Lincoln City ended a five game winless run in convincing fashion against Cheltenham Town on Good Friday. Two goals from Ben House, one in each half, was enough for the Imps to come away with all three points.
The Imps’ striker was the star of the show, with a brace adding to his 8 league goals so far this season.
Before the game, Mark Kennedy made a couple of changes to the side that picked up an impressive point at title chasing Sheffield Wednesday last week, seeing Ethan Erhahon and Paudie O’Connor replace Matty Virtue and Sean Roughan.
Off the back of a great run of form, lifting the Robins clear of relegation danger, Wade Elliott made only a single change to his team. Ben Williams replacing Will Ferry on the left-wing.
Cheltenham’s good run, of six games unbeaten, was in contrast to the Imps’ poor form. While the Robins have kept four clean sheets in their unbeaten streak, Lincoln hadn’t won in any of their last five games heading into the Easter weekend.
The Imps’ season remains an anomaly; only the bottom side have won fewer games, and only League One’s top four teams have lost less matches. Remarkably, Lincoln have drawn half of their 38 games so far this campaign.
Lincoln were hoping for a reversal of fortunes as they headed into a sunny Good Friday.
First-Half:
Lincoln City headed into the break with a one goal lead thanks to Ben House’s 10th goal in all competitions this season, just prior to half-time.
He pounced on a loose ball just outside the six-yard box after Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Luke Southwood made a save from one of his own defenders. Ted Bishop had a shot blocked just inside the box before he sent in a low ball across the front of goal. Southwood was forced into a sharp stop as a Robins defender prodded the ball towards his own net, but it counted for nothing as House was alert and stabbed the ball into the back of the net. Up until that point it had been a first half lacking in chances.
Both sides traded long shots in the opening ten minutes, Regan Poole forcing a good save from Southwood and Carl Rushworth pushing Glen Rea’s effort wide.
It was a tale of two strong defences, though the Imps provided the brightest sparks with the front-three of Ted Bishop, Ben House and Danny Mandroiu all having chances prior to the goal. The Robins’ best effort fell to top-scorer Alfie May, who twisted and turned before rolling an uncharacteristic tame effort into the hands of Rushworth.
With the sides separated by only a point in the league table before kick-off it was no surprise that the game was as tight as it was. 0-0 would’ve been a fair half-time scoreline, but Ben House’s opportunism made sure the home support had something to cheer about.
Neither team seemed to have a definitive spark going forward, despite the odd chance at both ends. The Robins were well and truly in the game at half-time.
Second-Half:
Ben House’s second of the game meant Lincoln City secured a first win in six games. Despite Cheltenham Town looking resurgent after the break, the Imps withstood the pressure and ensured a return to winning ways.
At half-time, the Robins’ Wade Elliott reversed his pre-game change, bringing on Will Ferry for Ben Williams.
The visitors started the second-half brightest, with Alfie May having a double chance in the 49th minute. His first close-range shot was saved by Carl Rushworth, before his second was cleared off the line.
However, the game died down into a real lull heading into the hour mark, despite Cheltenham’s livelier demeanour at the start of the half.
Mark Kennedy was forced into a substitution, bringing on Mine Shodpio for the injured Ted Bishop. The midfielder received treatment on the field before heading straight down the tunnel.
The matchday programme focused on England U21s goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, but he wasn’t required to do too much in the Imps goal, as Lincoln had the lion’s share of possession and, on balance, the best chances in front of goal.
A Robins’ triple chance after 65 minutes didn’t have the desired effect, as the visitors failed to find an equaliser. Truly, the closest the visitors came to a goal was Alfie May’s double chance earlier in the second half, as the Imps were the better side for the rest of the half.
With 79 minutes on the clock Ben House slotted home his 10th league goal of the season, and his second of the afternoon. He received a perfectly weighted cut back from lively second-half substitute Mine Shodpio, which he gratefully placed into the bottom left-hand corner of Southwood’s goal.
That put an end to the contest, as Cheltenham’s good run of form came to a sudden end. The Robins made another substitution in the last ten minutes, and had a couple chances from corners, but Lincoln saw them out to keep a clean sheet.
Full-Time: Lincoln City 2-0 Cheltenham Town