170729 Imps Walsall

The Imps won their final game of pre-season on Saturday afternoon as they beat Sky Bet League One side Walsall 2-1 at Sincil Bank.

Walsall took the lead just minutes after the break through Simeon Jackson.

But City turned it around in seven second-half minutes through Nathan Arnold and Sean Raggett to ensure victory in Lee Beevers' testimonial.

Beevers came on in injury time for Nathan Arnold and was welcome to rapturous applause from the Sincil Bank crowd.

The Imps had two trialists in their starting line-up at full-back, with Matthew Briggs and Neal Eardley being chosen.

Danny Cowley's side started the game brightly, with Billy Knott causing problems just behind the front man, Ollie Palmer.

Just before the break, Palmer linked up with Jordan Maguire-Drew whose delicate chip went inches over the bar.

HALF TIME: 0-0

Moments after the break, Palmer held off defenders to create himself some space on the edge of the box before firing just wide.

With 49 minutes gone, the Imps failed to clear a Walsall corner and the ball dropped to Jackson who found the bottom corner from close range.

Cowley made five changes on the hour mark which saw Matt Rhead, Elliott Whitehouse, Sean Long, Harry Anderson and Josh Ginnelly enter the field replacing Palmer, Knott, Briggs, Bostwick and Maguire-Drew.

City continued to cause Walsall problems, particularly down the flanks and were almost rewarded with a penalty as Arnold was brought down in the area, but the appeals were waved away. 

It took until the 72nd minute for the hosts to level the scores as a short corner saw Ginnelly cross for the impressive Arnold whose diving header squirmed past Mark Gillespie in the visiting goal.

The Imps continued to apply pressure and took the lead with 11 minutes remaining as Ginnelly's delightful corner found the head of Raggett who directed it past Gillespie and into the far corner. 

As we entered injury time, Beevers was brought on by Cowley to applause from all corners of the stadium to replace goalscorer, Arnold.

FULL TIME: Imps 2-1 Walsall

Attendance: 2376

Imps: Farman, Eardley, Raggett, Howe, Briggs, Maguire-Drew, Woodyard (c), Bostwick, Knott, Arnold, Palmer.

Subs: Vickers, Rhead, Anderson, Whitehouse, Long, McMenemy, Ginnelly and Chapman.

Highlights to come soon on iFollow.