Imps 2 Cheltenham Town 0

City returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town.

The Imps’ first attempt at goal came in the sixth minute as Regan Poole drove towards goal from the halfway line before cutting infield and seeing his driven effort beaten away by Luke Southwood.

Shortly afterwards Cheltenham called Carl Rushworth into action as James Olayinka laid the ball off to Aidan Keena whose first-time effort from the edge of the box was pushed around the post by the City stopper.

City then created another chance in the 10th minute after Ted Bishop picked up the pieces from a long ball forward before twisting and turning to fire a deflected effort narrowly wide of the far post.

The Imps applied the pressure just after the 30 minute mark, and Bishop almost made it count through two curling efforts which failed to test the Cheltenham goalie.

Mark Kennedy’s side took the lead just before the break and Bishop was involved in the build up after his low ball across the face of goal ricocheted off a Cheltenham defender and goalie for House to apply the finishing touch.

The Robins began the second half brightly and went close to levelling after Olayinka’s cross was touched towards goal by Alfie May and kept out by a combination of Adam Jackson and Rushworth.

City’s next opening came just before the hour mark after substitute Mide Shodipo darted towards goal before firing goalwards from outside the area, but his shot didn’t trouble Southwood.

Shodipo tried the same again in the 76th minute to force a diving save from the goalie, however the following corner in from Harry Boyes failed to beat the first man.

The Imps sealed the win with 10 minutes to go when Shodipo found space on the right side of the box to square it to House on the penalty spot to sweep home past Southwood.

City: Carl Rushworth, Regan Poole, Harry Boyes, Adam Jackson, Max Sanders (Matty Virtue 76’), Ted Bishop (Mide Shodipo 55’), Ethan Erhahon, Paudie O’Connor, Ben House, Danny Mandroiu (Luke Plange 76’), Lasse Sorensen. Subs: (not used): Jordan Wright, Joe Walsh, Dylan Duffy, Jovon Makama.

Goals: House (42’, 80’).

Cheltenham: Luke Southwood, Sean Long ©, Ben Williams (Will Ferry 46’), Tom Bradbury (Lewis Freestone 67’), Liam Sercombe (Will Goodwin 67’), Alfie May, Caleb Taylor, Aidan Keena (Charlie Brown 84’), Ryan Broom, Glen Rea (Eliot Bonds 67’), James Olayinka. Subs (not used): Shaun MacDonald, Charlie Raglan.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen.

Attendance: 8,178 (213 away).