A midweek pre-season friendly against local opponents, Scunthorpe United at the Sands Venue Stadium was on the agenda for Michael Appleton’s side this week.
It didn’t take long for City to take the lead, with Conor McGRANDLES opening the scoring in the second minute. The Imps midfielder calmly slotted away inside the area following a dangerous cross from Cohen Bramall.
The Lincoln number 18 nearly doubled the tally a minute later, with the same phase of play causing problems inside the Scunthorpe box, however, McGrandles couldn’t get his shot on target.
Ross Millen was forced off for the home side after seven minutes, being replaced by Tom Pugh.
The Imps continued to create chances in the opening half, this time with Remy Longdon cutting in from the right side to produce a drilled shot towards Tom Billson’s goal, however, the Iron goalkeeper got down to collect.
Scunthorpe had their first chance of the game just before the 15-minute mark as Tyrone O’Neill was fed the ball from Jordan Hallam. The Iron number 21 fired his shot from inside the area with power, forcing Imps debutant Josh Griffiths to produce a fine stop. The danger wasn’t over there though, with a rebound from Devarn Green blocked off the line by Regan Poole.
With the Imps controlling the possession throughout the opening half, Scunthorpe made a change with Captain, Harry Davis making way for George Taft.
There were two changes for City at the break with Max Sanders starting the second half in place of Lewis Fiorini and Lasse Sørensen also coming off the bench to replace goalscorer Conor McGrandles. Scunthorpe also made two changes ahead of the second 45, with Devarn Green making way for Alfie Beestin and Ryan Loft coming on for Tyrone O’Neill.
It didn’t take long for the Imps to double their lead as Cohen BRAMALL produced an excellent free-kick from a tight angle in the 51st minute. Scunthorpe shot-stopper; Tom Billson had no chance as the ball looped over him into the inside side netting.
City’s attacks kept coming as they hunted for a third. Lasse Sørensen demonstrated his pinpoint passing ability, finding Bramall down the left side. The Imps number 15 drilled a cross into the area, but the home side were able to intercept before Longdon could make contact.
The pairing of Sørensen and Bramall soon linked up again, this time the Danish midfielder sprayed the ball wide from the centre circle to start an Imps attack. Bramall cut inside for Lincoln before attempting to score his second, Billson was able to stop the effort for Scunthorpe.
There was a change for each side just after the hour mark as Lincoln’s James Jones replaced Regan Poole and Scunthorpe’s Harry Jessop replaced Jordan Hallam. The Imps midfielder was quick to get involved, running onto a driven switch by Max Melbourne before firing a low-driven shot towards goal, but Billson was able to get down and collect for the home side.
As the clock headed towards the final 15 minutes of the second half, Appleton made three changes bringing Academy products, Billy Brooks, Freddie Draper, and Jovon Makama on for Liam Bridcutt, Tom Hopper, and Remy Longdon. Adam Jackson was given the Imps armband.
Scunthorpe also made a series of changes before the final whistle with Emmanual Onariase, Mason O’Malley, Alex Perry, Alex Kenyon, and Harry Bunn being replaced by Jai Rowe, Lewis Thompson, Cameron Wilson, Fin Shrimpton, and Dan Gallimore.
With the game heading towards the final few minutes, Makama did well to win the Imps a free-kick in the middle of the field. Brooks was then able to find Bramall on the left side in what would be City's final attack of the evening, the number 15 played through Tayo Edun but Scunthorpe were able to deal with the danger before the referee blew for full-time.
IMPS STARTING XI:
1 Josh GRIFFITHS
2 Regan POOLE
3 Max MELBOURNE
5 Adam JACKSON
7 Tayo EDUN
9 Tom HOPPER
15 Cohen BRAMALL
17 Remy LONGDON
18 Conor McGRANDLES
19 Lewis FIORINI
23 Liam BRIDCUTT (C)
IMPS SUBSTITUES:
36 Trialist A
6 Max SANDERS (46’ Lewis FIORINI)
8 James JONES (61’ Regan POOLE)
21 Lasse SØRENSEN (46’ Conor McGRANDLES)
32 Jovon MAKAMA (73’ Remy LONGDON)
34 Freddie DRAPER (73’ Tom HOPPER)
35 Billy BROOKS (73’ Liam BRIDCUTT)
GOALS: 2' Conor McGRANDLES, 51' Cohen BRAMALL
SCUNTHORPE STARTING XI:
31 Tom BILLSON
2 Ross MILLEN
3 Mason O’MALLEY
4 Alex KENYON
6 Emmanuel ONARIASE
7 Devarn GREEN
10 Jordan HALLAM
17 Harry BUNN
21 Tyrone O’NEILL
24 Harry DAVIS (C)
26 Alex PERRY
SCUNTHORPE SUBSTITUES:
1 Rory WATSON
13 Tom COLLINS
5 George TAFT (45’ Harry DAVIS)
8 Alfie BEESTIN (46’ Devarn GREEN)
9 Ryan LOFT (46’ Tyrone O’NEILL)
12 Jai ROWE (73’ Emmanuel ONARIASE)
15 Harry JESSOP (61’ Jordan HALLAM)
16 Lewis THOMPSON (73’ Mason O’MALLEY)
20 Cameron WILSON (73’ Alex PERRY)
22 Fin SHRIMPTON (73’ Alex KENYON)
23 Tom PUGH (7’ Ross MILLEN)
28 Dan GALLIMORE (73’ Harry BUNN)
