John Fernandez

— After a holiday hiatus, John Fernandez is back bringing you the fans’ views on the Imps’ home games from the Stacey West stand at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln City welcomed struggling Morecambe to Sincil Bank on Saturday, hoping to turn their fortunes around after their 5-1 defeat earlier in the week.

Two first-half Ashley Grimes strikes made sure that any memories of Tuesday evening were well forgotten.

The first goal was simple, but Grimes’ second goal even eclipsed Wayne Rooney’s goal on Saturday.

City may have eased of the gas after half-time, but it was too little too late for Morecambe as the game finished 2-0 to the Imps.

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Student and life-long Imps fan Ryan Chambers said: “Great to see the confidence back in the team after Tuesday’s game.

“First half there was some great football, great passing and two great goals.

“Second half sat back a bit too much but a great win. Good to see the lads playing well as a team.”

Stacey West regular Craig Harvey said: “A lot better, nice to see us keep a clean sheet at home as well for once!”

Young Imps fan and Stacey West regular Billy Jarish said: “Great to bounce back from earlier this week but now we have to look to another 3 points on Tuesday.”

Imps Fan Eric Akrill said: “What a difference four days make, completely different kind of performance from Tuesday.”

Email John Fernandez if you want you views included in the Stacey West view match round-ups.
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Trevor Carson 6

Solid between the sticks, vocal too. Picked up a knock in the second half.

Daniel Hone 7

Little of any real potency to deal with in the first half, showed his worth in the second half though.

Adam Watts 6

Solid at the back, rarely tested.

Julian Kelly (substituted on 45 mins) 5

Not a full-back but filled in nicely, better going forward than in defence.

Jamie Clapham 6

Did very little wrong, lack of pace left him exposed at times.

Ali Fuseni 6

Played well for his full debut, looks like he has a lot to offer.

Gavin McCullum 7

Looking like an excellent winger at the moment, second only to Ashley Grimes.

Josh O’Keefe 5

Weak in the air for such a tall lad, but coped well against a lot of pressure in the second half.

Luke Howell 5

Another player out of position, battled well but looks much more comfortable in the middle where he belongs.

Delroy Facey 6

Kept working all he could and really deserved a goal.

Ashley Grimes 8

What can you say about this boy, he is the something special Imps have been missing, second goal was easily the goal of the season. Sign him up Tilly!

Substitutes

Patrick Kanyuka (Sub for Julian Kelly 45 mins) 5

Uncomfortable at right back, strong in the air.

Ben Hutchinson (Sub for Ashley Grimes 86 mins)

Mustapha Carayol (Sub for Ali Fuseni 78 mins)

Drewe Broughton — unused sub

Scott Spencer — unused sub

Paul Musselwhite — unused sub

Albert Jarret — unused sub

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The homeless centre on Monks Road, Lincoln, run by the Nomad Trust, has seen an increase in demand for its services as temperatures plummeted below freezing.

The Trust can normally house and feed up to 20 people per night, but the homeless shelter had to adopt a different set of rules in recent weeks, explained Brenda Shiels, the deputy manager of the Lincoln establishment:

“If the temperature reaches 0℃ including the wind chill, then we won’t turn anyone away from the night shelter. The only people who wouldn’t be allowed entry are either those who are permanently barred, and even then it depends what they are like, or if they fail risk assessment at the door.”

But housing over the 20 people capacity of the shelter per night creates another problem for the staff and volunteers at the centre: they need to have more than one person after midnight in case of emergencies.

“The cold has caused an extra problem though,” Shiels explains. “The Eastern European homeless, who usually make camp down by the river, now need the service.

“Everyone who normally would use the service is in the centre by 7pm, so it was the case that if there were any spare beds at that time, then the Eastern Europeans can use them for free as we won’t be getting anything for them while they’re empty.”

But with the centre now at full capacity, the Eastern European homeless who aren’t claiming housing benefit, or who aren’t eligible for the centre, are at a loose end.

To deal with the extra demand, a soup kitchen was opened at St Mary Le Wigford church on St Mary’s Street, which is used more recently in the extreme conditions as a shelter for the Eastern Europeans to stay in while the cold weather continues.

Shiels urged people to help the volunteers at St Mary Le Wigford, who are likely to be overstretched over the festive period: “The cold looks like it’s going to continue; while it does, our staff should be able to manage. However at St Mary Le Wigford it is all volunteer and they need all the help they can get down there to continue what in these conditions is a vital service.”

To volunteer with the Nomad Trust Lincoln, call 01522 883703 or email them.