Lincoln City took another giant stride towards promotion to the Championship by extending the lead over third-placed Bolton Wanderers to 13 points with ten matches left to play.
On an attritional evening in Devon, City knew a win would open a bigger gap over the Trotters as this was the game in hand we’ve been holding, like an ace up the sleeve. They’re only any good if you turn them into points, and City were hunting all three. With Cardiff facing a tough test at a resurgent Barnsley, there was even a hint of extending our advantage in the League One title race.
It still feels like I’m writing fiction when I say that.
City made changes from the side that defeated Cardiff at the weekend. Ryan Oné, Tom Bayliss and Jack Moylan came in for Reeco Hackett, Ryley Towler and Ivan Varfolomeev, with City lining up in the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, which has brought so much success this season.
There were changes for Exeter as well. In came Josh Magennis, who previously damaged Lincoln’s automatic promotion hopes with a goal for Hull City in 2021, and crushed our play-off hopes in 2024 with a robust centre-forward display for Wigan Athletic. The other change saw Charlie Cummins making his full Grecians debut.
Inside the opening minute, City threatened immediately. Tendayi Darikwa delivered from the right and the ball bounced invitingly for Rob Street, but the striker could only volley over the bar from close range. Moments later Street was involved again when a long clearance dropped kindly for him, his powerful strike cannoned off Ben House as the forward tried to get out of the way.
The early stages were dominated by the Imps. A clever throw-in routine created the next opening as Conor McGrandles struck from the edge of the area, his effort deflecting narrowly wide. Adam Reach then saw a free-kick from the edge of the box blocked, while Jack Moylan dragged a long-range effort past the post as City continued to probe.
It took Exeter 27 minutes to register their first meaningful attempt. By that point, Lincoln had already racked up several efforts, even if none had truly tested the goalkeeper. Jack Aitchison slipped Josh Magennis through, but from a tight angle the striker’s shot was comfortable for George Wickens. Aitchison then tried his luck from distance, forcing Wickens to gather.
Just after the half-hour, the pressure finally told. Reach clipped a free-kick into the area and Tom Hamer attacked the delivery, getting across his marker before powering a header into the corner. Exeter appealed for offside, but the flag stayed down and the ball nestled beyond Joe Whitworth to give the Imps the lead.
Elsewhere, Cardiff took the lead against Barnsley, only for the Tykes to level just before Hamer’s goal. As things stood, City were going four points clear at the top of the table.
That message wouldn’t filter through to the players, but it felt like it might have as we almost doubled their advantage soon after. Hamer launched a long throw which dropped to Reach at the far post, the midfielder striking goalwards only for a crowd of Exeter defenders to block. The visitors then broke quickly and Ryan Oné found himself clean through, but Whitworth stretched out a leg to deny him.
There was something that happened in the first half, off the ball, that left Street angry. He went down in the middle of the pitch, and when helped to the sidelines, he was gesturing furiously at an Exeter player, suggesting something had occurred away from the camera’s glare. It was the first proper niggle of a game that never threatened to boil over, and it was seemingly not seen by referee Carl Brook.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, Exeter half-cleared a corner which fell to Pierce Sweeney, though he could not make clean contact with his finish. City countered immediately and Oné raced through on goal once again, only to drag his effort wide when the second looked likely.
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