Lincoln City Football Club

There was one change to the City starting line-up for this Vanarama National League clash against Braintree Town at Sincil Bank Stadium with Greg Tempest replacing the suspended Bradley Wood.

It was a blustery mid-October afternoon as referee Richard Wigglesworth led the two teams out and once the pre-match formalities with the two captains was completed play got underway with City kicking off.

An opening minute foul on Michael Cheek by Chris Bush saw Dan Sparkes curl a 25-yard free-kick over the bar whilst at the other end, and just after Liam Hearn had won a corner which was cleared, the City striker rattled the woodwork following a Matt Rhead flick-on but the offside flag was raised.

Jack Muldoon fired over from a narrow angle as the Imps attacked again and after a quiet and scrappy period of play, Rhead was felled by Mark Phillips who led with his arm in aerial challenge. Terry Hawkridge saw his low free-kick claimed well by Town keeper Will Norris

At the other end a Braintree attack ended with Chez Isaac firing wide whilst City's response saw them force a couple of corners; the second seeing Tempest curl in a great delivery which Norris was forced to punch clear from under his bar.

In the 28th minute Taylor Miles replaced a limping Anthony Edgar for Braintree and five minutes later Cheek dragged a low shot well wide of the target. Shortly afterwards Isaac went straight through the back of Rhead who got back to his feet before hobbling away. Bush fired the resultant free-kick well over.

Both sides emerged unchanged for the start second half with an early Jack Muldoon cross to Rhead being claimed well by Norris.

After a quiet spell, the game was brought to life in the 52nd minute when, after he gained possession, TERRY HAWKRIDGE set his sights and fired in an excellent first goal for City from the edge of the box.

Less than two minutes later the lead was doubled; a Hawkridge cross was dropped by Norris under pressure from Rhead, Muldoon had an effort blocked and there was LIAM HEARN to fire in from six yards.

In search of a third Hearn and Rhead combined before the latter won a throw-in. Before it could be taken Sparkes needed treatment before he was replaced by Ian Miller. When play restarted a Braintree counter-attack ended with skipper Kenny Davis lifting the ball on to the roof of the net.

Davis was replaced by Sean Marks in the 66th minute before a Muldoon cross to Rhead was blocked superbly by Remy Clerima for a corner which, after being played short to Bush, was headed over by Rhead.

In the 74th minute Kegan Everington replaced Greg Tempest in midfield; Tempest getting an excellent ovation as he left the field following an encouraging full debut. A couple of minutes later Sam Habergham was booked following a block on Muldoon.

With 10 minutes on the clock Isaac fired shot straight at Farman and when the City stopper launched the ball forward, Rhead flicked on for Hearn who clipped the top of the bar.

Referee Wigglesworth booked Waterfall and Isaac following an off-the-ball tussle in the 82nd minute and Muldoon joined them four minutes later after a mistimed tackle as he tracked back.

The only highlight during four additional minutes was Muldoon flicking a Power cross wide with City comfortably seeing the game out to maintain the unbeaten home start to the season.

FT: IMPS 2 BRAINTREE 0

14 Conner ROBINSON

15 Kegan EVERINGTON (for TEMPEST 74)

16 Alex SIMMONS

17 Elliot HODGE

13 Aidan GRANT

GOALS: HAWKRIDGE (52), HEARN (54)

BOOKINGS: WATERFALL (82), MULDOON (86)

9 Sean MARKS (for DAVIS 66)

14 Taylor MILES (for EDGAR 28)

17 Ian MILLER (for SPARKES 60)

26 George COLE

27 Elliot LIST

BOOKING: HABERGHAM (76), ISAAC (82)