Lincoln United secured an important win over visiting Ossett United, thanks to a classy Connor Brown brace, in a result that lifts them out of the relegation zone.
The Whites went into this one desperate for the three points after narrowly drawing 1-1 in their previous league outing against Silsden AFC, being denied the win after conceding a heart-breaking late equaliser.
Dave Frecklington’s side were sat rock bottom of the league before kick-off, winless since November with 23 points from 25 games.
A deserved Half-Time lead
Very few chances were exchanged in the opening stages, with the game a battle of attritional midfields.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts in the 13th minute, as Sam Swinn turned wide at the far post after a deep, curled cross from Harvey Cribb.
Luca Bolino had the visitors’ first effort of the game, as in the 16th minute he cut onto his right foot and took aim. The shot was deflected by Billy Bradley and became a tame effort that Heath Richardson easily held.
A pinball around the Lincoln United area almost led to an opener for Ossett just past the half hour mark, but Bradley did well to head Jordan Peterson’s volley wide.
Somehow Lincoln United didn’t take the lead in the 35th minute, as Connor Brown ran in behind and squared it to Owen Vincent, who skied his effort from five yards.
Amends were made by the Whites, as less than a minute later, Connor Brown dinked over Aleks Petrovic to open the scoring.
The Whites missed a golden chance to double their lead before the break, as more good work from Brown saw him force a point-blank save from Petrovic, before Owen Vincent was also denied by the ‘keeper.
Lincoln United went into the break a goal to the good, after a first half that they edged after a cagey start.
United get the job done
The second half continued how the first ended, with Lincoln United the dominant side, pressing well to take control of the opening stages of the second half.
Connor Brown doubled the Whites’ lead in the 50th minute, as he danced past the tackle of Essa Janneh and finished calmly for his brace.
The visitors made a triple change in response, as James Walshaw turned to his bench.
Sam Swinn called the ‘keeper into action in the 63rd minute, as he headed Alan Power’s corner goalwards, but Petrovic dealt with it comfortably.
The visitors pushed to find a way back into the game, as Fionn Murphy powered an effort wide of the near post.
Dave Frecklington made his second change of the game as the Whites looked to see out the win, with Harry Millard introduced for the last 15 minutes.
The Whites kept probing, as Elliot Dye, Power and Cribb all combined well in the middle of the park to move the Whites up the pitch.
Brown had the chance to complete his hat-trick in the 85th minute, but he dragged his left-footed effort just past the far post. Straight after that, he was replaced by Lewis Smalley in a defensive change.
Lincoln United saw out the game professionally, earning their first league win since November and moving out of the bottom four. They travel to Garforth Town in midweek.
For Ossett, the defeat drags them towards the drop zone