Lincoln City: Rob Burch, Cian Hughton, Janos Kovacs, Moses Swaibu, Aaron Brown, Richard Butcher (Stefan Oakes 73), Scott Kerr, Lenell John—Lewis, Sergio Torres (Jamie Clarke 59), Chris Fagan (Andy Hutchinson 79), Rene Howe
Subs: Danny Howe, Stefan Oakes, Jamie Clarke, Sam Clucas, Shane Clarke, Andy Hutchinson, Paul Musselwhite
Town: Steve Phillips, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (c), Kelvin Langmead, Dave Hibbert (Nathan Elder 81), Robinson (Kris Bright 64), Paul Murray, Jake Simpson (Lewis Neal 72), Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Joss Labadie, Kevin McIntyre
Subs: Nathan Elder, Kris Bright, Steve Leslie, Harry Hooman, Andre Gray, Andreas Arestidou, Lewis Neal
Goals: Robinson 27, Hibbert 75
Ref: P Quinn
Assistants: M Dicicco & A Parker
Fourth Official: M Naylor
Attendance: 3234 (284)
Paul Simpson sticks with the same side which beat Crewe Alexandra 2-0 last week, his options on the bench are bolstered though with Lewis Neal recovering from a groin problem.
Town had some defending to do early on with the home side winning a number of corners but it was Town who had the first good chance of goal. a long kick down field from Phillips saw Hibbert challenge with two Lincoln defenders for the ball, Hibbert judged the bounce better and this allowed him to get the ball under control before hitting in a decent long range effort but Burch in the Lincoln goal had it covered.
Town were playing some great attacking football with both Simpson and McIntyre stretching the home side down the flanks.With just over 10 minutes on the clock Town broke quickly down the left with McIntyre, he played the ball into the edge of the box to Hibbert, he brought the ball down on his chest, controlled and then laid it off to set-up Jake Simpson who put in a great shot to the near post but again Burch was down quickly to parry the ball around the post.
Lincoln's best chance of grabbing the early advantage came just after the quarter hour mark.They won a couple of corners in succession and the final one was floated across, Rene Howe failed to connect but the ball fell to Lenell John-Lewis who had a lot of space, he had time to take a touch before blasting his shot well over the target from 20 yards out.
Town had to weather some Lincoln pressure for a while but they did this and grabbed the lead on 27 minutes. Ref Quinn did well to pull play back for a foul on Robinson, Murray placed the ball and then played a quick ball out to McIntyre who was lurking on left, he played a great ball into the box but Robinson just failed to connect, the carried on and found Simpson who drove the ball back across the face of goal and this time Robinson was there to stab the ball home and give Town the lead.
Town were well on top of the game and were causing the home side a lot of problems. Town's work rate was stretching Lincoln and they were making a lot of errors which kept the attacking onus on the visitors.Dave Hibbert was having another great half leading the Town line and he was causing Janos Kovacs no end of problems, the Lincoln defender on a number of times just pulled Hibbo back to stop his runs in on goal but the ref seemed to be missing these.
Half-time: 0-1
Town were still looking comfortable after the break despite Lincoln looking like they were playing with more urgency.The home side were trying their hardest to get back into the game but again were making a number of unforced errors where were beginning to get the home fans on their backs.
Lincoln had a great chance to get back on level terms when they got their first bit of sustained pressure around the Town box.The ball was switching from the right to the left before a half clearance fell to Scott Kerr, he smashed in a vicious drive which was blocked, the ball then went out wide to the right before a cross to the back post cleared the Town defence and there was Lenell John-Lewis but luckily for Town he didn't connect.
Kris Bright had come as sub for Robinson he had a great chance to add to Town's lead after a back pass towards Burch was under-hit, Bright ran onto the ball and had one touch to put the ball pas the outrushing Burch but the Lincoln keeper did brilliantly to slide in and nick the ball away to deny Town a second goal.
Town did looked dangerous on the break and a ball up the left saw Kris Bright rise well to flick the ball into the run of Kev McIntyre, Jake Simpson was bursting down the middle and McIntyre played the ball into Simpson, he had to check as a Lincoln player had got back so he played it back into the run of McIntyre, he continued his run towards the box and played it across the 18 yard area but there was no on there.
Town added to their lead in the 75th minute and it was down to a bit of luck for e visitors. A Town attack broke down with the ball seemingly dropping harmlessly in the box with Moses Swaibu in control but the ball bounced up and hit him on the shoulder, there were a few half hearted appeals from the Town faithful and ref Quinn had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Dave Hibbert walked up, placed the ball and calmly drove his shot the opposite way to Burch's dive to make it 2-0 to Town.
Town were still pushing and looking to add to their lead with Kris Bright having a couple of good sights of goal as did Nathan Elder. The best though came after a quick free kick saw Neal cut in field, the ball was then played into Bright who headed the ball in behind the Lincoln defence for Neal to run onto, he drove in a low shot but Burch was again down quickly to block, the ball came back to Neal but there was Burch once again to save Lincoln.
Full-time: 2-0
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