Imps 3 Boreham Wood 1
Alex Simmons for Liam Hearn was the only change to the City starting line-up for this Vanarama National League game against Boreham Wood at Sincil Bank Stadium. Conner Robinson and Kegan Everington, meanwhile, returned on the bench.
It was a blustery afternoon as referee Joe Johnson led the two teams out of the tunnel nd once the pre-match formalities were done and dusted play got underway with Boreham Wood kicking off.
City were the first to threaten with Matt Rhead flicking a long Bradley Wood throw into Preston Edwards' gloves in the opening minute whilst Boreham Wood's first foray forward saw Paul Farman easily hold a Charlie MacDonald drive from the edge of the box.
In the eighth minute a Terry Hawkridge cross from the left flew just over Rhead's head before Simmons curled an effort a foot wide of Edwards' right-hand upright. The visitors' response saw Conor Clifford blaze well over following a swift counter-attack.
After a quiet spell a long Wood throw caused problems for the visiting defence before Luke Waterfall headed a Simmons cross over the bar. Sam Cox was then booked for tug on Muldoon's shirt with Chris Bush's resultant free-kick getting deflected out for a corner.
This corner, in the 23rd minute, lead to a goalmouth scramble before Simmons stretches out a leg only to fire wide. Seven minutes later Bush drilled a free-kick from the edge of the box at the wall after Rhead was flattened by Scott Doe.
In the 33rd minute Callum Reynolds sliced a low Wood cross over his own bar and when Hawkridge played in the corner Waterfall headed on before Simmons deflected the ball onto the woodwork. Seconds later a Wood throw saw Rhead and Edwards go up for the ball which ends up crashing against the bar again.
The lack of luck was rubbed in by the visitors a minute later when Matthew Whichelow saw his cross take a wicked deflection before the ball looped over Farman from a narrow angle and span into the back of the City net.
Five minutes before the break Jack Muldoon was cautioned for persistent infringement by referee Johnson before the half-time whistle arrived after two additional minutes of play.
HT: IMPS 0 BOREHAM WOOD 1
There were no changes as the teams emerged for the start of the second half and the Imps were on the attack straight from the off with Simmons felled on the edge of the 'D'; Hawkridge took the honours this time but saw his free-kick smash against the bar before Edwards smothered as the ball bounced around in the box.
Conner Robinson replaced Jack Muldoon 10 minutes after the restart in a straight swap on the right whilst four minutes later Conor Clifford picked out MacDonald with a peach of a cross but the visiting striker fired well over with a first time effort at full stretch.
Visiting keeper Edwards pulled off a a superb save in the 62nd minute as he tipped behind a great Wood header from a Bush throw-in but the Imps kept up the presure and a minute later the overlapping Wood was felled in the box as he went for a Rhead pass.
Referee Johnson had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and up stepped MATT RHEAD to fire home his seventh of the season from the spot.
Kegan Everington replaced Craig Stanley before play resumed with Bradley Wood given the captain's armband. Billy Clifford was replaced by ex-Imp Luke Howell at the same time and when things got underway again Simmons was booked for delaying the taking of a free-kick.
An action-packed period continued with Simmons prodding an effort inches wide in the 69th minute as the Imps attacked again and four minutes later Harry Crawford replaced Charlie MacDonald up front for Boreham Wood.
Sparrow fizzed a powerful drive just over from 25 yards as the Imps pressed forward again before Waterfall headed a Wood cross over. At the other end, with 10 minutes remaining, Crawford went in late on Farman before referee Johnson calmed things down and spoke to both players. Sparrow was booked a couple of minutes later for a trip on Cox.
Junior Morias for Matthew Whichelow was the visitors' last switch and this came before the Imps were awarded a corner, much to the annoyance of the home defence and keeper Edwards who kept hold of the ball before Rhead grabbed it so the flag-kick could be taken.
RHEAD was cautioned for his actions but had the last laugh as when Hawkridge floated in te corner, up rose the big striker to head home from six yards.
In the first of four additional minutes the lead was increased; Hawkridge again the provider but all credit to goalscorer ALEX SIMMONS who stretched and planted a superb header past Edwards and into the net via the underside of the bar.
FT: IMPS 3 BOREHAM WOOD 1
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Bradley WOOD
4 Craig STANLEY
5 Luke WATERFALL
6 Chris BUSH
7 Jack MULDOON
9 Matt RHEAD
12 Terry HAWKRIDGE
16 Alex SIMMONS
18 Lee BEEVERS
21 Matt SPARROW
subs
8 Alan POWER
14 Conner ROBINSON (for MULDOON 55)
15 Kegan EVERINGTON (for STANLEY 65)
23 Nat BROWN
13 Aidan GRANT
GOALS: RHEAD (64 pen, 88), SIMMONS (90+1)
BOOKINGS: MULDOON (40), SIMMONS (66), SPARROW (82), RHEAD (88)
BOREHAM WOOD
23 Preston EDWARDS
2 Ben NUNN
3 Danny WOODARDS
4 Sam COX
5 Scott DOE
6 Callum REYNOLDS
7 Matthew WHICHELOW
8 Ricky SHAKES
10 Charlie MACDONALD
16 Conor CLIFFORD
20 Billy CLIFFORD
subs
9 Luke HOWELL (for B CLIFFORD 65)
11 Graeme MONTGOMERY
15 Josh HILL
17 Junior MORIAS (for WHICHELOW 86)
19 Harry CRAWFORD (for MACDONALD 73)
GOAL: WHICHELOW (35)
BOOKING: COX (21)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Joe Johnson
ASSISTANTS: Dean Watson & David Fisher
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Matthew Smith
ATTENDANCE: 2,272 (85 visiting supporters)
