Lincoln City 0 Shrewsbury 2 — Report
Monday 21st September 2009, 11:05AM BST.
Controlled, professional and dominant. Not to mention very, very comfortable.
In short, Shrewsbury Town produced a textbook lower League away performance at Lincoln on Saturday.
And with it came further belief that the wind of change which swept through the playing staff at the Prostar Stadium in the summer may blow in a sustained assault on the leading positions this term.
There must be something in the Lincolnshire air which sits comfortably with Town who have now lost just twice in 17 trips to Sincil Bank in a record dating back to 1975.
And the good news came in twos on Saturday, a brace of successive victories sealed by two goals and a second consecutive clean sheet.
This was a triumph secured with the utmost professionalsm, and one in which each department of the team can reflect on with great satisfaction.
On the few occasions he was required, goalkeeper Steve Phillips answered his call of duty while the defence in front of him proved a formidable barrier to pass.
A Paul Murray-inspired midfield broke play up and provided the starting point for neat passing moves when the opportunity arose.
And with starting strikers Dave Hibbert and Jake Robinson both scoring, and Kris Bright looking lively during his substitute’s outing, the performance was complete with a lively attacking display.
Tougher assignments undoubtedly await. Lincoln, currently under the guidance of caretaker manager Simon Clark, are desperate for the leadership a permanent successor to Peter Jackson would bring and, on Saturday’s evidence, an influx of new players.
But take nothing away from Town. This was a job very well done, their most convincing away display for some time and one which left manager Paul Simpson understandably carrying a satisfied glow.
“For me, that was the most professional performance we have had in the last 16 months (since he took over),” said Simpson.
“We earned the right to win the game because of the way we set about it.
“We were disciplined and we played some good stuff when we could and, barring the chances we missed at the end, I don’t think we could have asked for much more.”
The pattern of the game was set in the early stages with Hibbert, Robinson and Jake Simpson all going close before Town took the lead on the half hour.
A fine move it was too, with a dangerous Kevin McIntyre cross eluding everybody before Simpson put the ball back into the danger area for Robinson to slot home from close range.
In contrast, Lincoln’s only real threat of the opening period came when a 20-yard shot from Rene Howe was well tipped around the post by Phillips.
The Imps enjoyed their best spell of the game during a five minute period after the break, substitute Jamie Clarke firing an angled drive just wide while Lenell John-Lewis narrowly failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross.
But the second goal Town had been threatening deservedly arrived from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining when Moses Swaibu was adjudged to have handled when a Kris Bright header bounced awkwardly up at him.
The award was strongly disputed by the hosts but Hibbert held his nerve to bag his seventh goal of the season by sending Rob Burch the wrong way from the spot.
Town could have extended their lead late on with the lively Bright going close on three occasions while an encouraging appearance from Lewis Neal almost brought the winger a goal, only for the move-of-the-match to be thwarted by Burch.
But Shrewsbury had already done more than enough to ensure an excellent day at the office brought with it three points.
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