Report
With Delano Sam-Yorke recalled from his loan by parent club Cambridge United, manager Gary Simpson was forced to change his starting line-up for this Skrill Premier game at Aldershot with Danny Rowe recalled to the starting XI. A further change saw Conner Robinson replace Jake Sheridan who dropped to the bench.
Aldershot kicked off and it was a fast and frenetic start before Todd Jordan was felled in the centre circle for a City free-kick which was cleverly worked and resulted in a corner which was gathered by debutant 'keeper Alan Martin.
City remained on the offensive with Sean Newton having a shot deflected behind and when the corner was floated in, up rose TOM MILLER who saw his downward header sneak past the man on the post before nestling in the corner of the net.
Aldershot looked for a quick response with Bradley Bubb firing wide following a swift break forward before Brett Williams flicked a Craig Stanley cross the wrong side of the post as far as he was concerned.
The hosts kept up the pressure and levelled in the 10th minute when an unmarked Bradley Bubb met a Jordan Roberts corner before heading past Nick Townsend from six yards out.
Roberts fizzed a low drive a foot wide as the Shots pushed forward again a couple of minutes after the restart whilst as the Imps responded a Newton free-kick came to nothing as Rowe and Chris Barker tangled on the floor.
In the 19th minute a neat move by the Imps ended with Rowe volleying wide and five minutes later good work by Tomlinson saw him win a corner and when Newton swung the ball in from the quadrant, THIERRY AUDEL prodded goalwards with the home defence unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.
Aldershot's response saw Williams have a cross cleared behind for a corner which was over hit for a City goal-kick. At the other end a deflected Power effort led to a City flag-kick which was headed over by Rowe.
A 35th minute Stanley drive clipped Jordan for a Town corner which was claimed well by Townsend whilst a minute later Miller was cautioned for a block with his 10th yellow card of the season leading to a two-game ban.
The corners continued five minutes before the break with Aldershot winning their fourth but again Townsend commanded his area well to claim. The keeper then pumped a ball forward only for Ben Tomlinson to slip over as he bore down on Martin.
Two added minutes saw Solomon Taiwo see yellow for a trip on Robinson before referee Adam Bromley blew for the break.
HT: ALDERSHOT 1 IMPS 2
Both teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half and the Imps were immediately on the offensive with Rowe testing Martin with a right-footed effort from the edge of the box.
City, who appeared to change formation with Miller moving inside with Adams and Newton operating as wing-backs, were forced to defend a free-kick after Power tripped Bubb. Taiwo fired well over though.
Another free-kick, however, led to an Aldershot leveller with striker Josh Scott rising high with his downward header bouncing over Townsend's outstretched arm and into the net.
City's response saw them win a couple of corners with the second seeing Newton pick out Miller who saw his header cleared off the line. Shortly afterwards, Tomlinson broke free but his lifted effort over Martin was cleared by the back tracking Adam Webster.
In the 65th minute a foul on Adams gave the Imps the chance to send in a free-kick but Newton drilled straight at the wall. A knock to Jordan then brought about a break in play.
City attacked again in the 71st minute and this saw them edge themselves in front for a third time; good play from Rowe saw him get the better of his man and when his deep centre was headed down by Power, there was BEN TOMLINSON to control and send a shot on the turn past Martin.
Shortly after the restart Robinson flicked a Newton cross wide before skipper Power was felled 20 yards out; Newton fired straight at the wall again though.
The first change of the game saw Tristan Plummer replace Jordan Roberts for the home side in the 77th minute and after an incident-free six minutes a second Aldershot switch saw Martin Rowlands come on for Solomon Taiwo.
A knock to Robinson saw him require treatment with three minutes remaining and he was quickly replaced by Bohan Dixon as he hobbled to the bench.
Just as the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added on, City were forced to defend a corner and as they broke forward Dixon skipped past the challenges before setting up Power who drilled into the side netting.
City kept possession throughout the remaining stages and when referee Bromley blew for time the travelling 192 fans were on their feet to salute a hard-earned victory.
FT: ALDERSHOT 2 IMPS 3
LINCOLN CITY
30 Nick TOWNSEND
2 Tom MILLER
23 Nat BROWN
5 Thierry AUDEL
3 Sean NEWTON
4 Todd JORDAN
26 Charlee ADAMS
8 Alan POWER
16 Conner ROBINSON
11 Ben TOMLINSON
9 Danny ROWE
subs
12 Jake SHERIDAN
15 Dan GRAY
17 Bohan DIXON (for ROBINSON 88)
19 Jon NOLAN
31 David PREECE
GOALS: MILLER (5), AUDEL (25), TOMLINSON (71)
BOOKING: MILLER (36)
ALDERSHOT TOWN
12 Alan MARTIN
2 Joe OASTLER
4 Craig STANLEY
5 Solomon TAIWO
6 Adam WEBSTER
9 Brett WILLIAMS
11 Bradley BUBB
14 Jordan ROBERTS
15 Chris BARKER
16 Josh SCOTT
22 Jaydon GIBBS
subs
3 Anthony TONKIN
7 Adam MEKKI
8 Martin ROWLANDS (for TAIWO 84)
21 Luke WILLIAMS
25 Tristan PLUMMER (for ROBERTS 77)
GOALS: BUBB (10), SCOTT (52)
BOOKING: TAIWO (45+3)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Adam Bromley
ASSISTANTS: Paul Johnson & Anthony Serrano
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Jim Paterson
ATTENDANCE: 1,944 (192 City supporters)
