Lincoln Red Imps fail to impress against Europa Point

Lincoln Red Imps 2-1 Europa Point

It should have been an easy match for Lincoln Red Imps, however Europa Point with zero points to their name made Lincoln Red Imps battle for their three points.
Lincoln Red Imps, already missing three key players in Julian Valrino, Graeme Torrilla and Bernardo Lope from injuries, started with some of their main players either on the bench or missing.
Goalkeeper, Dayle Coleing among the players missing. On the bench Ethan Britto another of the players who had been in action with the Gibraltar national team during the international break.
Although still superior on paper Lincoln Red Imps whilst dominating the better part of possession found themselves chasing back on numerous occasions against a Europa Point more than willing to try and break quickly on the counter. This seeing Europa Point create a couple of early points with attempts at goal in the early minutes.
The red and blacks of Lincoln Red Imps although with ample chances themselves had to wait until the thirty second minute for their first goal. It was however, not a Lincoln player who was to score. Instead it was Westerberg who was to score an own goal.
Following a missed attempt by Yahaya Lincoln regained control of the possession and initiated another quick offensive. Receiving behind the defence Gonzalez Morato was to collect and attempt a low cross towards Kike. Westerberg, sticking his foot out to block saw the ball hit his leg and divert into goal with the keeper already diving in the other direction.
Westerberg was to make amends on the thirty ninth minute against the run of play. Giving away a freekick by the touchline, away from danger, Lincoln Red Imps were to be punished.
A high floated ball was flicked behind the defence Prescott putting the ball back into the middle at the feet of Westerberg. Finding space the latter was to send in a somewhat soft low shot to goal which somehow slipped past Garcia Sanatana with some easy by the post.
Lincoln Red Imps forced to go into the half time break level on goals although having dominated possession.
Europa Point presented themselves in the second half with a stubborn defensive posture which frustrated Lincoln Red Imps as they tried to find to break the deadlock.
Once again Lincoln Red Imps frontline proved somewhat ineffective.
Lincoln broke the deadlock on the seventy-third minute with a thunder shot from Nano from outside the penalty area. His powerful shot slicing through the defence and bouncing with some power into the back of the net.
However, Javi Munoz was once again to see how his former teammate Kike, with whom he had played at Europa during their winning campaign, continued to be ineffective in front of goal once again. The Lincoln forward only having found the back of the net once in five matches played by Lincoln Red Imps since the start of the season. Lincoln as a team, including the Pepe Reyes Cup, only having found the net eight times this season.
Having lost against St Joseph earlier in the season, will this Wednesday face another big challenge as they face Bruno Magpies, presently equal on points at the top of the table.
A victory would place them equal on points with Bruno Magpies and St Joseph. However, a defeat against a side they have already lost this season having lost in the Pepe Reyes Cup, could prove costly as they now sit fourth in the table. Javi Munoz's side far from the strong opposition that used to send fear down the field. Whilst still dominant, a slower game, with more inaccuracies and impacted by injuries and the effects of international matches seeing Lincoln Red Imps labour their way to victory even against lowly sides such as Europa Point. The latter, still without collecting a point this season, and having conceded eleven goals in three matches played before this weekend.
A disappointing narrow 2-1 win saw some rare moments as Lincoln Red Imps played to waste time in the six minutes of injury time, something which would have been unheard of in previous seasons. Javi Munoz was to join Europa Points head coach who had been sent off ten minutes earlier. Munoz sent off in injury time and will be missing from the bench in Lincoln Red Imps crucial match against Bruno Magpies.