Lincoln City edged out Morecambe 2-1 in a nervy end to the game, after the Imps took a two-goal lead through Ben House and a deflected Max Sanders free kick.
Ahead of kick-off, Mark Kennedy was forced into one change from the Imps’ 1-1 draw against Plymouth, with injury concerns seeing Adam Jackson replaced by TJ Eyoma.
Apart from the one defensive change, the Imps Head Coach named a settled lineup that had seen a number of against-the-odds performances in recent weeks.
Much like Lincoln, Morecambe had impressed against high-flying opposition in their most recent game. The Shrimps held one of the league’s promotion favourites, Portsmouth to a 1-1 draw, and even threatened to win the game in the dying moments.
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Morecambe. Derek Adams’ team was sitting in 22nd place before kick-off, after dropping 16 points from winning positions over the 22/23 campaign.
Kick off:
Lincoln started the game promisingly, enjoying most of the ball in the opening 5 minutes. However, the question on the lips of most Imps’ fans was whether Kennedy’s team would be able to break down Morecambe.
But it was the Shrimps who had the first chance of the game, with Kieran Phillips finding himself outside the box with just O’Connor and Rushworth to beat. However, he could only slide the ball past Rushworth’s post.
After that it was all Lincoln. Charles Vernam had a deflected shot saved brilliantly by Connor Ripley, Jack Diamond came close, before the Imps made a chance count.
Max Sanders was dragged back on the edge of the box giving his team a set piece in a dangerous position. His free kick looked to squeeze through the wall, before deflecting off a Morecambe defender, and wrong-footing Ripley in goal. 1-0 Lincoln
But the unpredictable nature of League One football reared its head as Morecambe nearly equalised shortly after. Up until the 26th minute the Shrimps really struggled to hold onto the ball. However as the game settled into a slower pace, the away team started to show some signs of life.
After winning a corner, a clever training ground move found Phillips with space in the box. The number 23, replacing talisman Cole Stockton, instinctively shot toward goal and was unlucky to hit the post.
For large periods of the first half, Lincoln looked solid as a defensive unit. With Eyoma, O’Connor, and Walsh keeping Morecambe’s attacking players mostly quiet.
But on occasion, Lincoln can be prone to a lapse of concentration at the back. This time TJ Eyoma was caught flatfooted by a clever run from Watts. The Morecambe winger was played in behind, finding himself 1 on 1 with Rushworth, but Watt’s shot was tame, and he was offside anyway.
And as the first half drew to a close, Lincoln’s early first-half dominance seemed a long way in the past.
Second half:
The second half continued in the same fashion as the end of the first, with Morecambe continuing to grow into the tie.
At halftime Derek Adams made an inspired switch, bringing off Watts for Cole Stockton, and then pushing Kieran Phillips onto the right.
This change allowed Phillips, who had been a nuisance in the first half, more space and width to run into. On two occasions he was prevented from levelling the game, once by Robson and then again by Rushworth.
But any fears of a comeback at that point were soon dismissed as Lincoln extended their lead. Tashan Oakley-Boothe who had been introduced earlier in the second half, started the move by finding Diamond on the left.
The Sunderland Loanee who looked to have taken too long on the ball, found Regan Poole at the back post, who then knocked it back to Oakley Boothe.
His effort on goal produced a messy save from Ripley, pushing the rebound right into Ben House’s feet. Leaving the Imps’ striker to score one of his easiest goals of the season. 2-0 Lincoln
However, in what seems to be a Lincoln City trademark, the game wasn’t going to end without drama. As Morecambe finally got their goal.
A Jamie Robson headed clearance was taken down by Jensen Weir, who brought the ball under control before hitting a half-volley past Rushworth. Promising a nervy end to the game for Imps’ fans.
Morecambe threw everything at the Imps, launching balls into the box from all corners of the ground. Lasse Sørensen, Sean Roughan, and club captain Tom Hopper were all brought on to try and stop the equaliser. In the end, the away team couldn’t generate a clear-cut chance.
Full time: Lincoln City 2-1 Morecambe FC
The win takes Lincoln up to ninth in League One, a promising position to be in 18 games through the season. With Sanders and House scoring, and Tom Hopper making his return, the Imps are in a good place going into a two-week break from league football.