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Match Reports

REPORT: Cheltenham 1-0 Lincoln

21 October 2017

Match Reports

REPORT: Cheltenham 1-0 Lincoln

21 October 2017

Danny Wright's first half goal saw battling Cheltenham Town claim a brilliant 1-0 victory over Lincoln City at a wet and blustery LCI Rail Stadium.

Wright scored the game’s only goal after half an hour when he rolled a shot into the bottom corner of the net after making his own space in the penalty area. 

A superb second half rearguard, with goalkeeper Scott Flinders and his back four simply outstanding, saw the Robins dig deep and claim all three points n Sky Bet League Two.

Cheltenham made two changes to the starting line-up as Brian Graham and Will Boyle came into the team with Harry Pell and Nigel Atangana ruled out.

In heavy rain and swirling winds, that backed the Robins in the first half, it was the home side that created the first opening.

Full back Jordan Cranston was alert to steal possession down the left before he charged forward and saw a low fizzing drive across goal blocked.

Lincoln striker Billy Knott fired high and wide, after the ball ran kindly to him 18 yards out, as the visitors were forced to face the worst of the conditions early on.

Mo Eisa nearly scored a spectacular long range effort when, 25 yards out, he hit an early dipping shot that forced Vickers to race across his line and palm the ball wide for a corner.

Wright and Graham were having to work hard up top to try and control the ball in blustery conditions.

But when they did link up successfully they did so effectively to feed the on-rushing Carl Winchester who saw the ball sit up nicely but his effort rocket over the crossbar.

Eisa then picked up the ball on the left, ran direct and glided past two men before his curling effort just missed the top right corner in what would have been a contender for goal of the season if it found the net.

The opening goal came on the half hour when Wright collected a flick-on from Graham, wriggled past two men in a congested penalty area and his poked low effort found the bottom corner of the net.

Lincoln had a late chance in the half when the lively Knott, moments after firing wide, got into the box but his cross failed to find anyone and ran clear.

The visitors started the second half keen to use the conditions and started quickly with Josh Ginnelly firing just wide after Cheltenham were guilty of giving the ball away in the penalty area.

Ginnelly again threatened as he planted a free header straight at Flinders from Arnold's deep cross.

The Robins were playing into a fierce second half wind that made finding men difficult in the air.

When they did get it down Eisa fired over, after fashioning a chance with good strength, before the striker was unlucky when a clearance from Vickers rebounded off him and wide.

Matt Green saw a frim header brilliantly clawed over by Flinders as the home side came under pressure from a succession of corners.

And minutes later Flinders produced a simply sublime save to deny a dipping and curling effort from Maguire-Drew as he clawed it over the bar.

And the other end the Robins twice broke at pace as Dawson released Eisa who saw a deflected low shot saved by Vickers down to his lefthand post.

Eisa was denied again by another smart save from Vickers two minutes from time, after Graham linked up with him, as the Robins returned to winning ways.  

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Flinders; Cranston, Grimes, Boyle, Moore, Winchester, Morrell, Dawson, Graham, Eisa, Wright. Subs not used: Flatt (Gk), Storer, O'Shaughnessy, Sellars, Bower, Hinds, Davey.

LINCOLN CITY: Vickers, Long, Whitehouse, Ginnelly (Palmer 58), Green, Knott (Rhead 76), Dickie, Eardley, Raggett, Arnold (Maguire-Drew 65), Woodyard. Subs not used: Farman (Gk), Habergham, Waterfall, Palmer, Chapman.

REFEREE: Christopher Sarginson

ATTENDANCE: 3,312 (738 from Lincoln)


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