The Imps made it five consecutive home league victories as they recorded victory over Cardiff City to go into Christmas on a high.
City struck first when Reeco Hackett's ball into the area was sent into his own net by Alex Robinson. The visitors levelled in the second period but Sonny Bradley headed home a deserved winner.
Head coach Michael Skubala made just the one change to the lineup who earned a hard-fought point on the road at Blackpool last weekend. Freddie Draper came into the City attack as Conor McGrandles made his 150th start for the Imps.
The first chance of the game fell to Lincoln after 12 minutes as Tom Hamer delivered one of his trademark long throws into the Cardiff area, the first ball was won by the towering figure of Sonny Bradley whose flick on found Reeco Hackett, but he couldn’t generate enough power to beat Matt Turner.
Another chance fell the way of the Imps just two minutes later when some lovely work by Freddie Draper helped him escaped the pursuing Cardiff defenders, he cut the ball back, it was dummied by Conor McGrandles before finding its way to the City skipper, Tendayi Darikwa, who forced Turner into another save.
A third chance for the Imps in quick succession, the next came after 15 minutes when the ball found its way out to the right-hand side of the Cardiff defence with Adam Reach who opted for the easy ball to Jack Moylan who quickly assessed the situation before pulling the trigger and missing the target marginally.
After 36 minutes the visitors had their first real opportunity as Reeco Hackett beat Yousef Salech to the ball at the back post with an excellent block.
from two yards out forcing the effort onto the bar. It came following a free-kick that was recycled by Cardiff, the original save from George Wickens left the City shot stopper out of position.
The Imps got the breakthrough on the 40 minute mark as City found themselves in an advanced position with the ball at Reeco Hackett’s feet, he looked to play a through ball to Jack Moylan who made a clever run into the Bluebirds penalty area, before the ball could reach the Irishman, Alex Robertson slid in to intercept but in doing so diverted the ball into his own net.
Just before half time there was another chance for City to double their advantage, it came after a quick break where the Imps advanced up the pitch with some fine passes before putting it into the danger area, neither side could get the ball under control before it fell to the edge where Tom Bayliss had a chance but it was saved well by Matt Turner.
The visitors hit back after 49 minutes with some very nice football, Perry Ng was both the goalscorer and the orchestrater, he picked the ball up around 25-yards out before playing triangular balls with both Omari Kellyman and also Salech who played a ball round the corner back to Ng who made no mistake putting it past George Wickens.
Cardiff enjoyed a sustained period of pressure which culminated on the 61-minute mark when the visitors’ captain, Ryan Wintle, called Wickens into action following successive corners, the Imps failed to clear the ball, and it was recycled into a dangerous area where Cardiff looked to pounce on the opportunity.
City restored their lead after 67 minutes when Tendayi Darikwa’s long-range effort got deflected out for a corner which was subsequently taken by Tom Bayliss. He curled the ball perfectly to the back post where Bradley rose highest and managed to guide his headed effort past Matt Turner in the Cardiff goal.
The Imps had another chance after 71 minutes when Rob Street used his physicality in the corner to fight off the visiting defender, he found Darika who looked for Obikwu, but it was cut out. Bayliss stole it off the defender’s foot, he tried an optimistic effort with the outside of his boot but it flashed just wide.
After 78 minutes the Imps had another clear chance to add to their lead, it was another set piece situation where the ball was whipped into the mosh pit, it was the goalscorer Sonny Bradley who once again made first contact, he flicked it on to the feet of Rob Street who had his back to goal, he managed to turn and unleash a shot but he could not keep it within the goal.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Jefferies 86’), Bayliss (Varfolomeev 96’), Moylan (Towler 62’), McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Okoronkwo 86’), Hamer, Draper (Obikwu 62’)
Unused Subs: Jeacock, Ring
Cardiff: Turner, Ng, Lawlor, Fish, Bagan (Kpakio 46’), Wintle (Turnbull 82’), Robertson (Robinson 74’), Kellyman, Ashford, Willock (Davies 74’), Salech
Unused Subs: Chambers, Colwill, Tanner
Attendance: 9,913 (1,617 away)
Referee: Richard Eley
