The Imps picked up another three points thanks to Joe Taylor’s dinked finish in the second half against Exeter City.
City’s first attempt at goal came from a free-kick on the edge of the area as Dylan Duffy laid the ball off for Ethan Hamilton whose driven effort took a deflection and fizzed the wrong side of the post.
Both sides struggled to create any clear openings in the game early on, with the next best chance falling to Duffy in the 20th minute who volleyed high and wide of the target following Paudie O’Connor’s knockdown.
Exeter looked to threaten from a set-piece routine towards the end of the half as Yanic Wildschut found Luke Harris on the edge but his shot sailed over the bar and the teams went into the break level.
Gary Caldwell’s side came out for the second half with more energy and went very close to scoring after Dion Rankine picked out an unmarked Jack Aitchinson in the middle who had his effort pushed onto the underside crossbar by Lukas Jensen.
City then called the visitors’ goalie into action a few minutes later as Lasse Sorensen found Ben House with a low ball into the centre whose shot was deflected onto the post by Vil Sinisalo who then denied Ethan Hamilton’s follow up.
Ted Bishop made his presence felt when he came on as a substitute just after the hour mark. The midfielder stole possession midway inside Exeter’s half to send Joe Taylor through who dinked the ball delicately over the goalie to score his first goal for the club.
Michael Skubala’s side looked comfortable in possession after the goal and looked to add a second through Hamilton’s wide free-kick which Sean Roughan and Alex Mitchell couldn’t quite connect with at the back post.
The Imps saw out the closing stages well and went close to doubling their lead in stoppage time after Bishop got a shot away inside the area, although his effort was tipped over the crossbar.
Imps: Lukas Jensen, Paudie O’Connor ©, Alex Mitchell, Sean Roughan, Ethan Erhahon, Conor McGrandles, Ethan Hamilton, Lasse Sorensen, Dylan Duffy (Ted Bishop 63’), Joe Taylor (Jack Moylan 78’), Ben House. Subs (not used): Jordan Wright, TJ Eyoma, Danny Mandroiu, Jovon Makama.
Goal: Taylor (68’).
Exeter: Vil Sinisalo, Ben Purrington (Reece Cole 62’), Zak Jules, Tom Carroll, Yanic Wildschut (Vincent Harper 62’), Sonny Cox, Luke Harris, Dion Rankine (Ilmari Niskanen 76’), Pierce Sweeney ©, Jack Aitchison (Mo Eisa 76’), Cheick Diabate (Will Aimson 76’). Subs (not used): Shaun MacDonald, Ryan Woods.
Attendance: 7,609 (299 away).
Referee: Matt Corlett.