City maintained their 100% record in pre-season with a 2-0 victory over Bishop Stortford at Woodside Park this evening.
Cian Hughton grabbed City's first on the 20 minute mark with a superb finish into the top corner from the edge of the box while youngster Andy Hutchinson grabbed a goal after coming on from the bench to seal the comfortable win 15 minutes from time with an excellent flicked header.
With the third win on the bounce for the Imps and their first clean sheet, another plus for City was the return of Adam Watts who got through 60 minutes unscathed.
Match Report from Woodside Park
Chris Sutton gave a start to centre back Adam Watts as he looked to step up his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered in February. There was also a start for new signing Jamie Clapham at left back while members of the sqaud were shuffled to give them more match action.
City started the brighter with half chances for Hughton and McCallum but it was the Blue Square South outfit that caused the first real threat on either goal with Joe Anyon in the City goal saving well from a Reece Prestage curling effort just after the quarter hour mark.
Four minutes later it was City who took the lead. A flowing move saw Josh O'Keefe carry the ball forward before feeding Hughton 25 yards from goal. The Republic of Ireland under 21 international touched the ball away from his man, turned and sent a curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.
A long ball forward from Paul Green released Gavin McCallum through on goal 10 minutes before the break but, under pressure from the defender, McCallum saw his tame effort saved by the Bishop Stortford 'keeper.
The non-league side finished the half the stronger of the two with Charlie Simpson going close for the home side and they went closer still on the stroke of half time when Scott
Schulton's free kick from out wide was driven across goal and deflected of an Imps defender, onto the post before rebounding to safety.
HALF TIME: Bishop Stortford 0 Imps 1
City made three changes at the break and it was one of these changes, Mustapha Carayol who nearly added City's second on the hour mark. The lightning quick winger skipped inside his man and drove an effort at goal which deflected of Drewe Broughton and with the 'keeper wrong footed, he somehow managed to keep the ball out.
A short free kick on the left released Joe Anderson whose cross found Scott Kerr arriving late in the box. The midfielder's effort was blocked and rebounded out Carayol who sliced his shot wide from the edge of the box.
Shortly after, City were busy appealing for a free kick on the edge of the opposition area after a foul on Clark Keltie, but the referee waved play on and City were almost caught out at the back with a long ball forward allowing the forward through on goal but Shane Clarke, who had come on at right back, was back in time to block the effort for a corner.
The resulting set piece saw Ted Llewellyn get a free header towards goal but his weak effort bounced comfortably into Anyon's hands.
City were starting to take control of the game and a good interchange between Jarrett and Broughton saw Jarrett released down the left hand side. His cross into the middle found Broughton again but the experienced centre forward was unable to get good contact on the header and the ball was cleared.
However moments later Jarrett again on the right hand side crossed with his left foot with pinpoint accuracy onto substitute Andy Hutchinson's head who deftly flicked the ball into the corner of the net to give the Imps a deserved 2-0 lead.
City were looking stronger going into the final 10 minutes of the game and Carayol floated a ball into Andy Hutchinson who showed excellent technique to take the ball down on his chest away from the defender and get a strike in at goal, however his effort was well saved down to Ashley Jones' left in the Bishop Stortford goal.
City's wingers, Carayol and Jarrett looked lively and both had efforts on goal in the final few moments after cutting in from their respective left and right flanks.
With time almost up on the referee's watch, Drewe Broughton was fouled in the area as a cross from the right wing came in and the man in the middle had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
It was Broughton himself who confidently strode up to take the spot kick, but he drilled it over the bar to keep the score at 2-0.
FULL TIME: Bishop Stortford 0 Imps 2
IMPS: Joe Anyon, Paul Green, Jamie Clapham, Adam Watts, Moses Swaibu, Cian Hughton, Scott Kerr, Josh O'Keefe, Albert Jarrett, Drewe Broughton, Gavin McCallum.
SUBS: Paul Musselwhite (Anyon 75), Joe Anderson (Clapham 45), Shane Clarke (Watts 60), Ian Pearce (Swaibu 82), Mustapha Carayol (Hughton 45), Clarke Keltie (O'Keefe 45), Andy Hutchinson (McCallum 72).
GOALS: Hughton (20) & Hutchinson (76)
