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Over past season's we've come to expect scrappy matchs from our trip down the A15, and is was with much anticipation that around a thousand fans made their way into the newly placed away section at Sincil Bank.
The Imps were not a very good side by any stretch of the imagination. They have long been associated with the long ball game, a lasting legacy of the days of John Beck, and man for man SUFC more than matched the home side in terms of ability. Except perhaps for Martin Carruthers, remarkably our top goalscorer this season.
Although second best to United for most of the game, did just enough with the scrappy game decided by a 43rd minute set-piece move - which was really the only way they were going to get the ball past Tommy Evans. Ex-Iron Richard Logan sent over a long throw from infront of the travelling fans and the Iron defence was left standing as Ben Futcher nodded home his first goal of the season.
Lincoln should have added a second goal in first-half stoppage time when Futcher presented Dene Cropper with the easiest of chances, but the striker sent his weak shot straight at Scunthorpe keeper Tom Evans.
Scunthorpe `dominated` the second half and midfielder Wayne Graves spurned a good chance to equalise on the hour when he put his shot wide from a good position.
When we say dominate though, this is merely in terms of our defence looking assured and our midfield forcibly chasing the game. It was great, until the ball got into the final third of the field.
Steve Torpey continued his good run of form after missing the start of the season, and was winning the majority of balls lofted upto him as well as holding the ball up well when it came to him on the floor. Unfortunately he was playing alongside a striker who looked short on both confidence and talent.
Ghandi is a half-decent forward when he is on form, but he is not the frree scoring player that we need if we are even going to harbour hopes of promotion this season. The way things are going though, a relegation battle cannot be ruled out.
Hopefully the capture of Craig Dove on loan from Middlesbrough will help us in that area, or else BL plays Andy Parton up front IN HIS TRUE POSITION rather than continuing his stupid insistence of taking promising young forwards and playing them out on the right wing.
United created more chances towards the end of the game, well two. Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott saved bravely at the feet of United's Steve Torpey and then blocked a 77th minute goalbound shot from Nathan Stanton - it is worrying when our best effort on goal comes from a right back who has yet to score in a first team game, ever.
United's substitute Jamie McCombe (Or McCombie, or Mccoomby if you listened to the announcements) - who came on half an hour into the first half after James Cotterill was stretchered off - beat Marriott seven minutes from time only to see his header cleared by defender Paul Mayo.
Peter Beagrie, clearly not 100% fit, had a poor game. As did Carruthers. Brian Laws is an infuriating manager to say the least. His two second half substitutions were the ones most Iron fans would have made at half-time when it was clear who was effective and who wasn't. Except he makes them in the 85th minute, and even then over five minute's after the two players (Brough for Beags, Ryan for Ghandi) were ready.
One cannot help thinking that he has lost the plot this season. What is the point in sticking with a manager who refuses to change areas where the entire crowd can see we're losing out.
After the match the home fans got the better result thanks to their over-achieving players. The away fans got a bald tosser standing outside the exit shouting `Lincoln's here if you want it` to all and sundry, and a potential season spent at the wrong end of the league table thanks to our under-achieving players.
The only comforting thought to take from today's defeat, is the prospect of seeing Lincoln slowly slipping back down the league table.