Lincoln City Football Club

City boss Chris Moyses had the luxury of naming an unchanged squad for this Vanarama National League match at Chester as his team went in search of a third successive win and the third on away soil.

It was a pleasant October afternoon as referee Tom Nield - officiating at his first game of the season - led the two teams out and once the pre-match formalities were done and dusted play got underway with the Imps kicking off.

City were the first to press with an excellent second minute break ending with Alan Power having a sight of goal only for Chester keeper Jon Worsnop to get in a block before the ball was hacked behind for a corner. The quickly-taken flag-kick ended with Terry Hawkridge floating in a cross only for Luke Waterfall to be denied by the home defence.

It wasn't long before the Imps were threatening again though and when some slick midfield play gave Lee Beevers the chance to float in a cross, he duly obliged and there to rise high was MATT RHEAD who planted a superb header past Worsnop for his 11th of the season.

After Waterfall was flagged offside after Hawkridge played a free-kick into the mix, Craig Stanley drew a foul out of his marker before appearing to pull up holding his hamstring. A couple of minutes later he hobbled off and was replaced by Kegan Everington.

Everington was quickly involved, firing an effort goalwards which ended up seeing Michael Kay clear for a throw which ended up with Rhead heading Muldoon's delivery over the bar.

Chester mounted their first threat in the 16th minute attack with Rhead forced to head a John Rooney free-kick behind for a corner which City dealt with. At the other end Rhead fired over after Beevers cushioned a Bush free-kick into his path.

In the 20th minute Bradley Wood let fly from 25 yards but was denied by a superb one-handed save by Worsnop. Chester's response saw Rooney curl a free-kick straight at Paul Farman.

The hosts continued a spell of pressure and the made it count in the 26th minute with Jordan Chapell on hand to slide the ball into the net after Johnny Hunt was given space and the chance to cross from the left.

City's response was immediate as after the home defence failed to deal with a Bush throw less than two minutes later, the ball fell to KEGAN EVERINGTON who saw his powerful drive cross the line despite the efforts of keeper Worsnop and his defence to keep the ball out.

With Hunt off the pitch for the hosts due to injury, Ian Sharps headed a free-kick well wide for the hosts whilst at the other end Bush fired from range with his effort taking a deflection for a corner which Callum Howe headed over.

Ten minutes before the break a long Bush throw was cleared off Rhead's head for another City corner which ended up with Bush seeing his deflected shot go into Worsnop's gloves. Chester's response came in the 39th minute with Chapell firing a dangerous Hunt cross well wide.

As the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added on Howe required treatment following some sturdy defending following a Chester corner. He was helped to the touchline by Kev Oxby before returning to the action.

City had the better of the play during the additional stages but were forced to settle for a 2-1 advantage at the break.

HT: CHESTER 1 IMPS 2

The teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half with the first action being a crunching challenge on Power by Ben Heneghan which earned the home man a ticking off.

Seven minutes after the restart a surging run forward by Muldoon forced Worsnop to come off his line to clear and with the Imps keeping the ball in the attacking third, Rhead headed an Everington cross wide.

City kept up the pressure and a couple of minutes later increased their advantage; Rhead and Beevers linking up superbly on the right and when the latter whipped in a peach of a centre there to head home was skipper ALAN POWER who timed his run to perfection.

Three minutes later Rhead was flattened by Heneghan. Referee Nield was quick to spot the offence but only booked the home midfielder as Rhead received treatment. The Chester offender was quickly replaced by Kane Richards whilst George Thomson came on for ex-Imp Craig Hobson at the same time.

Rhead returned as Howe headed a Hawkridge corner wide whilst at the other end Bush cleared off the line as a Chester corner caused problems. Referee Nield then spotted a push in the box and before the City free-kick could be taken Beevers needed treatment after picking up a facial injury.

Shortly afterwards the hosts reduced the arrears when Ross Hannah was allowed space before the former Grimsby man curled a fine effort past Farman and into the net via the inside of the post.

With their tails up, Chester came close to levelling when Hannah flicked a cross onto the bar before Chapell fired wide from edge of the box. Hannah then headed a Rooney corner well over to ease some of the pressure.

When City managed to get the ball at the other end Power had a 74th minute effort blocked by Sharps following a Bush break down the left. A couple of minutes later Farman was booked for time-wasting even though he was waiting for replacement ball to come in from the Fourth Official after Thomson blazed a shot over the stand.

Rhead was grounded again but the hosts refused to play the ball out. When it wdid eventually go out of play, Kev Oxby was allowed on to administer more treatment to the City striker. Liam Hearn came on as his replacement when he was helped off.

Hearn was immediately in the action as he won a free-kick off Sharps and when Hawkridge played in a deep delivery, Wood helped the ball on before Hearn's flick was claimed by Worsnop.

A crunching challenge on Wood shortly afterwards by Kay brought about another stoppage with the home man escaping punishment. A high boot on Hawkridge then earned Tom Shaw an 86th minute yellow card.

Just before seven additional minutes was indicated, Wood was scythed down by Higgins on the edge of the box earning the Chester man a yellow card. Nothing came from the resultant free-kick and as the hosts pressed after Alex Simmons replaced Jack Muldoon Bush was booked for a trip on Richards.

Stoppage time saw Chester throw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Imps but bodies were thrown on the line for the cause with City holding out for another hard-earned maximum haul.

FT: CHESTER 2 IMPS 3

 

12 Sam HUGHES

14 George THOMSON (for HOBSON 59)

15 Kane RICHARDS (for HENEGHAN 59)

21 Tom PEERS

13 Dylan FORTH

GOALS: CHAPELL (26), HANNAH (67)

BOOKINGS: HENEGHAN (57), SHAW (86), HIGGINS (90)

ATTENDANCE: 2,224