Lincoln City get their first home win of 2025, sweeping aside Peterborough United.
Dom Jeffries, Tom Bayliss, Freddie Draper and debutant James Collins sealed a stunning win, with an own goal from Cian Hughes adding the fifth.
Lincoln approached the game in 12th place and on a high following their 1-0 win over Northampton Town courtesy of a Tendayi Darikwa strike.
Before that, the Imps had failed to win in any of the previous five games. Their last win at home came on December 23.
Peterborough find themselves in a surprise relegation battle after making the playoffs two years running.
They sat just six points away from the drop after going on an awful run of seven games without a victory.
Posh’s last league win came on December 14 against Crawley Town.
Lincoln had failed to beat Peterborough in the last seven meetings between the sides.
A Free-Kick Opener:
The game started slowly as the first effort on goal came eight minutes in for the visitors. Ryan De Havilland’s low shot forced a routine save out of Zach Jeacock.
On the other hand, a few good crossing opportunities were wasted early on by the Imps.
The slow start would not last as the deadlock was broken just 12 minutes into the game following a free kick in a decent position.
It was swung in by Tom Bayliss, whose cross was met at the back post and headed back into the danger area for Jeffries to score his first league goal for Lincoln City.
The pressure would build on Peterborough as Lincoln kept working hard and winning the ball high up the field.
Just over 20 minutes in, the home side dealt more problems to the visitors from set pieces as Jeacock’s free kick from the halfway line was not comfortably cleared.
Sean Roughan was able to send a powerful effort goalwards from the left-hand side. Nicholas Bilokapic parried the shot to keep the score at 1-0.
The Posh nearly equalised through De Havilland, as he saw a free kick in a very dangerous position rattle off the woodwork.
A Second-Half Lincoln City Barrage:
Just over half an hour played and Lincoln doubled their advantage.
Bayliss stepped up to strike it and scored beautifully, finding the top left corner perfectly to get his first Lincoln City goal and top off a perfect first half for The Imps.
Just under ten minutes into the second half and a penalty was awarded to Lincoln.
Jeffries chased a loose ball sent long and did excellently to get a touch on the ball ahead of the defender who was late with the tackle.
Referee Simon Mather made up his mind immediately and blew his whistle to point to the spot.
Freddie Draper smashed it low and hard into the bottom corner for his fourth of the season and to make it a comfortable afternoon for Lincoln.
Peterborough fought back on the hour mark through substitute Ricky Jade-Jones, who cut the deficit down to two goals.
It was a poor giveaway in possession for the home team, which Gustav Lindgren took full advantage and proceeded to make a darting run down the left.
He selflessly play it into the forward for a simple tap-in.
In the 65th minute, Lincoln City put any doubt of the three points behind them as substitute Ethan Hamilton sliced the ball home with what was practically his first touch of the ball to make.
A long throw from Roughan caused problems for the Peterborough defence as they struggled once again to clear their lines.
Hamilton took full advantage of the chaos and put an effort goalwards, a slight deflection took it past Bilokapic in goal.
Peterborough pushed men forward looking for a route back into the game, but were caught out on the counter attack brilliantly by substitutes Jovon Makama and James Collins, who broke with pace into the opposition’s half.
Lincoln had a three on two, Makama unselfishly guided it into Collins who made it five with a delicate chip on his debut.
It is two wins in a row for Lincoln City, who have gathered momentum into their next game, as they face Blackpool at home on Tuesday, January.