Match report...
Alan Power for the suspended Matt Sparrow was the only change for this Vanarama National League game at a decidedly chilly Launa Windows Stadium in Torquay.
City kicked off on what looked to be a heavy pitch that was likely to cut up and after a scrappy opening, Matt Rhead was flattened by Angus MacDonald for a fifth minute City free-kick midway inside the Torquay half but the set-piece came to nothing.
A couple of minutes later two clearing headers plus a block by Callum Howe saw him deal with Torquay's first threat, these coming before Daniel Butler sliced an effort well wide after persistence from Courtney Richards created the chance for his colleague.
In the 10th minute good pressure from Liam Hearn forced MacDonald to concede a corner and when Greg Tempest curled the ball in, Luke Waterfall appeared to be dragged to the ground. Nothing was given though and as Torquay breaked forward, Power was penalised for a foul on Shepherd Murombedzi.
On the quarter hour mark a deflected Jack Muldoon cross lead to a second City corner and this time, LUKE WATERFALL escaped his marker and duly connected with Tempest's delivery for a carbon copy of his goal a week ago against Tranmere.
A minute later Murombedzi ran into Lee Beevers only for the City man to pick up a harsh caution and from the Imps' next break forward Muldoon saw his snap-shot palmed away by Dan Lavercombe before Tempest fired the loose ball wide.
Good work by Hearn saw him win another corner off MacDonald in the 24th minute and after Tempest's delivery was half-cleared Muldoon and Power had shots charged down before a Howe effort deflected into Lavercombe's gloves.
Seconds later the Imps doubled their advantage when, after Paul Farman played a loong ball forward, Rhead got a flick on and in nipped LIAM HEARN to neatly finish over the advancing Lavercombe.
On the half-hour mark Power tried his luck from 30 yards and saw his effort dip inches over the bar whilst a minute later Ben Gerring went over the top on Rhead. After treatment Rhead hobbled to the touchline for more attention but somehow Gerring escaped a caution.
With Rhead back on he was quick to set up Hearn who beat Lavercombe only to see his low drive crash against the post. At the other end a Torquay corner ended with Gerring stooping before heading well wide.
In the 38th minute a deflected Muldoon shot went behind for a corner and this neatly worked routine, featuring Power, Tempest and Wood ended with Howe heading on for Hearn to net. The offside flag, however, robbed Hearn of his second goal of the game.
Three minutes before the break Hearn was taken out by MacDonald who picked up a deserved yellow card. Tempest's free-kick was nodded down by Rhead but Waterfall saw his hooked effort claimed by Lavercombe.
As the Fourth Official indicated that three additional minutes were to be added on Waterfall up for an earlier free-kick - hit the top of the crossbar after clever play by Rhead and Power opened up the Torquay defence again.
Shortly afterwards the woodwork rattled for a third time as Rhead's superb 40-yard volley dipped against the underside of the bar before Hearn followed up and netted. Once again the offside flag kept the score at 2-0.
HT: TORQUAY 0 IMPS 2
The teams were out unchanged for the second half with City quick to break down the right with Hearn and Muldoon combining to win a throw-in.
With the wind picking up it was a scrappy start to the second half with Achille Campion in need of treatment to a bloody nose seven minutes in. He was off for another couple of minutes before he was replaced by Andre Wright.
As the hour mark approached a long range Kevin Nicholson effort sailed well over as the seagulls started to circle overhead and after the hour mark passed Rhead got on the end of a Muldoon corner only to see his header blocked on the line.
A Torquay change in the 63rd minute saw ex-Imp Waide Fairhurst replace Louis Briscoe and after a spell of Torquay pressure Murombedzi dragged a low effort well wide. Terry Hawkridge then replaced Greg Tempest for the Imps.
City defended a Torquay corner and at the other end Hawkridge was blocked off the ball by Berry. The free-kick ended up with Howe heading into Lavercombe's gloves.
A shocking challenge on Stanley by Richards saw the United midfielder see yellow and when Wood floated in the resultant free-kick, goalkeeper Lavercombe clattered into a team mate and when the ball ran loose there was LUKE WATERFALL to prod home his second of the game.
There was a quick response from the hosts who pulled one back less than two minutes later; a loose ball found its way to Dan Butler on the left and he fired past the advancing Paul Farman.
Three minutes later Farman was deemed to have tipped a Gerring effort behind but City dealt with the set-piece. Kyle Wootton then replaced Liam Hearn as the clock ticked into its 80th minute.
Torquay pressure saw Beevers block a Wright cross out for a corner which Stanley headed clear and after Power was penalised for a foul, Farman got down well to block Nicholson's low free-kick.
Kegan Everington replaced Craig Stanley in the 85th minute and was quick to play a clever ball to Wootton but he ran out of pitch close to the corner flag.
The Imps had the chance to eat up some seconds when a poor back pass lead to a corner which in turn lead to a throw-in on the opposite flank. Five additional minutes was then indicated with Farman picking up a yellow card midway though it for timewasting, even though he was retrieving the ball after a Torquay man placed it in wrong place for free-kick.
The game ended shortly after Muldoon won a corner on the right with the Imps emerging with another hard-earned and deserved maximum haul.
FT: TORQUAY 1 IMPS 3
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Bradley WOOD
3 Greg TEMPEST
4 Craig STANLEY
5 Luke WATERFALL
7 Jack MULDOON
8 Alan POWER
9 Matt RHEAD
10 Liam HEARN
18 Lee BEEVERS
26 Callum HOWE
subs
6 Chris BUSH
12 Terry HAWKRIDGE (for TEMPEST 65)
15 Kegan EVERINGTON (for STANLEY 85)
24 Kyle WOOTTON (for HEARN 80)
13 Aidan GRANT
GOALS: WATERFALL (16 & 73), HEARN (25)
BOOKINGS: BEEVERS (17), FARMAN (90+3)
TORQUAY UNITED
21 Dan LAVERCOMBE
3 Daniel BUTLER
5 Angus MACDONALD
7 Louis BRISCOE
11 Shepherd MUROMBEDZI
16 Courtney RICHARDS
22 Ben GERRING
24 Kevin NICHOLSON
26 Simon HESLOP
27 Achille CAMPION
29 Durrell BERRY
subs
9 Waide FAIRHURST (for BRISCOE 63)
12 Josh CARMICHAEL
15 Liam PRYNN
28 Andre WRIGHT (for CAMPION 55)
1 Fabian SPIESS
GOAL: BUTLER (75)
BOOKINGS: MACDONALD (42), RICHARDS (72)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Derek Eaton
ASSISTANTS: Marc Whaley & Simon Wales
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Iain Parsons
ATTENDANCE: 1,752 (117 City supporters)
