Imps 6 North Ferriby 1
Sean Raggett and Jonny Margetts were both handed their first starts for the Club as the Imps welcomed North Ferriby United to Sincil Bank Stadium for the first home game of the 2015/16 season.Raggett and Margetts came in for Adam Marriott and Jamie McCombe respectively with the latter pair both dropping to the bench. With Taylor Miles ruled out with a broken ankle sustained at Woking at the weekend, Alex Simmons was named amongst the substitutes.
The visitors, with ex-Imps Conner Robinson and Simon Russell in their starting line-up, kicked off but it was City who were the first to threaten with Margetts scuffing a shot which bounced straight into Rory Watson's gloves with less than 60 seconds on the clock.
City kept up the pressure and in the third minute it paid dividends; Sam Habergham curling in a superb cross from the left and there to head across Watson and into the back of the net home is MATT RHEAD.
Less than two minutes later the lead was doubled as, after Lee Beevers played a low cross-field pass NATHAN ARNOLD took a touch inside before rifling a fantastic 25-yarder into the top corner, giving Watson no chance.
The Imps pressed for a third with Arnold having a shot charged down before Woodyard fired wide and after things calmed down a bit skipper Bradley Wood tried his luck only to slice his long-range effort well wide.
On the quarter hour mark a long Beevers throw lead to first corner of the night and this training ground routine came up trumps with Arnold picking out LUKE WATERFALL whose header was too much for Watson; the keeper getting a touch but unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.
It was all City as the half reached its midway point and when a neat chest lay off from Rhead set Margetts free, the City striker was pulled back by Ben Middleton as he prepared to strike. Referee Rob Whitton was up with play and, after awarding City a penalty, brandished a red card to the United centre-back.
Once Middleton left the pitch, up stepped MATT RHEAD to send Watson the wrong way with a powerfully drilled spot kick to put the Imps four up with just 24 minutes on the clock.
The goals continued five minutes later, but this time the action was at the other end with the visitors' first attack seeing Curtis Bateson go it alone, twisting past Waterfall before firing low past Paul Farman.
Jack Muldoon volleyed inches over and an excellent save from Watson saw him deny Margetts after he was released by Rhead. With heavy rain starting to fall, Watson got down well again to palm away a low Muldoon shot.
After the full-bloodied action of the opening half-hour things calmed down somewhat towards the break but when the half-time whistle went after three additional minutes, the home fans rose as one to give the players a rousing reception as they went in for a well-earned breather.
HT: IMPS 4 NORTH FERRIBY 1
Whilst City emerged unchanged, United made a switch prior to the start of the second half with Ryan Kendall coming on for Vinny Mukendi.
City started the second period by playing some neat stuff and deservedly regained their four goal advantage six minutes in with JONNY MARGETTS following up after Watson blocked his initial effort to rifle home his first for City.
Arnold curled over and Waterfall headed a Woodyard cross straight at Watson as the Imps pressed for a sixth before the hour mark and on that hour mark a dangerous Beevers cross was cleared for a corner by ex-Imp Russell.
City continued to dominate with Margetts sending a snap shot just wide after Rhead flicked on a long Farman goal-kick and Waterfall heading an Arnold corner a foot wide from 10 yards out.
Number six eventually arrived in the 67th minute and it was a superb solo effort from BRADLEY WOOD. Handed the captain's armband for the night, Wood gained possession just inside the North Ferriby half, took the ball forward and drilled in an excellent low effort which flew past Watson's fingertips and into the back of the net.
Before play restarted Alex Simmons replaced Nathan Arnold and both sides made further changes in the 72nd minute with Danny Emerton coming on for Conner Robinson for North Ferriby and Elliot Hodge replacing Jack Muldoon for the IMps.
After the Imps were awarded a free-kick, the visitors' Kendall was booked for dissent after he kicked the ball into the advertising boards and shortly afterwards Ryan Fallowfield came on for Connor Oliver.
The substutions concluded in the 78th minute with Jamie McCombe coming on for Matt Rhead up front and three minutes later a United corner brought the travelling fans to their feet but McCombe was back to clear.
United's Bateson picked up an 86th minute caution, presumably for dissent after Oliver felled Wood, and he was joined in the book by Mark Gray, again for some off-the-ball misbehaviour after the Imps were awarded another free-kick.
Play ended after four additional minutes of play with City leaving the pitch to a rousing reception following an outstanding team performance. The record books being rewritten in the process with this being the first time the Imps have scored more than five in a game at this level.
FT: IMPS 6 NORTH FERRIBY 1
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Bradley WOOD
3 Sam HABERGHAM
5 Luke WATERFALL
7 Jack MULDOON
9 Matt RHEAD
13 Jonny MARGETTS
18 Lee BEEVERS
25 Sean RAGGETT
28 Nathan ARNOLD
30 Alex WOODYARD
subs
6 Callum HOWE
10 Adam MARRIOTT
16 Alex SIMMONS (for ARNOLD 67)
17 Elliot HODGE (for MULDOON 72)
27 Jamie McCOMBE (for RHEAD 78)
GOALS: RHEAD (3, 24 pen), ARNOLD (5), WATERFALL (16), MARGETTS (51), WOOD (67)
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED
1 Rory WATSON
3 Stephen BROGAN
4 Connor OLIVER
5 Mark GRAY
7 Danny CLARKE
8 Curtis BATESON
9 Conner ROBINSON
11 Simon RUSSELL
15 Ben MIDDLETON
20 Jake SKELTON
21 Vinny MUKENDI
subs
2 Sam TOPLISS
6 Danny EMERTON (for ROBINSON 72)
10 Ryan KENDALL (for MUKENDI h/t)
14 Ryan FALLOWFIELD (for OLIVER 76)
22 Alfons FOSU-MENSAH
GOAL: BATESON (29)
BOOKINGS: KENDALL (74), BATESON (86), GRAY (89)
SENDING OFF: MIDDLETON (23)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Rob Whitton
ASSISTANTS: Sean Feerick & Tom Hancock
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Hristo Karaivanov
ATTENDANCE: 3,622 (113 visiting supporters)
