COWLEY’S IMPS SHOW THEY CAN WIN UGLY

DANNY Cowley praised his Lincoln side’s resilience after edging out Bromley to return to the top of the table.

Midfielder Billy Knott grabbed the only goal of the game just a minute after coming on as a substitute, this after Alan Power had earlier missed a penalty for the Imps.

“After conceding as late as we did at Sutton on Tuesday, for Tranmere to win before we kicked off, and for us to miss a penalty – they are all real challenges,” explained Cowley.

“We managed to overcome them though and that takes grit and determination. We were resolute too, and when you have them qualities you don’t always need to play well tactically or technically.

“Having said that, it’s always good to win when you don’t play well – sometimes you have to win ugly. Bromley really had a go and made it difficult for us, but it was our job to break them down. It was a massive test, but we got through it.”

In an otherwise dire first half, the hosts were gifted the chance to take the lead on 25 minutes when Lee Angol turned on a Nathan Arnold pass, before being brought down by Jack Holland in the area. Ross Flitney got down well, however, to keep out Power’s spot kick, before getting across goal to keep out the rebound from the ensuing scramble.

The visitors, meanwhile, were unlucky not to go in at the break a goal to the good after Blair Turgott’s strike cannoned off the angle following a clever Joe Anderson free-kick. The second half began in much the same vein with the Ravens soaking up pressure and frustrating Lincoln. Angol thought he had won another penalty on the hour, but was instead booked for simulation. Cowley introduced Knott and Josh Ginnelly four minutes later and it was a move that paid immediate dividends as the former rifled home from 15 yards after being teed up by Angol. Jordan Higgs could have salvaged a point deep into injury time but he sliced well wide after latching onto Luke Waterfall’s clearance. Bromley boss Neil Smith felt his side were worthy of a point. “It was never going to be easy against a team top of the league, but we equipped ourselves well,’ he said. “The boys gave everything again as they have done for the last few weeks. “Everything seems to be going against us though – we hit the post and lose to a scruffy goal. “To put a shift in like that against a team who will be in the Football League next season, I couldn’t have asked for more.”