IMPS NET FOUR IN MAIDEN WIN
DANNY Cowley is urging his charges to keep their feet ‘firmly on the ground’ after Lincoln City secured their first victory back in the Football League.
Alex Woodyard was the toast of Sincil Bank with two fine goals either side of half-time as the Imps thumped ten-man Carlisle.
Fans’ favourite Matt Rhead and substitute Billy Knott completed the scoring for the hosts, while Reggie Lambe grabbed a late consolation for the Blues.
Cowley said: “What we have to remember is we are not as good as people will be saying after this win – just as we’re not as bad as people were saying after we lost away at Exeter.
“It is about keeping our feet firmly on the ground and I’m confident the players will do that.
“We were absolutely superb and it’s a really good feeling having those precious first three points as a club back in the Football League. We have played extremely well in some games and not got what we deserved.
“It was a real collective effort and I am really pleased with the application of the players. The tactical organisation was spot on and that is essential at this level.”
City’s positive start was rewarded after 31 minutes when the highly-rated Woodyard sublimely finished from the edge of the area.
The visitors will wonder how they didn’t equalise on the stroke of half-time though.
A deflected Mike Jones effort was saved by Paul Farman before Richie Bennett somehow missed the target from the rebound.
As Keith Curle’s men began to grow into the game after the break, the hosts extended their lead in the 63rd minute. Rhead’s cute through-ball found Woodyard again and he stroked the ball home.
And the points were sealed four minutes later. Matt Green was pulled back by Tom Parkes in the box as he raced to the byline – with the latter receiving a second yellow card and marching orders as a result. Rhead duly converted the spotkick.
Former Ipswich Town winger Lambe chipped home a cool consolation for the visitors with 15 minutes left, but the result was never in doubt and, in the 86th minute, Knott fired home from long range to add further gloss to the scoreline and send the Imps fans wild.
“We have to start taking our chances,” said Carlisle boss Keith Curle.
“We had a lot of opportunities and not taken them and that has cost us.
“We weren’t really bold enough to get our foot on the ball and pass it around.
“The rare times we did that and I thought we really caused them problems. The players were handed information before the game about Lincoln’s strengths but we didn’t deal with their threat.”