Torquay 1 Imps 0
Jordan Cranston returned from suspension in place of Tony Diagne and Delano Sam-Yorke came in for Jon Nolan as manager Chris Moyses made a couple of changes to his starting line-up for this Tuesday evening Vanarama Conference fixture at Torquay United. Teenager Elliot Hodge, meanwhile, was named amongst the substitutes.
It was a very pleasant mid-April evening on the English Riviera as referee Adam Hopkins led the two teams out of the tunnel and once the pre-match formalities were done and dusted City kicked off.
There was an early half-chance for Torquay as a swift attack in the opening minute ended with Louis Briscoe dragging an effort wide whilst at the other end Sam-Yorke was bundled to the deck on a couple of occasions but decisions didn't go in his favour.
Things settled down a bit during the course of the following quarter of an hour whilst a bobbly pitch was making it tricky for both sides to piece any sort of attacking move together.
A City break on the 20 minute mark saw Sam-Yorke feed Jake Caprice on the right and his cross was met by Jordan Burrow who saw his header cleared by Krystian Pearce. A couple of minutes later a Cranston chip forward was flicked on by Burrow but home stopper Daniel Lavercombe claimed.
Torquay's response saw John Campbell sky an effort over the stand after a dangerous Toby Ajala cross fell at the striker's feet via the boot of Tom Miller whilst a minute later Kegan Everington had an effort blocked before Ben Tomlinson dragged a 20-yard effort wide of the target.
City enjoyed a spell of pressure as the half wore on with the game's first corner being won by the Imps before Lavercombe smothered at the feet of Sam-Yorke.
HT: TORQUAY 0 IMPS 0
Both teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half and the Imps were quickly on the offensive with a Caprice cross 30 seconds in finding Tomlinson who saw his snap-shot crash against a defender.
A couple of minutes later Sam-Yorke drew a foul out of his opponent but Tomlinson's low free-kick was easily cleared. The latter was then taken out by Ben Harding who earned a ticking off from referee Hopkins before play restarted with another City free-kick.
Paul Farman was called into action in the 59th minute, palming away a low James McQuilkin drive before Campbell sliced his follow-up effort well wide. This was Campbell's last touch as he was replaced by Ashley Yeoman in the 62nd minute; this coming after Jon Nolan came on for Kegan Everington for the Imps.
Both teams had half chances as the game entered its final quarter with a shot on the turn from Burrow taking a deflection before going into Lavercombe's gloves for City and Briscoe dragging a low effort wide for the Gulls.
In the 72nd minute a spectacular overhead kick from skipper Hamza Bencherif following a long Miller throw-in flew just wide before a Keane cross was met by Wallace who fired over. Four minutes later a long range McQuilkin effort was easily held by Farman.
After a City corner came to nothing Luke Young replaced McQuilkin for Torquay before Pearce was booked for a foul on Sam-Yorke.
It was from a quickly-taken Torquay free-kick, however, that led to the opening goal and after substitute Yeoman escaped the offside flag he neatly slotted past the advancing Farman to give his side an 80th minute advantage.
Alex Simmons replaced Kieran Wallace five minutes later before Nolan dragged a low shot wide after another Miller throw-in caused problems in the box for the hosts. At the other end Ajala fired across Farman but his effort went wide.
With two minutes on the clock a snap-shot from Sam-Yorke clipped the top of the bar before the ball flew out for a goal-kick and this turned out to be City's best chance as the game ended after three additional minutes of play.
FT: TORQUAY 1 IMPS 0
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
17 Jake CAPRICE
2 Tom MILLER
5 Hamza BENCHERIF
7 Jordan CRANSTON
20 Jordan KEANE
18 Kegan EVERINGTON
21 Kieran WALLACE
11 Ben TOMLINSON
9 Jordan BURROW
15 Delano SAM-YORKE
subs
6 Tony DIAGNE
14 Jon NOLAN (for EVERINGTON 62)
19 Alex SIMMONS (for WALLACE 85)
20 Elliot HODGE
30 Aidan GRANT
TORQUAY UNITED
31 Daniel LAVERCOMBE
4 Aaron DOWNES
5 Krystian PEARCE
6 Ben HARDING
7 Louis BRISCOE
10 Toby AJALA
20 Kadell DANIEL
22 James McQUILKIN
25 Levi IVES
29 Aaron DAWSON
32 John CAMPBELL
subs
8 Luke YOUNG (for McQUILKIN 78)
14 Ashley YEOMAN (for CAMPBELL 62)
16 Courtney PHILLIPS
26 Olliver GUEGUEN
1 Martin RICE
GOAL: YEOMAN (80)
BOOKING: PEARCE (78)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Adam Hopkins
ASSISTANTS: Adam Penwell & Richard Corp
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Ben Cobb
ATTENDANCE: 1,249 (43 City supporters)
