FOREST GREEN 1

LINCOLN CITY 2

WILY John Akinde bagged a double to rubber-stamp Lincoln City’s grip at the top of League Two.

A helter-skelter opening saw play-off chasing Forest Green draw first blood on seven minutes – Reece Brown’s free-kick taking a wicked deflection off the Lincoln wall to see Matt Gilks completely wrong-footed.

Rovers surrendered the early initiative and Lincoln were back in it six minutes later. Neal Eardley stood up a cross for Akinde to set himself and plant a precise header over James Montgomery.

Earlier, Forest Green boss Mark Cooper dropped club captain Lee Collins and recalled fit again James Montgomery in goal ahead of Lewis Ward.

Nathan McGinley was restored to the side and Shawn McCoulsky started after his mid-week hat-trick for the development side. The mercurial Dayle Grubb started on the bench alongside Junior Mondal.

Deploying a back-four to negate giant strike pair John Akinde and Matt Rhead, Paul Digby slotted in at right-back, with Carl Winchester returning to the midfield engine room A helter-skelter opening saw Forest Green draw first blood on seven minutes – Reece Brown’s free-kick taking a wicked deflection off the Lincoln wall to see Matt Gilks completely wrong-footed.

Rovers surrendered the early initiative and Lincoln were back in it six minutes later. Neal Eardley stood up a cross for John Akinde to set himself and plant a precise header over James Montgomery.

Rovers were a bundle of anxiety as the leaders cranked up the pressure. Montgomery showed strong wrists to glove a Matt Rhead header to safety.

Rhead and Akinde looked up for it and their combination play saw the latter almost catch the retreating Montgomery out.

It was nip and tuck. The effective Harry Toffolo pulled the trigger from the edge of the box to force Montgomery to palm away.

The game was captivating as it swung from end-to-end – Gilks did well to finger a sumptuous George Williams skidder over the bar as the first-half ended in a finger snap.

Cooper tweaked his side at the break – hooking Nathan McGinley off for the rugged Lee Collins.

McCoulsky was offering Rovers a threat in the air and his header brought the best out of Gilks. Minutes later his upright run and pass saw Williams arrow into the body of Gilks with 23 minutes left on the clock.

Lincoln had strong claims for a penalty when Mills appeared to hinder Harry Anderson, leaving Danny Cowley scratching his mop of black hair.

However, two minutes later Andrade was clipped by Collins and Akinde made no mistake from the spot, sending Montgomery the wrong way with 11 minutes to go.

Rovers had claims for a penalty at the death but their appeals were brushed off as Cooper's side lost for the sixth successive time against the Imps.

Forest Green: Montgomery, Rawson, Winchester, Doidge, Brown (Grubb 86), Williams, Gunning, McGinley (Collins 46), Digby, McCoulsky (Mondal 80), Mills.

Subs: Ward, James, Liddle, Godwin-Malife.

Imps: Gilks; Eardley, Bostwick, Shackell, Toffolo; Anderson, O’Hara, O’Connor (Pett 65), Andrade (Bolger 88); Andrade; Rhead (McCartan 69), Akinde.

Subs: Vickers, Angol, Roberts, Smith.

Attendance: 3,165 (822 away).