THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!
Teams ready for season CHELMSFORD’S HIGH HOPES AFTER TAKEOVER AND HAYES & YEADING RETURN HOME
NON-LEAGUE’S finest are less than a week away from kicking off the new season – and they’re warming up in style.
Vanarama National League outfit Eastleigh romped to a 4-1 friendly win against Northampton Town yesterday, while Forest Green Rovers beat League Two side Newport County 4-3.
Lincoln City brushed aside Crewe Alexandra 3-0, while Gary Brabin’s Tranmere Rovers romped to a 4-1 victory at National League North club AFC Fylde.
LINCOLN CITY rounded off their pre-season campaign in style, easing past League Two side Crewe at Sincil Bank.
The game was done and dusted by half time with Adam Marriott’s brace and another from Jack Muldoon doing the damage for the Imps.
Despite the convincing win, manager Danny Cowley’s feet remain firmly on the ground.
“It was good to finish on a high after a poor performance last Saturday,” he said.
“Today was much better, but it doesn’t mean we’re world beaters and we won’t get carried away with anything.”
Four summer signings started the game for Lincoln, and it was two of those who caught Cowley’s eye in particular.
“A big positive was the link-up between Sam Habergham and Nathan Arnold, who looked like they had played together forever,” he enthused.
“I can’t emphasise enough the importance of intelligent players, and those two certainly bring us that.”
Lincoln started brightly and found themselves ahead after just two minutes.
Debutant Arnold’s corner saw Ben Garratt parry Matt Rhead’s header, but after a goalmouth scramble Marriott was on hand to convert from close range.
It didn’t take long for the Imps to double their advantage either. This time a Habergham throw was flicked on by Rhead into the path of Muldoon, who made no mistake at the back post.
Lincoln were clearly making light work of their opponents, and not long after Luke Waterfall saw a header cleared off the line, it was 3-0.
A brilliant move on the right-hand side involving Muldoon and Arnold saw the latter pull the ball back to Marriott, who coolly slotted past Garratt.
It took Crewe until the 42nd minute to muster any sort of opportunity, but Paul Farman did well to tip Zoumana Bakamogo’s powerful strike behind for a corner.
Lincoln had the second half’s first chance on 51 minutes,Taylor Miles controlling Muldoon’s pass before curling an effort towards the top corner, which Garratt did well to tip over.
At the other end, meanwhile, Farman wasn’t called into action whatsoever in the second period.
Worryingly for the Imps, though, captain Alan Power limped off with 20 minutes to go. STAR MAN: Jack Muldoon (Lincoln) ENTERTAINMENT: