LINCOLN CITY 3

FOREST GREEN 1

A SECOND-HALF Forest Green capitulation saw champions-elect Lincoln City leapfrog their title rivals at the top.

Rovers are now level on points with City, who have the luxury of three games in hand on Mark Cooper’s side.

And Rovers will now need a monumental effort in the final seven games of the regular season to catch Danny Cowley's side.

Rovers started brightly enough – prolific striker Christian Doidge giving his side a 10th-minute lead in a dour opening 45 minutes.

Lincoln responded in emphatic fashion after the break with goals from Lee Angol, a Marcus Kelly own goal and a sumptuous Sam Habergham free-kick.

As predicted Rovers boss Cooper made tweaks to the team that one in sensational fashion against Solihull on Tuesday.

Marcus Kelly, Kaiyne Woolery and Darren Carter returned to the starting line-up. Meanwhile, deadline day loan signing Curtis Tilt was named on the bench.

Rovers opened to a cauldron of noise from the fervent Sincil Bank fans, and it was Lincoln who settled first – but it was Rovers who rocked the Imps on 10 minutes.

In their first meaningful attack, captain Liam Noble threaded through deadly striker Doidge, who showed no hesitation to finish with aplomb beyond Paul Farman for his 14th goal in as many games.

It was helter-skelter in a title-fight that was lacking the quality expected from the National League top two, who struggled to find any cohesion or worthwhile chances.

However, Rovers looked a threat on the counter - the energetic Noble induced a booking out of Luke Waterfall on 37 minutes.

Lincoln remained a threat with set-plays, but Sean Raggett was wasteful with a free header from a Sam Habergham corner – the last action of the first-half.

Lincoln were quickly out of the second-half traps – Alan Power thumping one from the edge of the box that Sam Wedgbury did well to boot clear after Nathan Arnold and Lee Angol combined.

Pressure told and the Red Imps stung Rovers with two goals in six minutes.

A 55th-minute torpedo-kick from Farman saw Angol flatten Ellis in the air and plant the ball across Russell.

The Lincoln roof was raised when Habergham arrowed a ball in that took a wicked deflection off the head of Kelly to beat Russell all ends up.

Tilt was quickly ushered on for Drissa Traore as Rovers looked for a way back into the game.

Any hope was killed on 76 minutes - Habergham fizzing home a stunning 25 –yard low free-kick after Ellis had wrestled Angol to the floor.

Lincoln were very much alive and kicking – Angol stabbed wide with Rovers all at sea.

Rovers’ frustrations grew with Charlie Cooper seeing yellow for a lunge on Power.

The roboust Matt Rhead fluffed a great chance to make it four in stoppage-time.

Forest Green: (4-1-2-1-2) Russell, Wedgbury (Robert 81 ), Bennett, Ellis, Kelly; Traore (Tilt 68); Carter, Cooper; Noble; Doidge, Woolery (Bugiel 77).

Subs not used: Sinclair, Gosling.

Lincoln City: (4-4-2) Farman, Long, Waterfall, Raggett, Habergham; Power, Woodyard, Hawkridge (Anderson 73), Arnold; Rhead, Angol (Whitehouse 90).

Subs not used: Howe, Marriott, Knott.

Attendance: 6,798.

Away: 160.

Star Man: Drissa Traore.