Gary Hutchinson

Lincoln City capped off a fine week by beating promotion rivals Dover 2-0 at Sincil Bank on Friday evening, in a result that sees them go five points clear at the top of the National League.

A bumper crowd was expected, and it was the first time this season home fans had been able to get in the Stacey West end, traditionally the ‘home’ end for Lincoln supporters.

After their FA Cup heroics on Tuesday, City could have been forgiven for being off the pace, but they started with the same intensity that has pushed them to the top of the table.

Dover have already beaten City this season, but as early as the ninth minute Lincoln took control. A marauding run from left back Sam Habergham ended with a cross which deflected off Dover defender Tyrone Sterling and looped over the stranded keeper.

The game was scrappy and far more physical than midweek, but City almost doubled their advantage on 19 minutes through a Terry Hawkridge drive.

The Imps suffered a real scare just before the break. The league’s leading scorer, Ricky Miller, created a chance for himself from nothing, his hooked effort was first parried, and then held by Imps keeper Paul Farman.

Lincoln made a precautionary change at half time, big centre forward Matt Rhead came off for Theo Robinson. With three games in the past seven days, and another big clash coming up on Tuesday, Danny Cowley was protecting his key player.

City came close again immediately after the restart. Sean Long, on loan from Reading, whipped in a cross-cum-shot that came back off the crossbar. Theo Robisnon picked up the loose ball and crossed for Adam Marriott, but the striker poked his effort wide of Steve Arnold’s post.

As the game wore on Lincoln looked tired, and Dover almost levelled things up on 62 minutes. Ricky Miller first earned a cheap free kick on the edge of the area, then he stepped up and clipped the left hand post of Paul Farman.

The let-off prompted Lincoln to search for a second goal, and just a minute later Elliott Whitehouse had a great chance after good work from Long and Nathan Arnold, but his shot sailed into the home fans behind the goal.

Dover were edging into the game more and more, and on 74 minutes they had their best chance of the evening. A whipped corner caused the Imps defence problems, and the resultant header had to be cleared off the line.

The final ten minutes looked to be nervy as Lincoln hoped to hold on, but a moment of magic from Terry Hawkridge put the game beyond doubt. The left winger picked up the ball and strode towards goal before side footing a splendid effort into the right hand side of Arnold’s goal.

The win, in front of 6491 fans, gives Lincoln a five point lead at the top of the table until tonight’s other National League fixtures, and leaves them on course for a sustained title challenge.

Lincoln City are into the fourth round of the FA Cup for only the third time in their history after a 1-0 victory over Championship side Ipswich.

A record 9,069 people packed into Sincil Bank to watch the game which was also covered live on BBC One.

Prior to kick off, a minute applause for former manager Graham Taylor was impeccably observed. He was the last manager to take City into the fourth round, in 1976.

Lincoln had the majority of the play, and they should have taken the lead on twenty five minutes. A long throw found Theo Robinson in space in the area, but he couldn’t quite turn his defender to get a shot off.

Ipswich’s first effort of the half fell to Jonathon Douglas, but his tame long range effort was dealt with easily.

Ipswich were offering very little, and Lincoln had another great chance on the half hour mark. It was Robinson the provider with a teasing cross that Alex Woodyard connected well with, his header dropping just wide of Dean Gerken’s left hand post.

Robust striker Matt Rhead was causing Ipswich problems, and they didn’t seem able to contain him as he continually got the better of former Scotland international Christophe Berra.

Lincoln almost took a deserved lead just minutes before half time. A cross found centre half Luke Waterfall, but his effort produced a wonder save from keeper Gerken. Bizarrely the referee awarded a goal kick when the Imps were looking to apply the pressure.

If Ipswich thought the non-league side would tire in the second half they were mistaken.  Just two minutes had elapsed when a Sam Habergham free kick was headed towards goal by Waterfall, but his effort was blocked for a corner.

Ipswich started to find a bit of rhythm and their best chance of the match came on 58 minutes. Wide man Josh Emmanuel found space to fizz a drive towards Paul Farman, which the Imps keeper parried well.

The Ipswich hero from the first match, Tom Lawrence, was virtually anonymous as Bradley Wood marked him out of the game. City weren’t giving their opponents any space on the ball at all.

On 70 minutes neat work by Alan Power saw the ball worked out to Terry Hawkridge, and his sweetly struck drive brought a diving save from Gerken.

The game looked to be heading into extra time when an Ipswich corner was cleared to Lincoln substitute Adam Marriott. The striker did well to stride forward, and showed neat footwork to evade a challenge.

He laid the ball into the path of an onrushing Nathan Arnold who found himself one on one with Gerken. He kept his composure superbly to round the goalkeeper and slot into an empty net.

Sincil Bank erupted as 8,000 home fans had their dreams realised. A few tense moments followed, but City held on to record an historic win on a night that will live long in the memory for everyone who witnessed it.

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