Lincoln City Football Club recorded their fifth consecutive win when they defeated Hereford United 1-0 thanks to a goal from Delroy Facey. This is the first time the Imps have achieved this since the beginning of 2008.
After lying at the bottom of the Football League just weeks ago, their current form has rocketed them to 15th in League Two.
Edgar Street was the setting as the teams locked horns for the fourth time since December with both teams winning a game each, and a 2-2 draw in the F.A. Cup.
City had the better of the opening exchanges with the prolific Ashley Grimes coming close in the first few minutes.
Gavin McCallum soon had a chance of his own as the former Hereford man sent a volley arcing over his former team’s crossbar.
The home side created opportunities of their own as top goalscorer, Stuart Fleetwood used his quick feet to win a corner. On loan full-back, Jullian Kelly was able to clear the danger though.
Shortly afterwards, Fleetwood was testing the Imps’ backline again as he was almost in on goal following a low cross from Joe Colbeck. However, the energetic striker was unable to add to the tally of goals that he had scored against the Imps’ earlier in the season when centre back, Danny Hone was able to intercept the cross.
As the half went on, Lincoln continued to take the game to Hereford. It wasn’t long before the visitors were able to capitalise on this.
Just before the half an hour mark, Josh O’Keefe picked up the ball for the away side in the middle of the park and played a ball forwards to Grimes. Rather than go for goal himself though, Grimes knocked the ball down for his strike partner and club captain Delroy Facey to slot past Adam Bartlett in the Hereford Goal.
Lincoln continued to push for second for the rest of the half, as Hereford were trying to find a way past Trevor Carson in the Lincoln goal.
The second half was a much more scrappy affair with the Imps knowing that a clean sheet would extend their impressive winning streak. Hereford had it all to do considering the strength of Steve Tilson’s Lincoln’s reinforced back line.
With Hereford continuing to find it difficult to break the City down, Tilson brought on new signings Kanyuka and Fuseini to help protect their hard earned lead.
Despite the ongoing threat from Fleetwood and the rest of the Hereford forward line, City were able to hold firm and pick up all three points.
It was a result that moved City into a much more comfortable position, sitting nine points and eight places above the relegation zone – A position that only a month ago would have seemed impossible for Tilson’s men.
After the win, the attention now turns to Tuesday when Lincoln return home to Sincil Bank as they take on promotion chasing Shrewsbury Town.
The two teams met at Greenhous Meadow earlier in the season with the Shrews picking a 2-0 victory.
Currently, they are in indifferent form, picking up two wins and two losses in their last five games, meaning that the Imps go into this as the form team.
