Lincoln City replaced 65 years of history this afternoon as they confirmed their promotion to the EFL Championship following a 2-1 victory away to Reading.
They knew they had the cushion of a potential draw between Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County which would end up promoting the side anyway.
But as they have done so many times this season, they got the job done themselves as goals from Ryan Oné and Jack Moylan capped off a spectacular season despite a late scare from Lewis Wing.
City came into the game needing just a point away from home and Michael Skubala seemed to recognise that as he made three changes from the side that beat AFC Wimbledon on Friday.
Ivan Varfolomeev returned to the starting 11 following international duty with Ukraine Under 21’s as he replaced talisman Jack Moylan, while the Good Friday hero Ryan Oné replaced Rob Street to lead the line.
Dom Jeffries also came into the side in place of Tom Bayliss and would fill in for the side at left-wing back in a fluid back five formation.
Oné chance is all it takes
City’s promotion chances looked strong right from the off in the game as Ryan Oné headed the side ahead on the stroke of five minutes.
That came as Varfolomeev won a free-kick which was crossed in from the right which left the Scotsman to flick his header into the bottom left corner.
He then looked to have put the Imps in dreamland two minutes later as he turned home a low cross from Reeco Hackett, but the linesman put his flag up against the attacker almost instantly.
Both sides then continued to look dangerous throughout the next 20 minutes with neither side really creating a clear-cut chance as both defences remained resolute.
An eventful half then continued to flow with a series of half chances as both sides looked threatening with a series of cutbacks and set-pieces.
However, it was ultimately the defences that came out on top as an end-to-end half went in with just a goal in it, at the break.
Let the promotion party commence
The away side then looked to ensure they remained defensively solid in the second half as the hosts had more of the ball but failed to break down a strong Lincoln City defence.
All while the Imps continued to threaten on the break but didn’t create an opening themselves as they just looked to keep the ball at the far end of the pitch.
However, the Imps came closest to putting promotion to bed with 15 minutes left as Tendayi Darikwa crossed in low from the left side of penalty area.
Although Charlie Savage slid in well five-yards from goal to prevent the ball finding Alfie Lloyd at the back post.
However, the hosts did eventually break the deadlock in the second minute of injury time as Wing spectacularly curled a free-kick from 30-yards out into the top left corner.
That still wasn’t enough to stop the visitors on their promotion party as Jack Moylan broke through with two minutes remaining and smashed the ball beyond Pereira to confirm Lincoln City’s promotion to the Championship.
That was exactly how it ended as the away end erupted for one final time whilst the City players ran into each other’s arms to celebrate a record-breaking achievement.