Lincoln City will kick off the winter months with the new yellow EFL football this Saturday against Forest Green Rovers at Sincil Bank.
The Imps recorded a number of memorable victories last campaign with the 2017/18 winter ball, including a large chunk of the memorable Checkatrade run.
Crewe Alexandra 1-4 Lincoln City - 11/11/2017
Danny Cowley’s men started as they meant to go on, securing a fantastic 4-1 victory against Crewe Alexandra on the yellow ball’s first outing on the 11th of November.
A brace from Harry Anderson, an own-goal and an Elliot Whitehouse 94th-minute strike secured the win, which moved the Imps into eighth, level on points with the play-off positions.
Lincoln City 2-0 Accrington Stanley - 16/12/2017
Just over a month later, Lincoln defeated play-off rivals Accrington Stanley, who would eventually go on to win the division.
With the visitors sat in third, four points ahead of the seventh-placed Imps, this was a crucial game that helped shape the season.
The two Matts proved to be the heroes as goals from Green and Rhead secured a vital victory, which narrowed the gap to just one point between the two sides.
Lincoln City 2-1 Forest Green Rovers - 30/12/2017
Another highlight came against Saturday’s opponents, Forest Green. The Imps secured a hard-fought 2-1 win, just before the New Year, with Rhead’s brace proving decisive after Christian Dodgie had levelled the score in the first half.
Lincoln City 2-2 Notts County - 13/01/2018
Lincoln then hosted second-placed Notts County at Sincil Bank in one of the 2017/18’s most enthralling matches. The Imps were looking to reduce a seven points deficit on their visitor’s as the two sides met on a chilly January afternoon.
After going behind to a John Stead opener, Lee Frecklington restored parity just two minutes later. Green then put Cowley’s side in front before Joel Grant snatched a point for the Magpies.
Overall, in the 17 league games the Imps used the winter match ball, the Imps won eight games, scoring 30 times. They lost just five games in that three-month spell, keeping five clean sheets in the process.