The Imps kept up the pressure at the top of the League One table with a resounding 4-1 victory at Home Park.
Despite going 1-0 down after a strong start for the home side, City were dominant in the second half, ensuring we remain second in the table, and extending the gap between us and a couple of the chasing pack.
It was ‘as you were’ for the Imps, with no changes to the starting XI or the bench for the trip to Devon. There were two changes for the home side, Wes Harding coming in for his debut, with Owen Dale also coming into the side after their defeat against Stockport County.
Argyle started brightly and carved out the first opening after two minutes when Ronan Curtis drove a low ball across the face of goal, with nobody arriving to apply the finish.
Four minutes in, City responded with early pressure of their own. A long throw from Tom Hamer caused problems in the box and forced a corner, setting the tone for an open opening spell.
Plymouth were back on the front foot after six minutes as Caleb Watts saw a shot blocked inside the area, the loose ball going behind for a corner. A minute later, sustained pressure followed as Curtis had an effort blocked before Owen Dale lashed the rebound over the bar.
City’s best early moment arrived on eight minutes. Adam Reach picked out Jack Moylan, whose low cross caused panic in the Plymouth area, with Freddie Draper unable to force it goalwards under pressure. Moments later, Wes Harding went into the book after exchanging words with the referee.
The breakthrough came after 12 minutes. Bim Pepple found space just outside the box and unleashed a long-range effort that flew in off the post beyond George Wickens, giving Plymouth a 1-0 lead. At first glance, it appeared Wickens was at fault, but the shot had swerve and just nicked inside the post.
City tried to respond quickly, but on 14 minutes Ivan Varfolomeev was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Brendan Wiredu. On 19 minutes, Wickens committed himself, Moylan headed beyond the goalkeeper, and appeared to be impeded as he chased the loose ball, but nothing was given.
Pepple remained a threat, testing Wickens again with another effort from distance, comfortably held. Conditions then turned typically Devonian, with sunshine giving way to rain, a brief rainbow, and back to rain again. Curtis forced further pressure with a free kick that was headed out for a corner by Draper. Varfolomeev cleared the initial delivery, but Plymouth recycled possession quickly to earn another corner.
City began to find rhythm in possession. Sonny Bradley hit a sweeping crossfield pass to Draper, who linked with Varfolomeev and Reeco Hackett, the latter firing wide of Luca Ashby-Hammond’s goal. Another well-worked move followed, City breaking into the box only for the ball to skid away from Moylan at the crucial moment. A minute later, Hamer’s long throw again caused problems, bouncing through to Reach whose shot was blocked behind for a corner, which led to another.
The equaliser arrived on 38 minutes, and probably felt a little unexpected. Plymouth failed to deal with a corner and Freddie Draper reacted quickest at close range, heading home for his seventh league goal of the season to make it 1-1. All eyes were on Street wrestling with the defence, and Draper wriggled free of Boateng to cement his position as City’s top scorer.
There was a brief stoppage on 40 minutes following a clash of heads between Varfolomeev and Pepple. Pepple came off worse and was forced off, replaced by Owen Oseni. Five minutes of added time passed without further incident, bringing an entertaining and evenly balanced first half to a close at 1-1.
City made one change at the break, with Bayliss introduced in place of Varfolomeev, while Plymouth emerged unchanged.
The opening exchanges after the restart were low-key, both sides taking time to re-establish their shape with little in the way of goalmouth action as the tempo dipped briefly.
That changed decisively just before the hour. City found the breakthrough in disappointing fashion from a Plymouth perspective as Moylan and Reach combined down the left to work space for Hackett, who finished smartly across Ashby-Hammond to put Lincoln City 2-1 ahead. It was Hackett’s seventh league goal of the season and a moment that shifted the balance of the contest.
With the wind at their backs, City pressed again. Moylan twisted away from his marker before delivering a cross that Ashby-Hammond was forced to tip over, moments before play paused for a minute’s applause, which the referee ensured all players respected.
Plymouth’s frustration began to show as Oseni was booked after lunging in on McGrandles following a heavy touch, while City continued to apply pressure. Hamer saw a shot blocked as appeals for handball were waved away, correctly, by the referee.
A lengthy stoppage followed when Street required treatment for a head injury ahead of a City corner. During the pause, Wickens amused the home support by playing along with a balloon thrown onto the pitch, earning applause from the stands.
City’s pressure told again soon after and effectively ended the game as a contest. A corner routine ended with Bayliss volleying goalwards, the effort deflecting behind for another set piece. From that corner, Hackett delivered a vicious in-swinger that Ashby-Hammond could not deal with, the ball going straight in to make it 3-1 and leave Plymouth reeling.
The home side responded with a double change, Szűcs replacing Edwards and Amaechi coming on for Dale, with Ashby-Hammond immediately receiving ironic applause from the stands following the restart.
City reshuffled as the game entered its final third, with Lloyd replacing Moylan and House coming on for Street. Plymouth finally mustered a sustained spell of pressure as Watts had a shot blocked and Curtis saw a deflected effort well saved by Wickens, but City remained composed.
Further changes followed for Plymouth as Kane and Paterson were introduced, while Bayliss picked up a booking for a firm body check on Mitchell. Despite some late territorial pressure from the hosts, City defended their box well, blocking shots and managing the game intelligently.
Oné replaced Draper late on, and City continued to threaten on the break. Darikwa delivered an inviting ball that House volleyed towards goal, Ashby-Hammond tipping it behind.
Plymouth’s last opportunity came from a superb Curtis cross in the closing moments, but once again there was nobody on the end of it, allowing City to see out the contest and secure a composed and impressive away victory.
Ryley Towler was the final Imps sub of the game, coming on for his 13th appearance from the bench, with double goal hero Hackett coming off. Oddly, in the 94th minute, we got the first offside of the game.
There was still plenty to talk about even as the game ticked away. Oné and House picked up bookings, but the Sheffield United loanee also put the gloss on the scoreline. As Plymouth pressed for something, City broke, and Oné remained calm as he slotted past the beleaguered Ashby-Hammond to make it 4-1.
The game was watched by 15,547, with 605 visitors enjoying it a whole lot more than the natives.
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