Match ends, Lincoln City 2, Forest Green Rovers 1.
Lincoln CityLincoln City2Forest GreenForest Green Rovers1
Lincoln City ended a successful 2017 in fitting fashion with a victory over struggling Forest Green Rovers.
The victory ensured the National League champions and FA Cup quarter-finalists rounded off the calendar year in League Two's automatic promotion places.
Striker Matt Rhead continued his excellent form with both goals in a game which Lincoln should have won by a far greater margin, given their dominance.
The first goal arrived in the eighth minute when a wonderful cross from Neal Eardley was headed home by a diving Rhead.
However, Rovers equalised on 24 minutes as Lincoln conceded their first goal in the league for more than a month. The visitors' leading scorer, Christian Doige, was the man to find the net, crashing the ball beyond Josh Vickers after a smart turn in the box.
The Imps continued to dominate after the break and Rhead restored their lead when Harry Anderson's ball into the box found the striker, who coolly lifted it over keeper Bradley Collins in the 57th minute.
Doige almost scored another equaliser in the 89th minute, only to be denied by a stunning reaction save from Josh Vickers.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Lincoln City
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Vickers
- 23Eardley
- 15Dickie
- 25Raggett
- 3Habergham
- 26Anderson
- 30Woodyard
- 16BostwickBooked at 62mins
- 28ArnoldSubstituted forWaterfallat 90+1'minutes
- 9RheadSubstituted forPalmerat 72'minutes
- 10GreenSubstituted forWhitehouseat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Farman
- 2Long
- 4Whitehouse
- 5Waterfall
- 7Ginnelly
- 8Palmer
- 32Stewart
Forest Green
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Collins
- 5CollinsBooked at 25mins
- 21Roberts
- 6Monthe
- 3Laird
- 15Cooper
- 34Osbourne
- 33JamesSubstituted forStevensat 71'minutes
- 10BrownSubstituted forFitzwaterat 90+1'minutes
- 17WishartSubstituted forMarsh-Brownat 64'minutes
- 9Doidge
Substitutes
- 7Marsh-Brown
- 11Bugiel
- 12Simpson
- 16Fitzwater
- 18Evans
- 24Pickering
- 35Stevens
- Referee:
- Martin Coy
- Attendance:
- 8,964
Match Stats
Home TeamLincoln CityAway TeamForest Green
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Live Text
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Post update
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Lincoln City 2, Forest Green Rovers 1.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Keanu Marsh-Brown (Forest Green Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Post update
(Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Mark Roberts (Forest Green Rovers).
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Substitution
Substitution, Lincoln City. Luke Waterfall replaces Nathan Arnold.
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Substitution
Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Jack Fitzwater replaces Reece Brown.
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Post update
Corner, Forest Green Rovers. Conceded by Robert Dickie.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Charlie Cooper (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Christian Doidge (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Charlie Cooper (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Post update
Nathan Arnold (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Post update
Foul by Charlie Cooper (Forest Green Rovers).
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Post update
Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Scott Laird.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Sean Raggett (Lincoln City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.
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Post update
Ollie Palmer (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Emmanuel Monthe (Forest Green Rovers).
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Substitution
Substitution, Lincoln City. Elliot Whitehouse replaces Matt Green.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Charlie Cooper (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Ollie Palmer (Lincoln City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
