Lincoln City 1 Leicester 3
Lincoln starting line up
Paul Farman, Bradley Wood, Craig Stanley, Luke Waterfall, Jack Muldoon, Alan Power, Matt Rhead, Callum Howe, Alex Simmons, Lee Beevers and Matt Sparrow.
Leicester starting line up
Kasper Schmeichel, Liam Moore, Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs ,Richie DE LAET, Danny Drinkwater, Dean Hammond, Jack Barmby, Riyad Mahrez, Leonardo Ulloa, Shinzi Okazaki
The IMPS pre season finally arrived with the visit of premiership Leicester City. All the pre-match talk was about new boss Claudio Ranieri but from City's point of view it was the first chance to see Chris Moyses new look squad. The match kicked off with City attacking the Stacey West end on what can only be described as a carpet of a playing surface.
Early on city started in a very positive mode and on 6 mins Alan Power got a shot away which was deflected and keeper Schmeichel did well to push it round the post low to his right. From the resulting corner Matt Sparrow shot over from the edge of the box.
On 9 mins City took a deserved lead when a corner was swung over from the right and Luke Waterfall's shot was handled in the box and ref Darren Drysdale pointed to the spot, Alan Power scored despite Schmeichel getting a hand to it.
That seemed to wake Leicester up and they had a spell of possession without creating too much. It was City who were pushing forward and the impressive Jack Muldoon drove at the defence on 13 mins and tried to release Alex Simmons who was only stopped by a fine tackle.
On 15 mins Leicester created their first chance when Leonardo Ulloa weaved into the city box and Paul Farman comfortably held on to his effort.
Almost immediately Craig Stanley was caught on the wrong side and fouled just outside the city box, from the resulting free kick Drinkwater pulled his shot wide.
City were certainly giving their opponents plenty to think about and the hard working Bradley Wood epitomised that with his tackling.
The game went into a quieter period but on 23 mins Shinzi Okazaki had a strong run down the right stopped by a Waterfall foul,the ball was pulled back from the kick but a poor shot failed to worry Paul Farman.
On 24 mins Alex Simmons broke down the left and was only stopped by a last ditch tackle.
A fine tackle by Jack Muldoon lead to a great run down the right and when a dangerous cross was whipped in Schmeichel was forced to tip over. Matt Rhead shot over from the resulting corner.
City continued to take the game to their opponents and Alex Simmonds was the next to get a shot away on the turn deflected for a corner.
On 33 mins Leicester got back in the game when Riyad Mahrez found himself with a simple tap in after the ball broke to him in the box.
36 mins and Liam Moore headed over from a corner,two mins later Callum Howe who was have a very solid game made a fine tackle to deny Leicester.
On 39 mins City had a strong appeal for a pen when a fine cross from the right by Wood lead to what appeared to be a foul on Matt Rhead but it fell on deaf ears and Alan Powers shot was blocked.
Mahrez then shot over when in space.
City then had a strong end to the half,first a run by the ever reliable Lee Beevers down the left lead to a corner which resulted in a looping header for Luke Waterfall just clearing the bar.Right on half time city's 5th corner won by Alex Simmons saw a Callum Howe header cleared off the line which proved to be the last action of the half.
HT LINCOLN CITY 1 LEICESTER CITY 1
Leicester city second half team
Mark Schwarzer,Danny Simpson,Marcin Wasilewski,Ben Chilwell,Marc Albrighton,Tom Lawrence,Andy King,Jeff Shlupp,David Nugent,Andrej Kramaric and Jamie Vardy.
The second Half got underway and Leicester started much stronger a Nugent shot being well saved by Paul Farman.
On 49 mins a Marcin Wasilewski header was again saved by the IMPS stopper.
On 59 mins City made their first changes with Harrod,Hearn and Bignall coming on for Simmons,Rhead and Muldoon.
Leicester continued in the ascendancy with efforts from Nugent and Krameric going close and livewire Jamie Vardy saw a header clear the bar.
On 61 mins City made more changes with Tempest,Robinson and Nolan coming on for Power,Stanley and Sparrow.
More changes 63 mins,Bush and Brown on for Beevers and Waterfall.
Nat Brown was straight into the action blocking a Mark Albrighton shot on 65 mins.
On 66 mins Albrighton again used his pace to cross for Nugent who was always stretching to get a shot away.
On 72 mins Leicester should have taken the lead when Paul Farmen made a good save which looked like it might still roll into the net but Nat Brown cleared,the ball fell to Krameric who put the ball wide of the empty goal.
Jamie Vardy was then through on goal but the Imps stopper came out and narrowed the angle and saved.
On 74 mins Shaun Harrad thought he had give city the lead bundling in at the far post but it was disallowed for handball.
Paul Farman continued to have a good night blocking efforts from Krameric and Vardy.
81 mins saw a strong tackle by Jon Nolan leading to an attack down the right which broke down on the edge of the box.
Almost immediately Leicester took the lead when Krameric finally got his reward cutting inside a hitting an unstoppable shot past the unsighted Farman.
81 mins Hodge replaced Wood.
Leicester at this point seemed happy to see the game out and keep the ball but on 86 mins Liam Haearn was put through but foiled by the offside flag. On 87 mins Paul Farman was again called into action saving from Vardy.
On 89 mins a jinking run by Albrighton lead to the third goal,Jamie Vardy poking in from close range.
3 mins added time.
Last action of the game saw a Vardy header clear the bar.
On the final whistle both sets of fans went home happy, City had given a good account of themselves and at times especially in the first half had played some good football.
Final score Lincoln City 1 Leicester city 3
Attendance 3693 (1389)
