Lincoln United ended a 6-game losing streak, beating Worksop Town in a tight affair against a team 8 places above them at the start of the day.
Notably, new Lincoln United signing Kern Miller slotted in at centre back for the game, previously having stints for Lincoln City, Barnsley, and Accrington Stanley.
Both teams oversaw a minute silence for Remembrance Day ahead of the game.
Photo Credit – Sam Neale
Lincoln United kicked off, sending the ball down the left side of the field, which quickly led to Jake Park having the first chance of the game with a tame shot straight at the Worksop keeper, Sebastian Malkowski.
Lincoln United had another great chance in the 9th minute of the game. Following a free kick on the halfway line, which was initially cleared, but worked through to Louie Jarvis whose strike was fired over.
However, as the first half progressed Worksop took the game into their control with constant pressure from around the 18th minute, which hit its height in the latter stages of the half, numerous crosses delivered from Aaron Sennett-Neilson, including in the 38th minute where Sennett-Neilson breezed past Kallum Smith, the subsequent cross was just headed over the bar from around 6 yards out.
Pressure continued in the 42nd minute, direct from a corner Worksop hit the bar, and as the ball fell to Worksop captain Jake Picton, his fierce strike was well saved by Lincoln United goalkeeper James Goff.
Photo Credit – Sam Neale
Half-time: Lincoln United 0-0 Worksop Town
Worksop kicked off to start the second half and continued the pressure that ended the first half as Liam Hardy was causing large amounts of trouble down the left-hand side, cutting in and having his shot well saved.
However, drama ensued in the 58th minute as Connor Smythe went on a great run beating numerous Lincoln players before being taken down just outside of the box, but the ball found striker Liam Hardy whose shot struck the back of the net, but the referee Matthew Bacon had blown for the free kick just as Hardy had struck the ball. The subsequent free kick was saved; thus, the score remained 0-0.
Just a few minutes after the previous incident, Jake Park sent a searching ball forward, and a miscommunication between defender Lewis Gibbens and goalkeeper Malkowski allowed Lincoln United forward Andy Janssen to sneak in between the pair and slot the ball into the empty net, putting Lincoln United 1-0 up.
Following the goal Lincoln United began to sit back and soak up the Worksop pressure, as Miller did extremely well to clear any threatening cross or long ball that Worksop sent forward.
However, Worksop had a great chance to equalise in the last 10 minutes of the game as a ball was sent forward into the Lincoln box, headed down to an unmarked Hardy on the penalty spot, but his shot could only find the hands of Lincoln’s goalkeeper, big chance missed in the latter stages of the game.
With the game dying Worksop were getting desperate, but none of their efforts could get behind the lines of the Lincoln defence, until finally the referee blew for full-time, much to the elation of the Lincoln United players.
Full-time: Lincoln United 1-0 Worksop Town
A hard-fought win for Lincoln United, seeing off a lot of consistent pressure, notable performances go to the goal scorer Andy Janssen, and Kern Miller who was very impressive on debut.