Lincoln City Football Club

The City starting line-up showed no less than six changes for this first ever visit of Guiseley to Sincil Bank Stadium.

Two of the changes came in the centre of defence as Chris Bush and new signing Jamie McCombe replaced Luke Waterfall and Callum Howe and with the strike duo of Matt Rhead and Liam Hearn both ruled out through injury, Jack Muldoon moved into a central role with Shrewsbury Town loanee James Caton coming in for his City debut. Craig Stanley, Terry Hawkridge and Greg Tempest were the other three back in the fold with Matt Sparrow and Patrick Brough missing out.

Although the sun was shining brightly there was a distinct chill in the air as referee Karl Evans led the two teams out of the tunnel; City wearing black armbands and being skippered by Muldoon following the sad passing of his father earlier in the week.

Guiseley kicked off but it was the Imps who were the first to press with a Hawkridge cross leading to the first corner of the game in the second minute and after Bush kept the ball alive with a centre, Muldoon sent a spectacular overhead kick over the bar.

The visitors' first break saw Adam Boyes escape the offside flag but he sliced well wide under pressure from McCombe. At the other end good footwork from Caton saw him draw a foul out of Ryan Toulson on the left but Lee Beevers' free-kick sailed straight through to 'keeper Steven Drench.

After a quiet spell, James Hurst sent a shot on the turn wide in the 19th minute whilst City's reponse came six minutes later with Caton having a shot tipped behind by Drench after good work by Muldoon.

The corner lead to another on the opposite side and when Tempest curled in a deep delivery there rising high at the back post was CHRIS BUSH who powerfully headed home his first of the season.

A long Bradley Wood throw saw McCombe flick a header wide as the Imps pushed for a second and after Muldoon was crudely hacked down by Danny Hall who escaped a caution, Tempest's free-kick lead to a corner but this was cleared.

In the 36th minute Bush got on the end of a low Hawkridge corner but this time fired just wide and a couple of minutes later McCombe saw his header from another Hawkridge flag-kick claimed well by Drench.

The last action of the half came after Muldoon was felled once again by Hall with McCombe keeping alive Tempest's free-kick before Bush saw his shot superby saved by Drench.

HT: IMPS 1 GUISELEY 0

Both teams were unchanged as the Imps restarted the game and the first incident of the second half came in the form of an injury with Guiseley's Toulson in need of treatment having taken a knock close to the corner flag.

It was a cagey opening to the second period, although City remained the dominant team in terms of possession, and in a bid to inject some fresh impetus, Guiseley made a change with Nicky Boshell coming on for Anthony Dudley shortly after the hour mark.

In the 63rd a timely block by Bush saw him deny Hurst before Liam Dickinson replaced Danny Boshell for the visitors. A fine save by Farman then saw him deny Boyes as Guiseley enjoyed their first spell pressure.

Craig Stanley was well positioned to clear a 72nd minute Guiseley corner and three minutes later Hall was booked following a blatant off-the-ball trip on Hawkridge.

City came close to doubling the advantage shortly afterwards when Power released Caton who rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot; Robbie McDaid then replaced Craig Stanley for the Imps.

With nine minutes on the clock a quickly taken Guiseley free-kick ended up with Boyes slotting home only for the offside flag to go up against him whilst at the other end Muldoon fired wide as he looked to double the Imps' lead.

Matt Sparrow replaced Alan Power in the 84th minute and five minutes later Wood was harshly booked for a trip on Hatfield. The resultant free-kick lead to a Guiseley corner which Tempest hacked out.

Just before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added on a superb block by Beevers saw him deflect a Rob Atkinson effort over the bar. Farman claimed the resultant corner.

In the closing stages of added time a City counter-attack ended with the ball running away from McDaid after he was picked out by Hawkridge and the game eventually came to a close after Wood was felled by Hurst.

FT: IMPS 1 GUISELEY 0

5 Luke WATERFALL

14 Conner ROBINSON

19 Robbie McDAID (for STANLEY 78)

21 Matt SPARROW (for POWER 84)

13 Aidan GRANT

GOAL: BUSH (26)

BOOKING: WOOD (89)

3 Ben PARKER

5 Adam LOCKWOOD

16 Liam DICKINSON (for BOSHELL 63)

19 Nicky BOSHELL (for DUDLEY 61)

17 Daniel ATKINSON

BOOKING: HALL (75)

ATTENDANCE: 2,265 (98 visiting supporters)