City earned a deserved three points against the league leaders Stevenage, as they prevailed 1-0 victors at the LNER Stadium.
After creating a host of chances, the breakthrough the Imps deserved eventually came via Rob Street who nestled the decider into the top corner after 70 minutes.
Michael Skubala made three changes to his team following the most recent international break as Conor McGrandles returned to the starting 11 as well as Reeco Hackett and Tom Hamer. Jamie Pardington was recalled from his loan at AFC Telford to replace Zach Jeacock, who picked up a shoulder injury, on the City bench.
The first chance of the game fell City’s way on four minutes as Conor McGrandles picked up a loose pass on the halfway line and played a channel ball to an on-rushing Adam Reach who beat his man and squared the ball to Ben House, but he was off target.
After nine minutes City had another chance as Tom Hamer looped a long throw into the Stevenage area, and a bouncing ball found it’s way to Rob Street who turned and unleashed a shot but couldn’t keep it within the parameters of Filip Marschall’s goal.
After 13 minutes the Imps had their third chance to open the scoring as Freddie Draper won the ball back deep in his own half before passing a ball to Tendayi Darikwa who played a wonderfully timed through ball to Street giving him a one-on-one with Marschall, but he struck his effort wide.
Stevenage had their first chance of the game after 37 minutes as Jasper Pattenden picked up the ball following a City clearance and found Beryly Lubala on the wing who then found Harvey White on the edge of the Imps box, he didn’t test George Wickens with his effort firing wide of the post.
The Imps had another chance to take the lead just before half-time as a Tom Hamer long throw was recycled and a Reeco Hackett flick on found Freddie Draper with his back to goal, he turned, but his shot was blocked by a Stevenage defender.
The flurry of City pressure before the break continued as Darikwa made another impressive run down the Imps' right-hand side before taking a shot that was parried into the path of Hackett who couldn’t react quick enough and the ball bounced off him for a goal kick.
Half time: Imps 0 Stevenage 0
City started the second 45 minutes in a similar fashion to how they ended the first as Conor McGrandles found the ball at his feet after Stevenage attempted to clear their lines. He fed Freddie Draper on the edge of the area who looked to finesse a shot into the far corner, but it was marginally over the bar.
Stevenage came forward down City’s right-hand side after 57 minutes as Chem Campbell dribbled his way down the line before cutting a ball back to Harvey White who found himself unmarked on the penalty spot and was denied only by a goal line clearance from Adam Reach.
The deadlock was broken by the Imps after 70 minutes as Rob Street found the top corner with his effort after the ball had bounced around the Stevenage box following some nice build up play between Tendayi Darikwa and Reeco Hackett down Stevenage’s left-hand side and it was enough to earn all three points.
Full time: Imps 1 Stevenage 0
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Towler 81’), Bayliss (Varfolomeev 93’), McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Collins 72’), House, Hamer, Draper (Okoronkwo 81’)
Unused Subs: Pardington, Ring, Obikwu
Stevenage: Marschall, Houghton (Reid 76’), Piergianni, Ahadme (Sweeney 91’), Kemp, Goode, Freestone (Butler 76’), Pattenden, White, Campbell (Roberts 62’), Lubala (Patterson 62’)
Unused Subs: Ashby-Hammond, Orford
Attendance: 8,451 (499 away)
Referee: Martin Coy
