-pieces. If we get the first goal I think we would have scored two or three.

“We expected them to play a little, but like a lot of teams this season they’ve come here and stodged it up.

“We totally dominated them second half and, for me, there was only one team who wanted to win it.”