Rotherham made a change at the break with Ar’Jany Martha replaced by Gabriele Biancheri, but the second half began in fairly slow fashion, with the visitors seeing a bit of possession without really doing anything with it while Lincoln remained comfortable and in control of the game.
The first effort of the half fell to City when a short corner was worked to Ivan Varfolomeev, but his shot was straight at Ted Cann. Rotherham continued to have spells of the ball and put a few deliveries into the box, but they struggled to create any real chances, and whenever City broke forward they still looked the more dangerous side. Rob Street drove into the area on one counter attack and managed to get a shot away despite being crowded out, but it was blocked for a corner.
City then began to turn the screw again. Cann flapped at a Sonny Bradley header and then had to punch a Reeco Hackett cross clear under pressure as Lincoln forced the visitors back towards their own goal. Rotherham made a double change just after the hour mark, but still could not find a way through, and Sam Nombe resorted to a long range effort that flew well over the bar.
Michael Skubala responded with changes of his own, introducing Ryan Oné and Dom Jefferies for Jack Moylan and Rob Street, and the fresh legs immediately helped City on the break. Tendayi Darikwa fed Hackett after one driving run forward, but his shot was blocked, and shortly afterwards Conor McGrandles produced one of the tackles of the game, perfectly timing a challenge on Nombe just as the striker looked set to break clear.
⌚️ 60′ | 🔴 3-0 🟡 pic.twitter.com/i8wnzvQYLk
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) March 21, 2026
City continued to look the more likely to add to the score. Jefferies and Oné combined well on the counter and Oné’s cross was turned behind for a corner with Hackett waiting in the middle, and from the resulting delivery Tom Hamer headed over. The referee also appeared to miss a couple of occasions where Oné was being manhandled to stop Lincoln counter attacks, much to the frustration of the home side.
The Imps kept pushing forward and should probably have added a fourth. Jefferies set up Oné after a defender slipped, but he could not get a shot away, and the loose ball fell to McGrandles whose powerful drive from around 25 yards flew just wide. Soon after, Hackett set up Darikwa, but his curling effort drifted away from goal when he was well placed.
Both sides made further changes late on, with Brandon Cover and Lino Sousa coming on for Rotherham, while Alfie Lloyd and Tom Bayliss replaced Hackett and Varfolomieiev for Lincoln. Deji Elerewe also came on late in the game for Tom Hamer as City comfortably saw out the closing stages with little trouble.
✅ Three points!
⌚️ FT | 🔴 3-0 🟡
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) March 21, 2026
Zak Jules picked up a late yellow card for blocking Alfie Lloyd, but the game was won and lost long before that moment. In truth, it was won and lost long before the second half kicked off, with most of the 10,071 fans sent home happy.
The ground was empty by the time Bolton’s defeat at Port Vale was confirmed, meaning the Imps are 18 points clear of second, with seven to play. A win on Good Friday against Wimbledon, or simply matching Bolton’s result in their game against Plymouth, will see City win a first promotion from the third tier since 1952.
One More Time.
Up the Imps.
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