A thoroughly entertaining affair at Sincil Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon saw the Imps extend their winning Coca-Cola League 2 run to three matches at the expense of Bradford City.

Having seen Rob Burch keep the Imps in the game by denying Luke O'Brien in a one-on-one situation, City took the lead on the half-hour mark when Brian Gilmour released Chris Herd who finished clinically past Matt Glennon.

Six minute later, Gilmour bagged his first in City colours when good play from Delroy Facey saw the diminutive Scot to hold off a clutch of defenders before coolly sliding the ball home via the inside of the left-hand upright.

The second half saw Bradford press forward in numbers in a bid to get back into the game and in the 62nd minute substitute Michael Boulding deflected in a Luke O'Brien cross but City stood firm afterwards with Burch and his backline repelling everything thrown at them.

It was the first half double, however, that saw the Imps emerge with the points in a game which was an excellent advert for League 2 football.

City boss Chris Sutton named an unchanged starting line-up for this Coca-Cola League 2 game against Bradford City at Sincil Bank Stadium. In fact the the only change to the squad that was on show at Barnet last week came on the bench where Shane Clarke replaced Michael Gordon.

The Imps, looking to make it three wins on the spin, were up against a Bradford side who were looking to bounce back from a midweek reverse at high-flying Bury. Bantams' manager Stuart McCall made two changes to his side with the experienced Lee Bullock and the lively Omar Daley coming in for Scott Neilson and Michael Boulding.

Prolonged showers on Friday made for a heavy surface as referee Steve Bratt got things underway with City attacking the Stacey West Stand end from the opening whistle.

The Imps were quick to press with a swift move down the right ending with Cian Hughton winning a corner on the 90 second mark but Matt Saunders' short ball to Scott Kerr was intercepted by Chris Brandon and the visitors were able to clear their lines.

A deep cross from Joe Anderson three minutes later just evaded Delroy Facey and Hughton as the Imps pushed forward again whilst Bradford's response saw them force a ninth minute corner following a quick counter-attack. Rob Burch commanded his area well though and his punched clearance saw Kerr and Brian Gilmour link up well to release Facey who was denied by Michael Flynn. The resultant flag-kick ended with Nathan Baker flicking the ball into Matt Glennon's gloves.

Play immediately switched to the other end and another Bradford corner which Saunders duly headed clear and from City's next break forward Hughton tested Glennon with a low left-footed drive.

It was a busy opening quarter of an hour with both sides looking to push forward when in possession and the pattern continued in the 18th minute when Facey forced a corner on the left. Saunders' subsequent delivery was met by Watts but his header was kept out by Glennon, who made a fine save low to his right.

City had Burch to thank a couple of minutes later when full-back Luke O'Brien latching on to a loose ball in the centre circle and after he had skipped past both Paul Green and Watts, Burch spread himself well and denied the Bradford man with his feet. City duly cleared the resultant corner.

An end-to-end game continued with two great Gilmour crosses being hurriedly cleared by the visiting defence whilst a quick break forward from Omar Daley ended up with Watts firing the ball against Gareth Evans for a goal kick.

On the half-hour mark the Imps took the lead with a goal of top quality. The move which led to the goal started when Facey flicked a ball on to Gilmour who in turn slid a great pass through to Chris Herd. The Australian did the rest by taking the ball forward, looking up and neatly firing across the advancing Glennon for his second of the season.

Bradford looked for a quick response with the lively Daley forcing an unproductive corner off Baker before a foul on Kerr gave the Imps a chance to calm things down a bit before going on the attack; Anderson and Hughton linking up before the latter's cross was intercepted.

Shortly afterwards, however, it was 2-0 with another top-draw effort unlocking the Bantams' defences. Hughton was involved in the 37th minute move but the assist will go down to Delroy Facey who controlled and flicked the ball over his head for Brian Gilmour to run on to. The diminutive Scot duly held off a clutch of defenders as be bore down on goal before coolly sliding the ball past Glennon; the ball nestling in the back of the net via the inside of the left-hand upright.

Gilmour, fully deserving of his first goal in City colours, was upended by Zesh Rehman four minutes after the restart with the free-kick ending in an Imps' corner. Saunders took the kick and when it was played back to him, he saw his drilled effort blocked well by Glennon before Gilmour's follow-up effort crashed into team mate Facey.

The Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of three minutes were to be added and although the majority of this extra time was spent in the Bradford half, the Imps couldn't find a way past Glennon again so as referee Bratt blew for the break, the score stood at 2-0 to the men in red and white.

HT: IMPS 2 BRADFORD 0

Whilst the Imps emerged unchanged for the start of the second half, Bradford made two changes with Steve Williams and Michael Boulding coming on for Zesh Rehman and Jonathan Bateson.

City were the first to press following the restart with Kerr releasing Herd who, after taking the ball past Ramsden saw his final ball into the area cleared by Matthew Clarke. Shortly afterwards, substitute Williams picked up a deserved caution for a crude challenge on Herd.

Some hesitation from Williams then let in Gilmour who in turn played in Facey only for Clarke to get in another block before Hughton's follow-up effort crashed into a black shirted player. At the other end the visitors made it four corners apiece but O'Brien's delivery was poor and Anderson was able to clear his lines.

Bradford, who were enjoying their best spell of the game, got themselves back into the game in the 62nd minute when a ball in from their left by O'Brien saw Michael Boulding get in between the City centre-backs and with the faintest of touches diverted the ball past Burch and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was all Bradford now with Evans and Boulding, under pressure from Green, firing over shortly after the restart and in a bid to calm things down, Gilmour was replaced by Michael Uwezu.

The goal had clearly given the Bantams a lift and as they continued to press forward Daley tested Burch after he had cut in from the left before fizzing in a right-footed shot. Then, with Herd down injured, O'Brien skipped past a couple of challenges before forcing Burch into another save.

Herd was immediately replaced by Shane Clarke as the clock ticked towards the 73rd minute whilst three minutes later Scott Neilson replaceed Gareth Evans up front for the visitors. Another change came with 12 minutes on the clock with the the tiring Facey being replaced by Lenny John-Lewis

John-Lewis was quickly in the action, receiving a ball from Green before winning a throw-in in front of the travelling Bradford fans and when the throw was played in, Uwezu took a hefty knock which required treatment. The Nigerian was able to return to the fray though following attention by Michael Wait and quickly won a corner which was taken by Saunders and headed wide by Baker.

With a mist starting to descend on proceedings, Baker was harshly penalised for a foul on Flynn midway in his own half; the free-kick ended up seeing Burch claim a deflected header.

At the other end it was the Imps' turn to gain a set-piece when Daley bundled over the advancing Green and when Anderson swung the ball in, John-Lewis appeared to be held down by Clarke but referee Bratt was happy for play to continue.

With less than four minutes remaining, the visitors won a corner to ensure the nerves continued to jangle but Baker twice rose high to win the ball before an offside flag gave the Imps a chance to eat up some seconds.

Shortly before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of five minutes were to be added on, Hughton found himself in space only to be denied by Glennon whilst an offside flag then denied Hughton another run on goal.

Bradford were now pouring men forward and only a fine saving tackle from Shane Clarke denied his namesake Matthew who was pushed up front whilst a timely interception from Baker denied O'Brien.

Goalkeeper Glennon went up for the corner and with 30 secs left on the clock, Burch rose well and punched clear. City broke forward as the ball ran free and when John-Lewis was hacked down by Lee Bullock, the visiting midfielder was booked. There was still time for a further 45 seconds to be played but City held on and emerged with three more vital points.

FT: IMPS 2 BRADFORD 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
22 Adam WATTS
33 Nathan BAKER
38 Joe ANDERSON
11 Scott KERR
39 Matthew SAUNDERS
25 Cian HUGHTON
34 Chris HERD
35 Brian GILMOUR
36 Delroy FACEY

subs
37 Michael UWEZU (for GILMOUR 65)
19 Shane CLARKE (for HERD 72)
14 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS (for FACEY 78)
5 Moses SWAIBU
9 Paul CONNOR
23 Clark KELTIE
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE

GOALS: HERD (31), GILMOUR (37)

BRADFORD CITY
40 Matt GLENNON
2 Simon RAMSDEN
3 Luke O'BRIEN
5 Zesh REHMAN
6 Matthew CLARKE
16 Jonathan BATESON
4 Michael FLYNN
11 Chris BRANDON
7 Omar DALEY
8 Lee BULLOCK
9 Gareth EVANS

subs
12 Steve WILLIAMS (for REHMAN h/t)
14 Michael BOULDING (for BATESON h/t)
26 Scott NEILSON (for EVANS 76)
18 Rory BOULDING
19 James O'BRIEN
24 Louis HORNE
13 Jon McLAUGHLIN

GOAL: M BOULDING (62)

BOOKINGS: WILLIAMS (48), BULLOCK (90+6)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Steve Bratt
ASSISTANTS: Neil Hair & Nigel Murphy
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Richard Wigglesworth

ATTENDANCE: 3,803 (633 visiting supporters)