LINCOLN CITY 2, STOCKPORT COUNTY 1
Stockport County suffered their first league defeat of the campaign away from home, and dropped to mid-table in Sky Bet League One as they were edged out by the odd goal in three at Lincoln.
The Imps came from behind after County had taken the lead, courtesy of an early Tanto Olaofe strike, on a first visit to Sincil Bank in almost a dozen years – but goals towards the end of the first half and midway through the second saw all three points secured for the hosts.
On a mild autumnal afternoon in the historic cathedral city that was also celebrated as birthplace of the battle tank, the Hatters advanced to the field with an unchanged starting line-up from that at Edgeley Park against Northampton four days previously.
County’s squad included no fewer than four former Imps, with Callum Connolly – who was among the starters – and substitutes Jack Diamond, Lewis Fiorini and Kyle Wootton all having plied their trade at Lincoln while on loan at various stages over the last nine years. Also featuring on the bench was Fraser Horsfall, returning from his one-match suspension to replace Tyler Onyango.
The hosts, at the start of play sitting one position behind ninth-placed County on goal difference, and, until their midweek reverse at Crawley, the only League One club other than the Hatters not to have suffered defeat on their travels – found themselves with a couple of early chances either side of the two-minute mark.
Corey Addai stood naturally tall to deflect behind an effort from Bailey Cadamarteri – son of retired striker, Danny – before the resulting corner from the left was flicked beyond the far post by the Imps’ leading scorer Ben House.
Two further Lincoln corners followed in worryingly quick succession but, with eight minutes played, and following their first attack of note, the Hatters went ahead. A spectacular pass by Nick Powell from distance on the left landed on a sixpence for Olaofe to convert at close range for his fourth goal of the season in all competitions.
Powell’s successful Hollywood assist was, alas, his last contribution to the contest, as he pulled up injured to be replaced by Ollie Norwood after clearing the ball from deep in County’s half, just following the quarter-hour.
The home side more than doubled its corner-count to seven before the half-hour, albeit without fashioning clear-cut opportunities from the set-pieces – although the eighth corner, from the left and 11 minutes before the break, led to substitute Ethan Hamilton going close with a low drive beyond the far upright.
Seven minutes later, Lincoln were level – after Tendayi Darikwa picked up an Addai clearance and floated a delivery back into the box for House to head the equalizer aptly home.
Six minutes of added time extended into a few more, after Louie Barry and Sean Roughan both went to ground in a collision around the home area and required treatment. And a subsequent break by the hosts almost saw them go in ahead at the break but Cadamarteri, having raced the length of the pitch to put himself through on goal, dinked his attempt wide of the relieved Hatters’ right post.
County made a triple-change upon the resumption, bringing on Horsfall and Wootton in the outfield and Ben Hinchliffe who replaced Addai between the sticks to register his inaugural League One appearance as a Hatter.
The Hatters then proceeded to earn the first corner of the new half but Barry’s in-swinging delivery from the left was cleanly caught by home goalkeeper George Wickens. And they won another shortly afterwards, when Norwood’s shot was deflected behind off Reeco Hackett.
At the other end, as the hour was near, Cadamarteri’s dangerous-looking delivery from the right across the six-yard box with Horsfall applying an expert touch to thwart the on-rushing House and send the ball beyond the far post.
But half a dozen or so minutes later, the hosts got their noses in front, after Cadamarteri leapt highest to connect with a Dom Jefferies corner from the left and head into the far corner.
County brought on Michael Mellon by way of a final opportunity to refresh the attack. And as the Hatters strove, ultimately in vain, to get back on terms, Wootton saw a shot kept out by the legs of Wickens, before sending two further efforts narrowly shy of the left post.
Goals: House (41), Cadamarteri (66) for Lincoln. Olaofe (8) for Stockport.
Stockport County (3-4-2-1): Addai (Hinchliffe 46); Connolly, Hughes, Pye; Fevrier (Horsfall 46), Powell (Norwood 16), Bate (Wootton 46), Touray; Bailey, Barry; Olaofe (Mellon 79). Subs (unused): Diamond, Fiorini.
Attendance: 9,513 (1,426 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.