Lincoln City Football Club

Liam Hearn and Matt Sparrow both returned to the starting line-up for this Vanarama National League game at Wrexham as Craig Stanley dropped to the bench and Terry Hawkridge missed out through illness.

A heavy looking pitch greeted the two teams as referee Robert Jones led them out of the tunnel and once the formalities with the captains - City being skippered by birthday boy Alan Power - play got underway with the Imps kicking off.

City were the first to press with a low Lee Beevers cross in the fourth minute being hacked out for a throw-in and when this came in Matt Rhead saw his looping header claimed by Wrexham stopper Rhys Taylor under his bar.

Four minutes later Hearn won the first corner of the game on the City left and when the ball was floated in, Callum Howe headed on to Hearn who saw his snap-shot superby kept out by Taylor who subsequently smothered the striker's follow-up effort.

The first Wrexham foray forward ended with Mark Carrington firing wide after Rhead had cleared a chipped Sean Newton free-kick but it wasn't long before the Imps were on the attack and when Bradley Wood played a neat ball over the top to Jack Muldoon the City number seven was sent flying in the box by the advancing 'keeper Taylor.

Referee Jones was quick to point to the spot, although he decided to keep his cards in his pocket, and once he waved away the protests, up stepped MATT RHEAD to fire home his 19th of the campaign.

Wrexham looked for a quick response with an attack ending with Howe heading out for a corner which Rhead was back to clear. At the other end good work from Muldoon saw him run at ex-Imp Newton before seeing his low centre hacked out for a throw-in.

As the midway point in the opening period approached Sparrow fired wide from the edge of the box after the Wrexham defence failed to clear a Muldoon throw-in whilst five minutes later a superb save from Paul Farman saw him deny James Gray who escaped the offside flag to get on the end of a cross from the Wrexham right.

Shortly afterwards a ball over the top saw Robbie Evans go one-on-one with the advancing Farman but the Wrexham midfielder snatched at his effort and saw it go wide. At the other end Wood had a shot charged down before a low Rhead drive was claimed by Taylor low to his right.

A spell of Wrexham pressure eventually paid off in the 37th minute when a short-corner routine ended with the ball being whipped in from the left and it found York who gave Farman no chance with a flicked header.

Wrexham's tails were now up with Farman pulling off another fine save to deny Jennings before the City stopper claimed an Evans cross-cum-shot following another home corner.

Farman was then well positioned to claim a Jennings snap-shot whilst a minute before the Fourth Official indicated a minimum of two added minutes, Muldoon was denied by Taylor following a quick counter-attack led by skipper Power.

The half ended seconds after Hearn tested Taylor with a low effort from 25 yards.

HT: WREXHAM 1 IMPS 1

HT: WREXHAM 1 IMPS 1

Whilst the hosts emerged unchanged there was a switch for City ahead of the start of the second half with Robbie McDaid replacing Hearn up front.

City were quickly forced on the back foot by Wrexham following the restart as, after Farman palmed away a low cross from the left, the ball fell kindly to Jennings who put his side in front with a clinical finish from 12 yards.

Craig Stanley replaced Bradley Wood in midfield in the 52nd minute and he was quickly in the action, heading on for Rhead who was denied a sight of goal by Taylor who punched clear before clattering into the City striker. Shortly afterwards Waterfall was booked following a foul on Gray.

Power joined Waterfall in the book after he slipped and dragged Evans to the deck midway inside the Wrexham half and in the 62nd minute a home substitution saw Kayden Jackson replace Dominic Vose.

Stanley picked up a harsh 66th minute caution after Jennings appeared to run into him as the pair were focussed on a high Beevers clearance and three minutes later a City corner came to nothing as Howe was penalised for a foul in the box.

With 70 minutes played a swift City attack ended with Muldoon forcing Taylor to tip his low drive behind for a corner but Stanley's delivery from the quadrant was disappointing and the home defence cleared their lines.

A quiet spell followed with neither goalkeeper troubled but time was quickly ticking away for City if they were to salvage something from the game.

With 10 minutes on the clock Rhead hooked an effort wide after a McDaid shot was deflected into his path and after he shook off Smith, Muldoon was once again denied by the advancing Taylor.

Wrexham increased their advantage in the 86th minute when a quick throw-in found Simon Heslop who saw his 25-yard drive deflect past Farman.

In the second of three added minutes McDaid flicked a header wide before Adriano Moke replaced James Gray for Wrexham. It wasn't long before referee Jones brought things to a close.

FT: WREXHAM 3 IMPS 1

4 Craig STANLEY (for WOOD 52)

6 Chris BUSH

14 Conner ROBINSON

19 Robbie McDAID (for HEARN h/t)

13 Aidan GRANT

GOAL: RHEAD (14 pen)

BOOKINGS: WATERFALL (54), POWER (56), STANLEY (66)

5 Blaine HUDSON

7 Lee FOWLER

11 Adriano MOKE (for GRAY 90+2)

14 Kayden JACKSON (for VOSE 62)

18 Ross WHITE

GOALS: YORK (37), JENNINGS (48), HESLOP (86)

ATTENDANCE: 3,853 (171 City supporters)