I’m pretty sure the Magpies will be sick of City by now. We’ve played them three times in this competition, all at the Bank, and on each occasion, we’ve won.
3-0, 2-0 and 2-1, as well as a 2-0 win at theirs in the League Cup, leaves them with a miserable record against us – in fact, their 1995/96 League Cup win is their only cup triumph against us. When Notts County see Lincoln City coming out of the bag, they know they can book a weekend away with the wife (or husband) for the date of the next round.
Okay, that’s a little off-the-cuff, of course, this is a league match of sorts, and so we could both go through, but on last night’s showing, I wouldn’t be putting any of my hard-earned on them winning the EFL Trophy. Us? It’s hard to tell, isn’t it, because it was a new look Imps, square pegs in rectangular holes, fresh looking round pegs in round holes and the usual 2026 Lincoln Lizards stepping up to the task. For those late to the party, that refers to the likes of Joe Ward, the fringe players who took us to the semi-final of the FA Trophy in 2016/17, wearing that green kit.
The modern lizards are Lewis Montsma, likely to be fifth choice centre back, and Zach Jeacock, a solid presence but number two in the sticks. Erik Ring is another on the fringes, while Fin Barbrook and Adam Reach dropped straight into the side. Another new face, Oscar Thorn, got his first start, while Sonny Bradley played at centre half – after all, he did only get 30 minutes on Saturday, and will be in the stands this weekend.
On a side note, I wouldn’t want to be sitting behind him this weekend. That’s a restricted view seat if ever I’ve seen one.
There was a new look in terms of set up. City went 4-3-3, Erik Ring and Ben House playing in the middle of the park ahead of the impressive Barbrook. Freddie Draper led the line, with Thorn and Okoronkwo on either side, and Lewis dropped in at right back. You could call in makeshift, but it was more experimental in places. Those formations usually go one of two ways: either it doesn’t work and you’re punished, or you come away forgetting that there was ever an experiment in the first place (see also Oisin Gallagher at centre back last season).
In this case, it was absolutely the latter, as we eased three points and the five-figure sum of prize money into the bag before we gently strolled away from the game without really breaking sweat.
Actually, that’s not true. The game was played in good spirit with very few incidents, but it was actually entertaining. The xG stats suggest we were good for a couple of goals, but the Magpies were as well, and they will take some positives from the game – their xG was 2.22, although much of that came from two moments before half time (0.79) and just after (0.41).
The game started at the sort of pace you expect a glorified friendly with a cash prize to start. It became quickly evident that Adam Reach still has all of the qualities that made him a big deal in the Championship, while across on the other side of the pitch, I saw enough in Oscar Thorn to make me think he has the attributes to pass Reach on his way into the second tier. He’s a big, strong boy but with nice feet and a desire to beat players – basically, Jovon Makama all over again. Lovely.
I do wonder if the game had stayed at 0-0 whether Notts might have been a bit better, but City once again grabbed an early goal. We do have a habit of getting at teams this season – we’ve now scored the first goal in eight of our last nine matches, the only other game being one we didn’t score in. We’ve also scored in the first 20 minutes in six of our matches, underlining our desire to start quickly.
The goal was typical Lincoln 2024/25 – from a set piece. It was as easy as they come, a perfect delivery from Reach and a good header from Bradley. He’s picked up where Paudie O’Connor left off for City, comfortable at the back and a threat up top. You have to take your hats off to our recruitment team for that, and if Reach continues to deliver balls of that quality, along with Hackett and Bayliss, we’re going to score many more.
The goal really hit County hard, and from there, we were in complete control for a spell. Draper could well have had a goal, which would have been big. He’s bagged in the League and the EFL Cup, so were he to score last night, he’d only need the FA Cup to join the unique group of players to bag in all four competitions in a single season.
🧱 WE LEAD!
⌚️ 9’ | 🔴 1-0 🟢 | #LINNOT pic.twitter.com/miX8wd2xcR
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) September 2, 2025
Draper was involved again on 20 minutes, this time meeting an Adam Reach delivery with a guided header that forced Griffiths into action. City’s momentum continued as Reach combined with Frankie Okoronkwo, the latter’s cross dropping invitingly to the back post where Montsma arrived with a thumping volley, only for a County defender to block.
It all felt quite routine until County began to get a foothold, and before half time, they should perhaps have levelled. Jeacock parried a shot from distance, and Conor Grant couldn’t turn in the recycled ball.
In fairness to the visitors, they were much better than in previous matches, and they played some nice stuff. There was no cutting edge up top, but Dennis, Jatta and Iorpenda were all rested, so it was very much a reserve side for them as well.
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