Lincoln City Football Club

City boss Gary Simpson named an unchanged squad for this clash against Altrincham at The J Davidson Stadium at Moss Lane. Amongst the home squad, meanwhile, was ex-Imp Kyle Perry who was recalled to the starting line-up having been on the bench at the weekend.

Altrincham kicked off and quickly won a corner with Perry putting Nat Brown under pressure as the latter tried to shield the ball out of play but Nick Townsend commanded his area well and claimed.

When the ball was pumped forward, Ben Tomlinson was spoken to by referee Adrian Holmes and from the Imps' next attack down the left, Sean Newton picked out Jon Nolan who headed over.

Altrincham's response saw Steven Gillespie capitalise on a Brown slip but Newton cleared when the ball was played into the middle - City's reply was immediate with Jake Caprice winning a corner on the right.

The corner was taken short by Newton to Nolan who gave him it back; he then curled in a deep centre and there rising high at the back post was JORDAN BURROW who saw his powerful header beat Stuart Coburn for the Imps' first goal of the season.

Five minutes later Burrow was inches away from bagging a second when a great move from one side to the other ended with Newton finding Burrow who saw his header hit the post before the ball bounced into Coburn's gloves.

The hosts were forced to make a change in the 19th minute with Jake Moult coming on for a limping Shaun Densmore and the Imps looked whilst, after a quiet spell, Brown required treatment after being the recipient of a late challenge which wasn't spotted by the officials.

Shortly before the half-hour mark Burrow had a header from a Newton cross deflect behind for a corner which was cleared but the counter-attack was wasted when Perry passed to Townsend rather than a team mate.

Altrincham's next attack saw Townsend pull off an excellent save with his left boot to deny Sean Williams. City's response saw Hamza Bencherif turn his man before 25-yard thunderbolt tipped over by Coburn and when the corner was played back to Marshall his low cross was diverted off Burrow by Gianluca Havern.

A strong challenge by Bencherif on Peter Cavanagh earned the City man a 37th minute caution and as the Imps pressed for a second Marcus Marshall and Burrow linked up well before the former smashed a shot straight against the latter.

The half came to a close following a couple of minutes' added time with City more than deserving of the single goal advantage.

HT: ALTRINCHAM 0 IMPS 1

Both teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half with the Imps restarting proceedings.

The first action of the second period saw Marshall take a heavy touch before felling Lawrie and earning a caution for his troubles. Tempers flared again four minutes later when Newton was taken out by Cavanagh before both players square up to each other. Cavanagh was booked for his part in the incident.

City had the bar to thank shortly afterwards when Gillespie cut inside from the left before curling past Townsend and against the woodwork. The end-to-end start to the second half then saw a scramble in the Altrincham box before the hosts cleared.

Following two Imps corners in quick succession, Power saw yellow for a foul on Gillespie, even though the skipper appeared to win the ball in the centre circle. A home corner then ended with Williams blazing well over.

On the hour mark Arnaud Mendy replaced Marcus Marshall, who was quick to place a bag of ice on his leg as he took his seat on the bench. Three minutes later Conner Robinson replaced Ben Tomlinson on the left.

After Diagne was left grounded following a late, and unpunished, challenge by Gillespie, the changes continued with a double switch for the hosts seeing Damian Reeves and Nicky Clee come on for Kyle Perry and Ryan Crowther

Robinson scuffed wide from 20 yards as City pushed forward a minute later before Bencherif forced a corner on the left. Although this was cleared, the Imps kept the ball in the attacking third with Bencherif heading a Newton cross inches over.

A foul on Robinson gave the Imps a change from a free-kick 25 yards out but Newton drilled over the stand and into the trees behind the goal. At the other end Townsend got down well to claim a low Lawrie cross into the area.

With 11 minutes on the clock Karl Ledsham replaced Alan Power for his City debut and he was quickly in the action and part of a move which saw the Imps double their advantage.

City pieced together a great move down the left and after the neat passage of play opened up the home defence, Newton fizzed in a cross and there to crash the ball into the net from six yards was CONNER ROBINSON to make it 2-0.

The goal seemed to take the stuffing out of Altrincham who had put in an improved shift following the break and City looked comfortable as the game approached three added minutes.

Midway through these extra stages, Robinson found Burrow who was denied by the outstretched leg of Havern. There was still time for Altrincham to bag a consolation effort with substitute Damian Reeves capitalising on a rare moment of hesitation between Diagne & Townsend.

FT: ALTRINCHAM 1 IMPS 2

7 Sahr KABBA

10 Karl LEDSHAM (for POWER 79)

12 Arnaud MENDY (for MARSHALL 60)

16 Conner ROBINSON (for TOMLINSON 63)

1 Paul FARMAN

GOALS: BURROW (12), ROBINSON (81)

BOOKINGS: BENCHERIF (37), MARSHALL (46), POWER (56)

4 Jake MOULT (for DENSMORE 19)

8 Simon RICHMAN

10 Damian REEVES (for PERRY 69)

11 Nicky CLEE (for CROWTHER 69)

16 Greg WILKINSON

GOAL: REEVES (90+3)

BOOKING: CAVANAGH (50)