A superb Davide Somma brace saw the Imps snatch a valuable three points against promotion-chasing AFC Bournemouth at Sincil Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Somma gave the Imps a deserved lead in the 23rd minute when he latched on to a Chris Herd flick before neatly finishing past Shwan Jalal but after the break, City were pushed onto the defensive and when Brett Pitman levelled matters with 20 minutes on the clock, it looked as though the Cherries were going to go on and win the match.

Then up stepped Somma and with the clock in its 82nd minute, the South African latchd on to a ball over the top by the industrous Clark Keltie and after the Leeds loanee watched it go over his shoulder he promptly rifled in a looping volley which dropped inches underneath the bar for what turned out to be a spectacular winner.

There was still time for Cian Hughton to pick up his 10th caution of the season and a subsequent two-match ban whilst referee Paul Tierney's decision to brandish a yellow card resulted in manager Chris Sutton being sent to the stands.

Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:

Manager Chris Sutton named an unchanged starting line-up for this Coca-Cola League 2 encounter against promotion-chasing AFC Bournemouth at Sincil Bank Stadium.

Of the 16 who were on the team sheet for Easter Monday's game against Morecambe, the only changes came on the bench with Richard Butcher and David Stephens being replaced by Steven Lennon and Michael Gordon.

For once, pleasant weather conditions greeted the two teams as they were led out of the tunnel by referee Paul Tierney and it was the Imps who got things underway in the sunshine, attacking the GoCar Stand end in the opening period.

City were quickly out of the traps with Matt Saunders winning a corner in the opening minute; the midfielder took the flag-kick himself and looked on as the ball clipped a Bournemouth defender before going out for a throw-in on the opposite flank.

The opening five minutes were dominated by the Imps, although Cherries' keeper Shwan Jalal remained untroubled between the sticks, whilst Bournemouth's first attack of note ended with Nathan Baker clear a low Brett Pitman cross out for a corner which was headed well wide by Jason Pearce.

In the 10th minute a quickly-taken Pitman free-kick from just inside the City half saw the Cherries' striker almost catch Rob Burch unawares but the Imps' number one backpeddled well before claiming the ball under his crossbar. City's response saw Davide Somma and Chris Herd exchange passes but the second ball in from the latter was just behind the former and any hopes of the opening goal went begging.

Five minutes later, Bournemouth pressed again and when Pitman played in Alan Connell, the former Torquay United striker saw his curling effort rom 15 yards go wide of the target. The Imps replied to this scare with a Joe Anderson free-kick leading to a second corner. A couple of minutes later City went in front.

The opening goal of the game came when Herd rose well to flick a header through to Somma, who was clearly in an onside position when he gained possession. The South African did the rest and after he took a couple of touches, sold the advancing Jalal a dummy before neatly slotting the ball home.

Whilst Somma and his team mates celebrated the goal, Jalal was cautioned by refereee Tierney, presumably for dissent as he aired his frustrations at the lack of a flag somewhat vociferously.

Bournemouth immediately pressed for a leveller with a Pitman volley being palmed away by Burch before Anton Robinson prodded an effort a foot wide of the right-hand upright. At the other end good work from Cian Hughton saw him win a corner which led to another flag-kick on the opposite side. This one almost ended up with Somma having anothe sight of goal but the ball just bounced away from him as he prepared to pull the trigger.

The lively Pitman was involved again nine minutes before the break as he saw his goalbound drive get deflected over by Moses Swaibu. His defensive partner Baker rose well, however, and cleared the danger when the ball was played in from the quadrant.

A quiet spell ensued before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of two minutes were to be added and midway through this extra time, Saunders curled an effort over from the edge of the box.

HT: IMPS 1 BOURNEMOUTH 0

No changes were made during the break so it was as you were as the visitors got things underway again.

City were the first to press following the restart with Paul Green exchanging passes with Somma but Jalal was quickly off his line to smother at the stand-in skipper's feet. At the other end Pitman was denied by the legs of Burch as the Cherries upped the tempo.

Five minutes in, Herd was left grounded clutching his left ankle which forced physio Michael Wait into action for the first time. The Australian was able to return to the action straight away though following treatment.

City had Swaibu to thank shortly afterwards after hesitation in the City midfield gave Bournemouth the chance to break; Swaibu denying Feeney after the ball was played into the winger's path by Connell.

The Cherries continued to pile on the pressure with Burch tipping a 60th minute Feeney effort behind for a corner which was easily dealt with by the Imps' back line. Another corner following a couple of minutes later and after this one was palmed away by Burch, Robinson earned himself a caution for a foul on Somma.

In the 66th minute a Pitman free-kick which clipped the City wall led to another Cherries' corner but Burch commanded his area well to emerge with the ball in his gloves. A push on Connell by Anderson a foot outside the box and before the free-kick could be taken Steve Fletcher replaced Sammy Igoe for the visitors.

Rhoys Wiggins took the kick and with his ball into the box having some considerable pace on it, Pitman nipped in to deflect it past Burch to level matters with 20 minutes on the clock.

Steven Lennon for Shane Clarke was City's first change of the match a minute or so later; the switch seeing Saunders move into a central role alongside Keltie.

The Imps were still being put under pressure with Saunders clearing a Pitman corner before the Bournemouth number nine volleyed over after Fletcher headed the ball into his path.

Despite being under almost constant pressure following the break, City managed to get their noses back in front with eight minutes remaining with a goal stright out of the top drawer by David Somma. With the industrous Keltie playing a ball over the top of the Bournemouth defence the Leeds loanee watched it go over his shoulder and then, with Jalal well off his line, he promptly rifled in a looping volley which dropped inches underneath the bar for his second of the game.

With temperatures rising on the pitch, Hughton was harshly cautioned after referee Tierney deemed that he had delayed the taking of a free-kick. The City man, however, appeared to be retrieving the ball for the visitors after it had crossed the touchline. With the incident occurring close to the two dug outs, Chris Sutton's frustrations at seeing Hughton pick up his 10th cution of the season saw him sent to the stands by the first year official.

A second Bournemouth chance came with two minutes of normal time remaining with Jeff Goulding replacing Alan Connell and shortly afterwards a deflected Danny Hollands shot trickled just wide of the target before City scrambled the resultant corner away.

The Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added and midway through these extra stages Paul Connor replaced Chris Herd to eat a few more seconds up. Shortly afterwards, Burch claimed a tame Pitman effort.

This proved to be the last shot on target so a tense, nervous finish to the game ended with the Imps holding on for an extremely valuable maximum haul.

FT: IMPS 2 BOURNEMOUTH 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
5 Moses SWAIBU
33 Nathan BAKER
38 Joe ANDERSON
19 Shane CLARKE
39 Matthew SAUNDERS
23 Clark KELTIE
25 Cian HUGHTON
34 Chris HERD
18 Davide SOMMA

subs
16 Steven LENNON (for CLARKE 71)
9 Paul CONNOR (for HERD 90+3)
14 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
26 Andy HUTCHINSON
31 Michael GORDON
35 Brian GILMOUR
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE

GOALS: SOMMA (23, 82)

BOOKING: HUGHTON (85)

AFC BOURNEMOUTH
1 Shwan JALAL
7 Sammy IGOE
5 Jason PEARCE
6 Marvin BARTLEY
16 Rhoys WIGGINS
8 Anton ROBINSON
11 Liam FEENEY
14 Danny HOLLANDS
9 Brett PITMAN
10 Alan CONNELL
23 Lee BRADBURY

subs
33 Steve FLETCHER (for IGOE 69)
19 Jeff GOULDING (for CONNELL 88)
2 Scott GUYETT
17 Josh McQUOID
22 Joe PARTINGTON
28 Warren CUMMINGS
30 Dan THOMAS

GOAL: PITMAN (70)

BOOKINGS: JALAL (24), ROBINSON (64)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Paul Tierney
ASSISTANTS: Glenn Hambling & Keith Lawson
FOURTH OFFICIAL: James Adcock

ATTENDANCE: 3,040 (360 visiting supporters)