Joe Taylor’s first Lincoln City goal proved to be enough as Lincoln City edged passed Exeter City at the LNER Stadium, to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
The result meant it was the first time that the Imps managed back-to-back league wins at home since April 2023.
Michael Skubala made four changes to the side that picked up a point away from home at Charlton Athletic. Forwards Freddie Draper and Reeco Hackett both picked up knocks and missed the game. Dylan Duffy and Ben House replaced the duo.
Danny Mandroiu and Ted Bishop were placed on the bench for Conor McGrandles, who missed the Charton game as he is on loan from the Addicks, and Ethan Hamilton, who returns from a knee injury.
First-half:
It was a slow start to proceedings at the LNER Stadium, with captains of both sides, Paudie O’Connor and Pierce Sweeney, needing treatment after a nasty clash of heads only three minutes in.
Neither side found a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, but Skubala’s men certainly can’t be faulted for trying. From the resulting free kick on the edge of the Exeter penalty area, Ethan Hamilton drilled a low shot on target, but it was deflected wide for a corner.
Dylan Duffy’s pace proved too much for Sweeney, who picked up the first caution of the game after 17 minutes, bringing down the Irishman on the left wing.
Joe Taylor could not quite divert a low Duffy cross from the left after 20 minutes but won his side a corner, after the ball deflected off Cheick Diabate. Duffy himself tried an audacious volley from the edge of the box moments later, as City asserted themselves on the fixture.
A cross from Grecians’ winger Dion Rankine proved to be dangerous for Imps goalkeeper Lukas Jensen who parried the ball out for a corner kick after 25 minutes, but nothing resulted from the corner that followed.
Ethan Hamilton poked an effort goalwards in the 35th minute from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort rolled harmlessly wide. Duffy was next to have a go from 25 yards but ended up with the same outcome.
Lasse Sorensen picked up Lincoln’s first yellow card of the day, with a sinical pull back on Yanic Wildschut on the Grecian’s left. Luke Harris was teed up on the edge of the box from the resulting set-piece but could only fire over the bar.
Three minutes of added time at the end of the half saw Lincoln keep the pressure on the visitors’ backline, but they could not break them down, leaving a little bit more work to do for Michael Skubala’s side in the second-half.
Second-half:
It was the visitors who kicked into gear first after the restart. An excellent run from Yanic Wildschut on the left wing opened the Imps backline, but his effort from a tight angle was greatly caught by Jensen, less than two minutes after the restart.
Dylan Duffy was the first to test visiting goalkeeper Vil Sinisalo on 54 minutes, with a sweetly struck volley from outside the box. Exeter’s number one needed two attempts at holding the ball but was under no pressure.
Luke Harris was the third name taken by referee Corlett, after he became a little too friendly with City’s Ethan Erhahon, and would not let him go just inside the Exeter half.
The underside of the crossbar came to the Imps’ rescue just before the hour mark, after quick work from Dion Rankine found the run of Sony Cox arriving unmarked in the penalty area. Cox’s strike was well saved by Jensen onto the underside of the crossbar, and the Imps kept their clean sheet.
It was Lincoln’s turn to go close a couple of minutes later, as Sinisalo was forced into a double save on 60 minutes. The first came from a Ben House strike, mirroring the one of Cox moments before which was saved by Sinisalo’s feet, before Hamilton’s rebound was straight at the goalkeeper who parried away to safety.
The Imps found the breakthrough with 25 minutes to play, as on loan striker Joe Taylor found the back of the net for the first time in a Lincoln City shirt. Substitute Teddy Bishop picked up a loose Exeter pass in midfield and found Taylor in space, before the striker lifted the ball over Sinisalo’s leg and into the back of the net.
Exeter full-back Zak Jules was next to be shown the yellow card, as he tripped Ted Bishop on the Lincoln left. Bishop himself went for goal from the free kick but could only find Sinisalo’s gloves.
Bishop proved to be a real handful for the Exeter defence, drawing fouls throughout the second half. Hamilton had a free-kick effort from the right whistle wide passed the post and just too high for O’Connor and Mitchell arriving at the back post.
Substitute Jack Moylan was played through by Bishop, but felt he was fouled by Sweeney. Referee Matt Corlett did not agree, and a big chance became wasted. Chris Cohen was booked on the Lincoln bench for his protests.
In the added five minutes of stoppage time, Bishop forced a smart save by Sinisalo, who tipped the ball over the bar, after the city midfielder won possession back high up the pitch.
Lincoln City 1-0 Exeter City:
The win places the Imps in the top half of the League One table, in 10th place. As for the visitors, they drop to 14th position, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Next up for Lincoln is a trip to Port Vale, looking to make it eight games unbeaten.