SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Friday December 29th, 7.45pm
LNER Stadium

LINCOLN CITY 1
TJ Eyoma 61

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Jon Guthrie 30
Kieron Bowie 58

Attendance: 8,661 (926 Cobblers fans)

Lincoln: Lukas Jensen, Jack Burroughs (sub Javon Makama 59), Paudie O’Connor, Adam Jackson, TJ Eyoma, Sean Roughan, Ethan Erhahon (sub Mide Shodipo 72), Ted Bishop (sub Ali Smith 85), Lasse Sorensen (sub Dylan Duffy 85), Ethan Hamilton, Hakeeb Adelakun (sub Jack Vale 85)
Subs not used: Jordan Wright, Alex Mitchell

Cobblers: Max Thompson, Aaron McGowan, Jordan Willis, Jon Guthrie (sub Manny Monthe 79), Patrick Brough, Jack Sowerby, Marc Leonard, Will Hondermarck (sub Danny Hylton 82), Kieron Bowie (sub Akin Odimayo 61), Mitch Pinnock, Tyreece Simpson
Subs not used: Lee Burge, Max Dyche, Harvey Lintott, Peter Abimbola

Referee: Matt Corlett

Booked:
Lincoln: Ted Bishop (41)
Cobblers: Will Hondermarck (25), Kieron Bowie (45), Akin Odimayo (89), Tyreece Simpson (90), Danny Hylton (90)

Sent off:
Lincoln: Paudie O'Connor (77)
Cobblers: none

Northampton Town travelled to Lincoln City for their final fixture of 2023. Will Hondermarck and Tyreece Simpson came into the side with Lee Burge back on the bench. Sam Sherring was unavailable for selection after picking up an injury on Boxing Day while Sam Hoskins and Shaun McWilliams were also missing.

Marc Leonard shot just wide from 25-yards and Kieron Bowie made a vital headed clearance to keep out an Ethan Hamilton free kick in the opening fifteen minutes.

Lukas Jensen made a terrific save to deny Leonard the opening goal on 29 minutes but not long after that the Cobblers were in front, Leonard turning provider with a pin-point cross for skipper Jon Guthrie to head home.

A combination of Max Thompson and goalscorer Guthrie denied Hakeeb Adelakun an equaliser and it also needed a vital interception from Jordan Willis to clear a dangerous cross in from TJ Eyoma in first half stoppage time.

Kieron Bowie doubled the Cobblers lead just before the hour mark, driving a shot into the bottom corner to cap off a fine counter-attack involving Simpson and Leonard

Thompson made a good save to deny Adelakun but the Imps were back in it when TJ Eyoma headed home from a corner. Akin Odimayo then came on for Bowie as Jon Brady switched to a back three.

Lincoln were enjoying a good spell but were reduced to ten men when Paudie O’Connor was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Simpson.

Another slick Cobblers counter-attack ended with Jensen saving from Simpson with the 90 minutes nearly up but the game was far from over with the fourth official signalling their were to be at least another eight minutes of action.

Brady’s side stood firm however to cap off a fine year with another hard fought victory.

LINCOLN MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2