Lincoln City Football Club

There were three changes to the City starting line-up for this televised Monday evening Vanarama National League game against Dagenham & Redbridge at Sincil Bank Stadium with Bradley Wood, Elliott Whitehouse and Terry Hawkridge coming in for Sean Long, Alan Power and Harry Anderson.

Conditions were pleasant as referee Anthony Backhouse led the two teams out of the tunnel and once the pre-match formalities with the captains was finished play got under way with City kicking off attacking the Stacey West Stand.

The Imps got off to a lively start, winning two corners in the opening minute and when Sam Habergham swung the second one in appeals for a foul on Rhead were waved away by referee Backhouse.

The bright opening continues with Rhead heading a Whitehouse centre wide of the target before a chipped Habergham centre was drilled wide by Nathan Arnold from the right side of the box.

Another City attack in the ninth minute ended with Hawkridge's cross to Lee Angol being cleared over his own bar by Andre Boucaud but the resultant corner was too deep and Luke Waterfall was unable to keep the ball alive.

Four minutes later a snap shot from Whitehouse was saved at the second attempt by Daggers' stopper Elliot Justham whilst at the other end Paul Farman commanded his area superbly to punch away a free-kick after Alex Woodyard was pulled up for a foul on Elliott Romain.

Daggers' striker Oliver Hawkins needed treatment off the pitch after falling awkwardly as he looked to meet the aforementioned set-piece and four minutes later he was forced off holding his left arm. The experienced Paul Benson was his replacement.

After a quiet spell Arnold intercepted a 33rd minute Josh Staunton clearance before forcing a throw-in on the City right as the visiting defence recovered whilst five minutes later Hawkridge appeared to be dragged back in the box but nothing was given by the officials.

After the full-bloodied opening, the half petered out with the break coming after two additional minutes.

HT: IMPS 0 DAGGERS 0

No further changes were made as the Daggers restarted proceedings and the Imps were quickly out of the traps and when a peach of a centre from Arnold was headed against the post by Waterfall, Rhead kept the ball alive with a back-heel before ELLIOTT WHITEHOUSE prodded in from close range to give the Imps a 47th lead.

Four minutes later Daggers left-back Joe Widdowson was booked following foul on Wood and the resultant free-kick lead to a corner which ended up with Raggett heading Arnold's delivery wide of the target.

On the hour mark Arnold fired over after a Woodyard cross fell to him 12 yards out whilst at the other end a rare Daggers foray forward ended up with them winning a corner which was headed behind by Whitehouse. Another flag-kick quickly followed but City stood firm.

A second Daggers change came in the 66th minute with Jordan Maguire-Drew coming on for Elliott Romain and a minute later a Habergham free-kick lead to a corner. Arnold whipped the ball in from the quadrant and there in front of his marker was MATT RHEAD to head home and double City's advantage.

The goal - City's 100th league and cup goal of the season - lifted the roof off the ground as over 7,000 home fans rose as one and they were up on their feet again in the 78th minute as Rhead was replaced by Billy Knott.

Harry Anderson replaced Terry Hawkridge three minutes later and Frankie Raymond for ex-Imp Luke Howell was the visitors' final switch. Knott then picked up a silly yellow card after he kicked the ball away following a free-kick decision against him.

In the first of four added minutes Adam Marriott came on for Lee Angol as the City crowd got to their feet once again to salute a tireless effort by the loan striker as he left the field.

FT: IMPS 2 DAGGERS 0

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LINCOLN CITY
1    Paul FARMAN
2    Bradley WOOD
3    Sam HABERGHAM
4    Elliott WHITEHOUSE
5    Luke WATERFALL
9    Matt RHEAD
11    Terry HAWKRIDGE
25    Sean RAGGETT
28    Nathan ARNOLD
30    Alex WOODYARD
31    Lee ANGOL
   
subs
10    Adam MARRIOTT (for ANGOL 90+1)
12    Sean LONG
26    Harry ANDERSON (for HAWKRIDGE 81)
34    Billy KNOTT (for RHEAD 78)
36    Josh GINNELLY

GOALS: WHITEHOUSE (47), RHEAD (68)

BOOKING: KNOTT (85)


DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
1    Elliot JUSTHAM
3    Joe WIDDOWSON
4    Scott DOE
5    Craig ROBSON
7    Luke HOWELL
9    Elliott ROMAIN
12    Oliver HAWKINS
17    Andre BOUCAUD
25    Corey WHITELY
27    Shaun DONNELLAN
32    Josh STAUNTON
   
subs
8    Frankie RAYMOND (for HOWELL 82)
10    Luke GUTTRIDGE
14    Paul BENSON (for HAWKINS 19)
15    Jordan MAGUIRE-DREW (for ROMAIN 66)
30    Mark COUSINS
   
BOOKING: WIDDOWSON (51)
  

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MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse
ASSISTANTS: Sam Lewis & Wayne Cartmel
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Garreth Rhodes


ATTENDANCE: 7,173 (145 visiting supporters)