Crewe Alexandra picked up their first away point of the season thanks to Shaun Miller's third goal of the season but they couldn't hang onto their 20th minute lead after Albert Jarrett had picked pocketed possession from our captain on the day Ash Westwood twenty minutes later.
Both sides went on to hit the wood work with Crewe substitute Calvin Zola heading against a post. The Alex nearly stole the points at the death too with Shaun Miller having a shot tipped over the bar by Joe Anyon and defender Joe Anderson making a goal line clearance from Westwood in stoppage time.
Dario Gradi resisted the temptation to restore a fit-again Calvin Zola to his starting line-up for this afternoon's trip to Lincoln. Zola overcame a twisted knee to declare himself fit and available but had to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.
Crewe travelled without the injured Matt Tootle (hamstring) with his right-back spot going to Mat Mitchel-King. With Danny Shelley also struggling for fitness following a knock in the mid-week reserve game at Rushden and Diamonds, there was a first appearance on the bench for midfielder Antoni Sarcevic.
The weather at Sincil Bank couldn't make its mind up as we kicked off. Despite being at the end of August we had to endure a couple of showers, bright sunshine and wind for a mix. It was dry when we kicked off though and Lincoln's Ben Hutchinson showed his over eagerness by catching David Artell in the opening minute. Referee David Foster gave the forward a talking too.
The home side, who recorded their first win of the season away at Gillingham last weekend started rather promisingly here as well with Cian Hughton drilling an early shot into Patrick Ada's stomach for a corner.
Crewe's first venture forward resulted in a succession of crosses entering the Lincoln penalty area before goalkeeper Joe Anyon was called upon to punch clear from the head of Clayton Donaldson.
The same happened a few minutes later via a right sided corner from Ashley Westwood. A well positioned Artell won the first header to direct it towards Donaldson but again an alert Anyon came to collect from the above the Alex striker's head. Crewe were getting some joy in the air though.
Although the match started at a rather slow tempo, Lincoln were a threat from their own set-pieces with centre-back Adam Watts heading wide from a corner as we reached the 20 minute mark.
Two minutes later and a well worked move from the Railwaymen saw Shaun Miller score his third goal of the season. Grant found Donaldson down the left wing and after reaching the inside of the Lincoln box his pass into Grant was instantly flicked into the path of Westwood to allow him time to get a shot off.
Westwood's shot was drilled at Anyon and the former Port Vale stopper could only stick his foot out to block it thus allowing a quick footed Miller to pounce onto the rebound. The Alex striker coolly rounded the grounded goalkeeper before lifting it into the empty net for the opening goal of the afternoon.
The home side tried to hit-back from a well positioned free-kick after Murphy had been adjudged to have nudged Jamie Clapham over but Albert Jarrett could only drive it well wide of Rhys Taylor's left hand post.
On the half an hour mark, a stretching Grant nearly reached a searching ball from Lee Bell at the far post. Crewe could and perhaps should have doubled their lead on 36 minutes after Anyon failed to gather a Donaldson shot at the first attempt inside a crowded penalty area. The ball broke out to Donaldson again but his shot was deflected behind by his own player Miller. The goal was at Crewe's mercy as they looked for a healthy first-half lead.
That let off for the home side seemed to lift the Imps to another level and they hit back with five minutes of the first half remaining. Crewe were their own worst enemies in the build up to the goal with Westwood cheaply losing possession to Albert Jarrett as he and Danny Blanchett exchanged passes 35 yards from goal. Jarrett charged unopposed to the edge of the Crewe penalty area before dispatching a powerful shot past a static Taylor. It was an emphatic finish that gave the Crewe goalkeeper little chance.
From a fairly comfortable position, it was now Crewe wanting the half-time whistle. Taylor had to rush from his line to deny Cian Hughton and then in the final minute the home side had an almighty scare themselves when the agile Taylor was called upon to tip a Hutchinson header onto the cross bar following a Jarrett corner. Crewe survived to the break.
Lincoln started the second half as well as they had finished the first period with Ben Hutchinson acrobatically shooting wide of Taylor's left hand post virtually from the whistle.
That was the last real half chance for a while. Crewe continued to be neat and tidy but our promising moves were just breaking down at the final hurdle. That extra bit of quality was needed in advanced positions. After we had failed to test Joe Anyon in any capacity for the opening 12 minutes of the second half, Dario Gradi elected to make his first change of the afternoon with Zola coming on for Grant.
Jarrett curled one tamely into the arms of Taylor before Crewe conjured up a superb effort on goal. Bell's excellent delivery was met by the head of Donaldson and his downward header was pushed away by the agile Anyon. It was a fantastic save.
It was likewise from Taylor just a minute later though as the Imps broke on our goal after an advanced Blanchett had lost out in a tackle in the Lincoln half. This allowed the quick-footed Jarrett to get away once again. After skipping over a tackle from Bell our chief tormentor was tearing down on our goal but Taylor stood firm to make the save. The rebound fell invitingly to Clapman but he didn't get a good enough connection to his shot and the covering Westwood did exceeding well to get back and head clear with our goal unoccupied.
Clapham nearly made amends for his 'miss' with a curling left foot shot from a free kick. The former Ipswich Town man curled it around the Crewe wall to draw a one handed save from Taylor. The veteran defender Ian Pearce also forced Taylor into a save at his near post after a deep cross had reached the former Blackburn Rovers and Fulham defender.
Crewe had their threatening moments though. After some good approach play from Donaldson and Zola, they conjured up some space for Westwood on the edge of the box and after dropping his shoulder to evade Clapham he could only direct his shot straight at the well positioned Anyon. It was more promising though and a minute later a timely intervention from Adam Watts cleared a Donaldson cross from reaching Zola.
On 79 minutes, a well directed header from Zola nearly caught out Anyon. A cross from left-back Blanchett had found the Congolese front man in enough space inside the box for him to direct his header goalwards and he was rather unlucky to see his effort hit the post.
With the match entering the later stages, the Alex introduced the fresh legs of Byron Moore for Luke Murphy. Moore's first real involvement in the game saw him drag a shot just wide.
Delroy Facey shot straight at Taylor after the ball had dropped to him after some sustained pressure from the home side.
With five minutes remaining, Chris Sutton replaced Jarrett and Ben Hutchinson for Drewe Broughton and Andy Hutchinson.
From a Westwood corner in the final minute, Miller forced Anyon into a tip over his bar after the ball had broken to him at the far post via Zola's head.
The skipper Westwood nearly sealed all the points for the Railwaymen in stoppage time though when his powerful drive was brilliantly stopped on the line by Joe Anderson. It was no wonder the defender earned the high fives from his team-mates following the point saving clearance.
