LINCOLN CITY 3, ALDERSHOT TN 3

AN enthralling, unpredictable game found its perfect ending as Lincoln City snatched a controversial 96th-minute equaliser to deny Aldershot Town an unlikely National League victory.

The Shots had twice taken the lead at Sincil Bank and, particularly during the second half, were easily the equal of their second-placed opponents.

But the visitors were left to reflect on two points dropped as the prolific Matt Rhead stole a late, late draw for the Imps.

Gary Waddock was forced to hold his tongue after the chaotic finale, for fear of official sanction after referee Martin Coy failed to penalise Rhead for handball in the build-up to the goal and then sent Shots assistant manager James Rowe from the dug-out for his protests.

“You can only control what you can control,” the manager said, alluding to the perceived errors which took matters out of his team’s hands, before refuting suggestions that, despite the circumstances, a draw was a positive result. “No, not really. I thought we controlled the game. We were very good in the second half and showed a lot of character to get ourselves back into the game. We looked a very, very good side against a good team who have a good record.

“But this game is cruel. In recent weeks, we haven’t got what we deserved. I’m very proud of the way my team played today, but we’re going home with one point when we deserve three.”

The first half, however, had nearly seen the game put out of Aldershot’s reach. Despite Idris Kanu giving the Shots an early lead, City started and ended the half well on top.

With only 10 minutes gone, a cross from Cheye Alexander found Scott Rendell in space on the six-yard line. Paul Farman parried his initial effort, but Kanu followed up quickest to drive the ball into the net.

Theo Robinson had a goal disallowed for offside on 20 minutes but, seconds later, a virtual carbon-copy brought Lincoln level. The lively Harry Anderson chipped a pass across the defence for Nathan Arnold to race in and lob the ball beyond Jake Cole.

Kanu forced a strong save from Farman with a shot on the turn and Rhead’s header had Cole stretching to parry, but more slack defending allowed City to take the lead on the half-hour. A powerful header out of defence invited Arnold to spin in on goal and fire a shot across Cole.

City nearly added a third when Robinson, seizing on Callum Reynolds’ wayward pass, shot over the crossbar.

The Shots took full advantage of that let-off and Alexander curled a superb 18-yard shot into the top corner for the equaliser on 51 minutes.

This signalled a second half full of spirit for Aldershot and it was no more than they deserved when Rendell put them in front with a crisp shot from eight yards after Jake Gallagher had challenged hard inside the box.

It was a fine resurgence by Aldershot and they set about defending their lead.

But again the fates were against them. A neck injury to Imps centre-back Sean Raggett led to ample injury time and one final, desperate City attack, launched by Farman rushing from his own penalty area. And it sparked heated debate as Rhead controlled the ball on his chest – with his arms, argued the Shots – and when Cole only punched the resulting cross towards Bradley Wood, his overhead kick fell perfectly for Rhead.

His shot was beyond Reynolds on the line and, after vehement protests on the touchline, there was barely a few seconds left for the kick-off.

The final whistle sounded another harsh lesson for Waddock’s young team, but yet again they will, in time, reflect upon a point won.

Lincoln: Farman; Wood, Waterfall, Raggett, Habergham; Anderson (Muldoon 50), Power (Whitehouse 74), Woodyard, Nathan Arnold (Hawkridge 64); Robinson, Rhead. Subs (not used): Marriott, McCombe. Booked: Rhead.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Nick Arnold; Mensah, Conroy, Gallagher, Kanu (Saville 90); McClure (Kellermann 90), Rendell. Subs (not used): Straker, Walker, Smith. Booked: Arnold, Reynolds, Conroy.

Referee: Martin Coy.

Attendance: 3,461 (159 away).