Hero Draper nets big win for play-off seeking Imps

FREDDIE Draper’s winner moved Lincoln City into the play-off places with just a game to go, as head coach Michael Skubala hailed the spirit of his comefrom-behind heroes asfter they left the survival hopes of Cheltenham hanging by a thread.

The relegationbattling Robins led through Liam Sercombe’s early penalty, but Joe Taylor levelled before half-time and then Draper claimed victory after the break.

The Imps’ top-six destiny is in their own hands, with a home match against champions Portsmouth to finish.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” Skubala said.

“We know how much they were fighting for every point so they could stay up.

“They started the game brighter than us and we didn’t begin it as ‘ourselves’. In the second half we came out and blew them away a little bit and could have scored more.

“It was a brilliant second half and everyone worked hard, digging deep to get those points. The character of the group is amazing.”

A midweek win at Burton had kept Cheltenham’s hopes alive and their chances of avoiding the drop improved when Jordan Thomas was tripped by

Danny Mandroiu in the box. Sercombe stepped up to blast home his 11th goal of the season from the spot.

Lincoln responded well and Taylor’s run down the left was eventually stopped in the box, but the ball found its way back to him and he applied a clinical finish in the 40th minute.

Luke Southwood saved from Alex Mitchell early in the second half and also kept out an effort from Ben House, but he could do nothing to prevent Draper from winning it with a low finish in the 52nd minute.

James Olayinka saw a late effort blocked for Cheltenham, who are five points from safety with two games left to play.

“I am gutted, first of all, but we still have to try and take it to the last game of the season,” said Robins boss Darrell Clarke.

“We have to win on Tuesday night and then anything can happen in the last game (at Stevenage). We have to do that.

“We have to appreciate moments in the game where we should score, in the first half. We had some golden opportunities so to come in at half-time only 1-1 is disappointing.

“I was disappointed with the second half because we huffed and puffed.”