City’s opening pre-season fixture took place just down the road at The Northolme as the Imps faced Gainsborough Trinity. The Imps ran out comfortable winners with the goals arriving from Ted Bishop, Sean Roughan, Charley Kendall and Billy Brooks.
Head coach Mark Kennedy featured in the dugout for the first time and fielded a mixture of youth and experience which saw two different XI’s take to the pitch.
The Imps started the game on the front foot with plenty of possession. Charles Vernam picked the ball up on the left wing before driving at the Trinity defence. He beat two men before cutting the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box, but the home side cleared the danger.
City continued to recycle the ball well before a positive run from Roughan led to the first corner of the game in the eighth minute. The Imps threatened again on the quarter hour mark as TJ Eyoma linked up well with Vernam before winning another corner, but the ref blew for a foul.
The first shot on target of the game arrived in the 16th minute which saw Roughan burst into the penalty area before his left footed effort was saved by the Gainsborough goalkeeper.
Lincoln were so close to taking the lead shortly afterwards as a misplaced pass fell to Tom Hopper who slipped a lovely reverse pass to Max Sanders, but he couldn’t quite finish from a tight angle after rounding the goalkeeper.
The Gainsborough keeper was called into action again in the 21st minute as he made a stunning save to deny Vernam. Bishop played a precise through ball to TJ Eyoma on the right wing before his cut back was met by the summer signing, but the keeper somehow got a touch on the effort to deflect it behind.
Gainsborough’s first chance of the match arrived in the 23rd minute as the trialist number nine curled a right footed effort wide of Sam Long’s post. Gainsborough’s trialist number seven also volleyed over the bar following a cross from the right.
Charles Vernam was lively all half and another darting run from the winger led to a deep cross, but Jovon Makama couldn’t quite guide his header on target before the home side cleared.
Sam Long’s first save of the game arrived in the 38th minute as he held on well to a low free kick from 25 yards.
The Imps deservedly opened the scoring on the 40-minute mark as Bishop found space in the box before glancing a header into the far corner following a cross from Vernam to make it 1-0.
City made it 2-0 two minutes later and Roughan was the goal scorer. Sanders showed good composure before laying the ball off to the full-back, and Roughan rifled the ball at goal via a slight deflection.
Half time: Gainsborough Trinity 0-2 Lincoln City
The full XI was changed at hal time as the coaching staff were providing much needed minutes to the squad.
The first chance of the second half arrived in the 52nd minute as Elicha Ahui picked up the ball in the middle of the park before driving at the Trinity defence, but his right footed cross fell behind for a goal kick.
Ben House showed good trickery on a couple of occasions on the right-hand side before drawing a foul from his marker although the resulting free kick was cleared by the Gainsborough defence.
This half saw Kendall get his first outing for City and he showed great pace by bursting down the left wing before cutting inside and shooting at goal, but his shot was blocked and Trinity cleared their lines.
House continued to find pockets of space in the opposition half as a shot from distance whistled over the Gainsborough crossbar in the 67th minute.
The chances were still arriving for City as Hakeeb Adelakun curled a cross into the penalty area, but Jamie Robson shot wide under pressure from a Gainsborough defender. Shortly afterwards Ben House and Kendall linked up well again with a neat one-two but the home goalkeeper managed to collect the ball.
The third goal of the game arrived in the 78th minute and it was a cool strike from Kendall. Tashan Oakley-Boothe flicked the ball on with his head and Kendall raced through on goal before slotting the ball home with his right foot.
The home side's best effort of the game arrived in the 81st minute as a curling free kick struck the bar and bounced behind.
City were still creating plenty of chances and grabbed a fourth goal of the game in the 88th minute. House showed great strength and skill to hold off his man before crossing the ball into the box for Billy Brooks to head home from six yards.
Mark Kennedy's first match in charge ended 4-0 to City with crucial minutes in the tank for the players.
Full time: Gainsborough Trinity 0-4 Lincoln City
Starting XI: Sam Long, TJ Eyoma, Paudie O’Connor, Hayden Cann, Sean Roughan, Charles Vernam, Max Sanders, Lasse Sorensen, Ted Bishop, Jovon Makama, Tom Hopper
Second XI: Jordan Wright, Elicha Ahui, Adam Jackson, Regan Poole, Jamie Robson, Billy Brooks, Tashan Oakley–Boothe, Morgan Worsfold-Gregg, Ben House, Hakeeb Adelakun, Charley Kendall
Bench: Tayo Alexander-Tucker and Harry Dale
Goals: Ted Bishop 40’, Sean Roughan 42’, Charley Kendall 78’, Billy Brooks 88’
Attendance: 1,246
