City continued the rich-goalscoring form with an impressive 5-0 win over Bristol Rovers.
The Imps began the match on the front foot and almost went ahead in the 10th minute after Connor Taylor’s back pass wasn’t controlled by goalkeeper Jed Ward, with the ball bouncing off the outside of the post and behind.
City did take the lead just a minute later though as Danny Mandroiu’s inswinging corner was met by Paudie O’Connor who sent a towering header into the ground which bounced up into the top left corner.
Lukas Jensen then reacted well to a chance at the other end in the 16th minute after Jevani Brown played a defence-splitting pass to Chris Martin who was denied brilliantly by the onrushing goalie.
The visitors were made to rue that missed opportunity as City made it two-nil in the 19th minute when Jack Moylan found Lasse Sorensen on the right wing who delivered in for Joe Taylor to nip in front of Tristan Crama to head home.
City continued to assert themselves on the match and had a third in the 23rd minute as Jovon Makama’s fierce effort was tipped onto the crossbar, with Taylor rising highest to nod in the rebound on the left side of the box.
Bristol Rovers made changes which helped them grow into the half as Brown found space inside the area to fire low at goal, although Jensen was down well to make the save and keep the three-goal lead intact.
Jensen was made to work again a few minutes later as the Gas won the ball high up the pitch and laid it off to Martin on the left side of the area, but the frontman couldn’t squeeze his effort past the Dane who made himself big.
City’s defensive unit stood strong in first half stoppage time as Matt Taylor’s side looked for a way back into the contest, but Alex Mitchell was there to clear Sam Finley’s bouncing header off the line before Jensen parried Martin’s header away just minutes later.
Michael Skubala’s side came out firing at the start of the second half and continued their rich goalscoring form by netting a fourth when Sorensen played a neat pass through to Taylor who completed his hat-trick by chipping his effort over the goalie.
The visitors had a chance to reduce the arrears in the 70th minute after being awarded a penalty following Sean Roughan’s challenge on Scott Sinclair, however Antony Evans put the spot kick over the bar.
The Imps still looked eager to add to their goal tally and almost did when Jovon Makama sent a clever backheel into the path of Reeco Hackett whose shot across goal cannoned back off the inside of the left post.
City were made to see out the final stages of the game with 10 men after Ethan Erhahon picked up a second yellow card following a foul on the edge of the box.
The Imps were still relentless despite being man down and scored a fifth of the afternoon in the 81st minute after Hackett cut in from the left, skipped past a defender and struck a deflected effort past Ward in the Rovers goal.
Imps: Lukas Jensen, Alex Mitchell, Paudie O’Connor ©, Sean Roughan, Ethan Erhahon, Jack Moylan (Ted Bishop 83’), Danny Mandroiu, Lasse Sorensen (TJ Eyoma 86’), Reeco Hackett (Dylan Duffy 83’), Joe Taylor (Freddie Draper 69’), Jovon Makama (Adam Jackson 83’). Subs (not used): Isaac Allen, Jack Burroughs.
Goals: O’Connor (11’), Taylor (19’, 23’, 55’), Hackett (81’).
Bristol Rovers: Jed Ward, Sam Finley (Brandon Aguilera 62’), Scott Sinclair (Harry Vaughan 80’), Connor Taylor, Chris Martin, Harvey Vale (John Marquis 62’), Jevani Brown (Luca Hoole 28’), Antony Evans, Kamil Conteh, Tristan Crama (James Connolly 28’), Elkan Baggott. Subs (not used): Matthew Hall, Jerry Lawrence.
Attendance: 9,392 (387 away).
Referee: Scott Simpson.
