Lincoln City stretched their unbeaten run to 25 matches with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Leyton Orient at the Sincil Bank.
Jack Moylan’s first-half strike and a Will Forrester goal before the break were enough to edge us closer to the League One title, although a late Orient goal ensured a nervy finish in front of 9,919 supporters.
City were forced into a change before kick off, Ivan Varfolomeev dropping out despite being named in the squad. Tom Bayliss came into the side, while Kamil Conteh made his first appearance in a matchday squad.
There was barely time to settle before the game sparked into life. Orient threatened inside the opening minute, Dom Ballard driving down the left and firing wide, a warning sign that was quickly answered by City as Tendayi Darikwa surged forward and flashed an effort just past the upright. It was the first of four efforts in the first five minutes, which gave Sky TV viewers their money’s worth in the early kick off.
With both sides willing to commit men forward, the game felt really open early doors. Reeco Hackett tested the waters with a low effort that drifted wide, while Ryan Oné tried his luck from distance, his strike comfortably gathered by Will Dennis. City were probing, though, and beginning to find rhythm in the final third, and an opening goal felt inevitable.
Their best chance prior to the breakthrough came from a set piece, Hackett delivering for Tom Hamer, whose header forced a smart save. It felt like a matter of time before the only team 100% guarenteed Championship football next season struck. On 18 minutes, City made their pressure count and gave the home fans something else to cheer about. The ball was worked back into the box, Moylan picking it up in space and spinning to volley home a sensational goal which gave the Imps control.
From there, City controlled much of the first half, probing without quite finding a second. A flowing free-kick routine almost delivered it, Tom Bayliss swinging the ball across before a deflected effort looped narrowly over. At the other end, George Wickens was largely untroubled, aside from a coming together with Jack Simpson that briefly halted proceedings.
Just before half-time, City made it 2-0 thanks to a slice of fortune. The impressive Oné broke down the right and delivered a telling cross, with Ben House lurking. It didn’t reach House, but Will Forrester got the decisive touch, diverting the ball beyond his own goalkeeper to double City’s advantage.
At 2-0, the Imps looked in control, moving the ball well and limiting Orient’s opportunities. The visitors made changes in an attempt to shift the momentum and gradually began to find a foothold. Wickens was finally called into action early in the second period, pushing away a long-range effort, but City continued to look the more composed side.
It should maybe have been three just after half time, with a flurry of City chances. Tom Bayliss perhaps had the best of those, driving wide of the right hand post from just inside the box.
The contest took on a different complexion with just under 20 minutes remaining. Ballard, the division’s leading scorer, rose to meet a cross and guided a header into the corner, pulling Orient back into the game and setting up a tense finale.
From there, it became about game management. City made changes, fresh legs introduced to see things through, but Orient sensed an opportunity and pushed forward. Chances came and went at both ends in the closing stages, yet the Imps held firm, showing the resilience that has underpinned this remarkable run.
The Imps had Wickens to thank for a couple of late saves as the visitors hunted the points that would make them absolutely safe. They didn’t get them, but on the balance of play, they showed why they shouldn’t be at the bottom end of the table.
It was not the most comfortable of finishes, but it was another significant step forward. 25 unbeaten now, and with momentum continuing to build, City are not just winning games, but storming into the Championship with a league title creeping closer with every game.
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