Cardiff began the second half with plenty of possession, moving the ball confidently across the pitch but struggling to create clear shooting opportunities. Despite their control of the ball in the opening exchanges, the visitors were unable to turn that territorial advantage into a meaningful effort on goal.
Instead, it was City who struck on 55 minutes. Tom Hamer clipped a pass down the line towards Rob Street, who flicked the ball on into the path of Ben House. House quickly returned it, sliding Street through on goal. The striker held off his defender before finishing calmly past Nathan Trott to give the Imps the lead, very much against the run of play at that stage of the half.
There was then a lengthy pause following the goal as the referee held discussions with both managers and the captains, although play eventually resumed without further incident. More to follow on that.
City’s Ivan Varfolomeev was shown a yellow card on 60 minutes following a late tackle during a midfield challenge. Four minutes later the Imps had another opportunity when a free kick into the box was nodded up into the air by Hamer. The loose ball dropped to Adam Reach on the edge of the area, but his ambitious volley sailed well over the bar.
Cardiff made their first changes on 66 minutes, with Callum Robinson and Chris Willock introduced in place of Omari Kellyman and Joel Colwill. At the same moment City also altered their shape, with Dom Jefferies coming on to replace Reeco Hackett.
The visitors continued to dominate possession, spending long periods in the Lincoln defensive third but still struggling to carve out clear chances. That control was punished on 73 minutes when City doubled their advantage with a swift counter attack. Conor McGrandles won the ball and slipped a pass through for Jefferies, who surged forward into space. Carrying the ball deep into Cardiff territory, the substitute finished confidently with his right foot to make it 2-0 to the Imps.
Cardiff responded with further substitutions, bringing on Ollie Tanner for Cian Ashford and Dylan Lawlor for Ronan Kpakio as they attempted to force their way back into the match.
Pressure soon followed. On 78 minutes Alex Robertson worked the ball into Colwill, whose effort from range was dragged wide through a crowd of players. There was also a brief delay in the Lincoln goalmouth as objects were thrown towards George Wickens while he prepared to restart play.
City then made another double change on 80 minutes, with Alfie Lloyd replacing Rob Street and Tom Bayliss coming on for House.
The hosts began to find a little more space to shoot as the game moved into its closing stages. Robinson managed to fire an effort through a crowded penalty area on 83 minutes, forcing Wickens to make another save to preserve the two goal advantage. Cardiff introduced David Turnbull shortly afterwards, replacing Robertson as they continued to search for a way back.
Into stoppage time City nearly added a third. Holding the ball well in the attacking third, Bayliss turned sharply and drove a shot towards goal that Trott had to push away. Moments later Wickens was shown a yellow card for time wasting as City managed the closing stages of the match.
The nine minutes of addeded times opassed without incident, and Tom Reeves ended it to a huge ovation from the 3,000 strong visiting supporters. They’d been loud all game, and they’ve got their reward with ‘just’ three points from a game that feels like so much more.
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