An Adam Jackson brace helped the Imps cruise to a 4-1 victory over Mansfield Town at the LNER Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Michael Skubala’s side picked up their first home victory of the 2024/25 campaign at the hands of newly-promoted Mansfield Town, in front of a 9,800 strong crowd.
A positive first half’s work:
The Imps started the brightly with an early free kick after a couple of minutes, but Tom Bayliss’ ball wasn’t met by anyone at the back post.
On nine minutes, after good build-up play from City, Bayliss was able to cut inside and force Town goalkeeper Christy Pym into a save down to his left-hand side. Michael Skubala’s side continued their positive start, as a cross from Sean Roughan found Jovon Makama, who couldn’t sort his feet out and get his shot away.
Some good link-up play from between Louis Reed and Davis-Keillor Dunn allowed the visitors to surge towards the Imps goal, but it was well dealt with as the visitors looked to respond. Mansfield midfielder Stephen Quinn picked up the first yellow card of the game after fouling McGrandles whilst City were on the break, after 18 minutes.
With 22 minutes gone, Tendayi Darikwa linked up with Bayliss and his shot was routinely saved by Pym.
The Stags continued to fight back when Akins crossed the ball, and found Louis Reed on the edge of the penalty area. His half volley was well matched by new Imps goalkeeper Wickens. Adedeji Oshilaja found his way into the referee’s notebook after fouling Makama on the counter-attack.
The breakthrough:
The Imps opened the scoring on 29 minutes, when defender Adam Jackson met a cross from Sean Roughan and beat the on-rushing Pym to the ball and headed into an empty net.
McGrandles saw himself enter the referees book a minute later for a tackle on Oshilaja the half-way line. The Imps continued to climb into the ascendancy when Ethan Erhahon slotted in Makama whose curling effort was deflected wide for a corner.
On the stroke of half time, City nearly doubled their lead through captain O’Connor who saw his effort come back off the crossbar. There was still enough time for Ben House to enter the referee’s book for a late tackle on Keillor-Dunn.
In added time a foul Sean Roughan found the back of the net from a free-kick wide on the left-hand side. His effort looped over Christy Pym for the Irishman’s first goal of the season.
A devastating five minutes:
Town manager Nigel Clough made one change at the break, seeing cautioned Quinn make way for Hiram Boateng.
Defender Jackson then became the club’s joint top goalscorer this season with fellow defender Paudie O’Connor and striker Ben House, when he was the one to nod home his second of the game, after just two minutes of second half football.
City weren’t home and dry as the Stags nearly pulled one back, when the ball fizzed across to Keillor-Dunn whose header went wide of the mark.
Michael Skubala’s side gave the 8,000 City fans inside the LNER Stadium a fourth goal to celebrate in the 50th minute through Ben House. He charged through on goal and saw his initial effort saved by Pym but he could put the rebound into the net.
The Imps nearly had their fifth when a cross met Jackson who nearly got his hat-trick, but his header was glanced wide.
Too little too late for Mansfield:
The Stags pulled one back 20 minutes from time when a corner from substitute Hiram Boateng was put in by Oshilaja to make it 4-1.
The Imps should’ve made it five in the 83rd minute when substitute Jack Moylan was slotted through on goal, but his effort was dragged wide.
The Imps strolled to their first home victory of the season, and will look ahead to their next fixtures, travelling to Stevenage next Saturday, before returning to Sincil Bank to host Chesterfield in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy next Tuesday.
Feature Image Credit: Graham Burrell