Lincoln City Edge Out Stevenage Thanks to a Penalty

It was a tale of two penalties as Lincoln edged a narrow away win to Stevenage in League One. Jack Moylan scored the one that was given on 72 minutes in the 1-0 win but seven minutes earlier Stevenage had a very good shout of their own. The referee was unsighted though and advice from his linesman brought no decision, to the dismay of those with home allegiances.

There will be understandable frustrations at that but Stevenage were not at their best. They did create one glorious chance in the first half but it was not taken and late pressure came to nothing.

Alex Revell made just the one change from the side that drew at Burton Albion last time out, Elliott List in for Harvey White. Boro made two transfer deadline day signings with Ken Aboh going onto the bench in place of Louis Appere. Jake Young was signed too late and while have to wait for his debut.

For those who want to see quality football and exciting football, the Lamex was not the place to be. Even those that like to see strength and physical battles would have been grumbling at the fare on show, even if there was plenty of it.

Stevenage had plenty of opportunities to get the ball into the box but the deliveries, in the absence of White, were almost all unable to find a Boro shirt. One second attempt from Kemp did at least get through to Carl Piergianni but he side-footed the ball wide.

The best opportunity came for Tyreece Simpson, all after a bouncing ball was not dealt with by the Lincoln defence. The header back to the keeper looped up and was short, the Boro striker forcing the ball round goalkeeper George Wickens. He still had a defender between him and the goal but he looked set and in control. However, a horrible slice from about eight yards out sent the ball high and wide and left most in the ground with their heads in their hands,

A unmarked header in the box almost gave Lincoln a chance but Dan Butler was there to clear. It was a rare foray forward from them.

In truth though neither side produced enough on the ball, the intensity on show all mischannelled.

The second half opened with a Stevenage booking, Kane Smith with a foul, but it was Lincoln who had the first chance of the second period, and it almost brought a goal. A free-kick 20 yards out, on the edge of the box, was hit round the wall by Sean Roughan and may have clipped the post on its way wide.

A bigger moment came on 65 minutes as List broke between two defenders and was sent to the floor. It looked like a foul but the referee was looking through players and needed advice from his linesman. No decision came.

He had a better view six minutes later when Butler tried to disposes JJ McKiernan from behind but only found the back of the Lincoln man's legs. Moylan sent Murphy Cooper the wrong way to put Lincoln in front.

Boro had to finish the game with 10 men, Kane Smith holding his groin and unable to continue on 87 minutes, all after the hosts had used all their subs. It produced their best spell of the game but there wasn't any opportunity to bring an equaliser.

And the game ended as it began, with physical play that ended with Paudie O'Connor sent off for two yellow cards.

Stevenage: Cooper, Butler, Piergianni, Sweeney (Goode 20), Kemp, Roberts, Simpson (Aboh 69), Smith, List (White 69), Phillips (Freeman 78), L.Thompson (King 78).

Subs (not used): Bouzanis, Freestone.

Goals:

Booked: Smith 48, Piergianni 90+10

Lincoln City: Wickens, Darikwa, Jackson, Erhahon, Bayliss (McKiernan 59), O'Connor, Jeffries, House (Cadamarteri 69), Roughan, Makama (Draper 59), Moylan.

Subs (not used): Jeacock, Duffy, Hamer, Street.

Goals: Moylan (pen) 72

Booked: House 32, Erhahon 44, O'Connor 66, 90+10

Sent-off: O'Connor 90+10

Added time: 1+7

Referee: David Rock (Hertford)

Attendance: (including from Lincoln)

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Jack Moylan marked his first start of the season with the decisive goal as City claimed victory at Stevenage to extend their good start to the campaign.

Head coach Michael Skubala made one change, with Moylan replacing the injured Conor McGrandles. Bailey Cadamarteri, signed on loan from Sheffield Wednesday during the week, also came onto the bench.

And it was the perfect return for the Irish midfielder, whose calm penalty conversion secured all three points at the Lamex Stadium.

It was an even opening, with Dan Kemp sending a half-volley over for the hosts with five minutes on the clock in what was the only clear opening of the first period.

City enjoyed some good possession, with a number of passes threatening to send a forward through on goal - with Ben House almost getting on the end of a Moylan pass on three separate occasions.

An Imps opportunity came from a Sean Roughan free-kick after 24 minutes. The Irishman, marking his 100th competitive appearance for the Imps, sent in a deep delivery from the right which was headed back into the area by Paudie O'Connor - with only a last-ditch header denying Adam Jackson a chance to head home his third goal of the season.

Tyreece Simpson went close to putting the home side ahead after 34 minutes after getting through on goal. George Wickens got a hand to the ball to send the Boro forward wide, and the home man could not recover and sent his effort wide.

And moments later Jovon Makama broke through at the other end. Home goalkeeper Murphy Cooper stood tall to block his efforts to lift the ball over him, but in the end referee David Rock pulled the play back having deemed Makama to have fouled Dan Butler in the build-up.

The final clear chance of the half went the way of the visitors with Makama getting away down the left. His cross nearly found House, with again a vital interception denying the Imps man a goalscoring opportunity.

Roughan went close with a low free-kick which went just wide early in the second period, as both sides worked hard to create chances.

Freddie Draper, JJ McKiernan and Cadamarteri were all sent on as the Imps tried to push the game.

And that paid dividends when McKiernan was clipped as he progressed in the area, with referee Rock immediately pointing to the spot.

Moylan stepped up to calmly slot him the 72nd-minute spot-kick, with a cool low finish into the bottom right corner.

O'Connor sent a header wide from a deep free-kick moments later as City looked to extend their lead.

The home side did enjoy plenty of the ball in the final stages as they looked to rescue a point, with Wickens standing up to Ken Aboh's header.

City were reduced to 10 men deep in time added on when O'Connor was shown a second yellow card.

Imps: George Wickens, Tendayi Darikwa, Adam Jackson, Paudie O'Connor, Sean Roughan, Dom Jefferies (Tom Hamer, 80), Ethan Erhahon, Tom Bayliss (JJ McKiernan, 59, Jack Moylan, Jovon Makama (Freddie Draper, 58), Ben House (Bailey Cadamarteri, 69). Subs not used: Zach Jeacock, Dylan Duffy, Rob Street.

Stevenage: Murphy Cooper, Dan Butler, Carl Piergianni, Dan Sweeney (Charlie Goode 19), Dan Kemp, Jordan Roberts, Tyreece Simpson (Ken Aboh, 69), Kane Smith, Elliott List (Harvey White, 70), Dan Phillips (Nick Freeman, 78), Louis Thompson (Eli King, 78. Subs not used: Dean Bouzanis, Lewis Freestone.

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 4,017 (826 away)

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