Lincoln United manager Scott Hellewell has expressed disappointment in his team, following The Whites’ 1-2 loss to Newark Town on Tuesday night.
Two goals from Newark’s Ryan Smith cancelled out Elliott Dye’s header which opened the scoring.
Speaking after the defeat, Hellewell said: “I thought we started the game well, we got joy down the right-hand side in the first 15 minutes. Tris [Drummond] had the top side of their left back but for some reason we stopped using him.
“I said at half time that a few lads were maybe hiding, they didn’t want to get on the ball and made a few lads turn and do something.”
Reflecting on the two goals scored by Smith, Hellewell added: “The goals were shocking, especially the second, which was an absolute disaster.
“The first goal I think Bart’s [Adam Barthram] tried to intercept it, he was unlucky it came off his leg but the lads run in behind and put a great ball in across the box, and their lad showed a bit of desire to get on the end of it. Our lads are maybe expecting Steggsy [Jack Steggles] to come, but they had a lad who would die to score a goal.”
Smith’s second goal came five minutes before time, heading the ball into the net from a brilliantly delivered free kick.
“Steggsy should have come out for it, it was about a yard out and the lads headed it in. Steggsy didn’t come for whatever reason and the lad had a free header. There was nobody within five yards of him, it’s embarrassing.” Hellewell added.
A positive the Whites can take from the game was the goal they scored. Scott Matthews delivered a good corner onto the head of captain Elliott Dye, who was able to knock the ball into the back of the net.
Hellewell felt this wasn’t much to shout about, however, saying: “We had eight or nine corners tonight and about eight corners on Saturday so you’re due one really, I can’t take positives about that.
“It was a great ball in and a great header, but we had five, six or seven before where we were pathetic with it. If that’s the one positive to take, then yeah.
“Set pieces were disgusting in the first half. We told them to put it on the ‘keeper to see what he’s about as he’s a young lad, but we overhit them four in a row which gave the lads no chance, whereas on Saturday we couldn’t beat the first man.”
Next up for Lincoln United is an FA Cup extra preliminary tie on Saturday, August 3, at home to Goole AFC.
Hellewell previewed the clash, and said: “The difference tonight was that they showed character, and we haven’t. Goole will be the exact same on Saturday, they’ll be aggressive and in our faces so we have to be prepared for that.”
Lincoln will seek a return to winning ways at the weekend, hoping they can conquer the Vikings and progress to the preliminary round once again.
Feature Image Credit: Ed Mayes Photography