The Imps made it a memorable night under the LNER Stadium lights with an emphatic 6-0 win against Cambridge United.
City started the game well and took the lead after just three minutes when Sean Roughan’s cross from the left wasn’t dealt with by the visitors, leaving Jack Moylan to run onto the loose ball and smash it high past Jack Stevens.
Danny Andrew looked to help draw his side level a few moments later as his curling delivery was nodded goalwards by Lyle Taylor before he later sent a powerful free-kick over the wall, although Lukas Jensen was equal to both efforts.
Lasse Sorensen then forced Cambridge’s goalie into a save at the other end after he brought down a ball on the right side of the box before sending an angled effort towards the top corner which was tipped over.
City almost scored from the resulting corner which was whipped in by Reeco Hackett and flicked on by Alex Mitchell who sent it narrowly wide of the right post by a cluster of bodies in the box.
The Imps kept the pressure on and had a deserved second in the 25th minute after Ethan Erhahon intercepted a pass just outside the box before playing it to Moylan who drilled it just inside the near post to net his fourth goal in two matches.
Michael Skubala’s side continued to control the game as the half came to a close and went very close to adding a third in the 37th minute when Danny Mandroiu’s corner was struck inches wide of the left post by Paudie O’Connor.
Sorensen was denied on the stroke of half-time by Stevens after Sean Roughan’s delivery from the left was taken down and struck goalwards by the Dane, leaving City to take a two-goal advantage into the break.
The Imps kept the pressure on at the start of the second half and got their third goal of the night following some neat build up play which saw Hackett slip Mandroiu down the left side of the box who squared it to Joe Taylor to bundle the ball over the line.
Taylor could’ve had another in the 55th minute after Mandroiu broke forward with the ball and laid it off to the No. 9 in space, although he could only roll his effort in the goalie’s grasp.
James Brophy went close to pulling one back for the U’s just after the hour mark when he cut inside from the right and forced a diving save from Jensen to push his effort just over the top left corner.
City limited the visitors to few chances in the second half and then added a fourth in a devastating counter attack in the 75th minute as Moylan found the run of Taylor who lifted the ball over the onrushing Stevens to net his second of the night.
Michael Skubala’s side gave even more for the City supporters to celebrate when Ted Bishop’s drilled effort from the edge of the box was stabbed home on the line by TJ Eyoma in the 85th minute shortly after Paudie O'Connor was denied by Stevens.
The Imps were hungry for more and scored a sixth of the evening just two minutes later as Dylan Duffy’s initial cross from the left was blocked back into his path on the left side of the box to rifle in past Stevens’ near post.
Garry Monk's side hit the woodwork in stoppage time after a corner was diverted against the underside of the bar, but Lukas Jensen was there to pounce on the ball to secure another clean sheet.
Imps: Lukas Jensen, Alex Mitchell (Adam Jackson 56’), Paudie O’Connor, Sean Roughan, Ethan Erhahon, Danny Mandroiu (Ted Bishop 71’), Jack Moylan, Lasse Sorensen (TJ Eyoma 71’), Reeco Hackett (Dylan Duffy 71’), Joe Taylor, Ben House (Jovon Makama 21’). Subs (not used): Jordan Wright, Jack Burroughs.
Goals: Moylan (3’, 25’), Taylor (48’, 75’) Eyoma (85’), Duffy (87’).
Cambridge: Jack Stevens, Liam Bennett (Macauley Bonne 68’), Danny Andrew, Paul Digby, Michael Morrison ©, Ryan Bennett, James Brophy, Jack Lankester (Sullay Kaikai 51’), Lyle Taylor, Elias Kachunga, Jordan Cousins (Adam May 80’). Subs (not used): Will Mannion, Jubril Okendina, James Gibbons, Brandon Njoku.
Attendance: 7,316 (374 away).
Referee: Scott Oldham.
