National League
Lincoln CityLincoln City3Forest GreenForest Green Rovers1

Lincoln City 3-1 Forest Green Rovers

Marcus Kelly's own goal puts Lincoln ahead against Forest Green
Marcus Kelly's unfortunate own goal was the 69th goal that Lincoln have scored in the league this season

Lincoln City fought back from a goal down at the break to overtake National League leaders Forest Green Rovers and go top of the table on goal difference.

Rovers led when Christian Doidge fired in his 23rd goal of the season.

But two goals in six second-half minutes put the Imps ahead, Lee Angol's angled strike levelling matters and a Marcus Kelly own goal making it 2-1.

Sam Habergham's free-kick sealed victory for the hosts, who have three games in hand on second-placed Rovers.

Rovers defended solidly in the first half and were good value for their lead courtesy of Doidge's sliding low effort from close range.

But the Imps upped the tempo in the second half, showing the passion and intensity which characterised their astonishing run to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The equaliser came when a long ball saw Angol outmuscle Mark Ellis, who went down under the challenge, and shoot across goal into the bottom corner.

Kelly's unfortunate intervention made it 2-1 when he could only head Habergham's driven left-wing cross into his own net.

And Habergham's long-range free-kick somehow eluded Rovers goalkeeper Sam Russell and found the bottom corner to complete the scoring.

Christian Doidge
Christian Doidge struck his 23rd goal of the season to put Forest Green ahead before the break
Forest Rovers goalkeeper Sam Russell
Sam Habergham's pinpoint free-kick was just his second in 42 games for Lincoln this season

Line-ups

Lincoln City

  • 1Farman
  • 12Long
  • 25Raggett
  • 11HawkridgeSubstituted forAndersonat 73'minutes
  • 5WaterfallBooked at 36mins
  • 3Habergham
  • 8Power
  • 28Arnold
  • 30Woodyard
  • 9Rhead
  • 31AngolSubstituted forWhitehouseat 90'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Whitehouse
  • 6Howe
  • 10Marriott
  • 26Anderson
  • 34Knott

Forest Green

  • 23Russell
  • 5Ellis
  • 6Bennett
  • 12Carter
  • 8WedgburySubstituted forRobertat 81'minutes
  • 4TraoréSubstituted forTiltat 68'minutes
  • 10Kelly
  • 15Noble
  • 20CooperBooked at 84mins
  • 9Doidge
  • 14WoolerySubstituted forBugielat 77'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Tilt
  • 11Bugiel
  • 19Sinclair
  • 26Robert
  • 31Gosling
Referee:
Antony Coggins

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Lincoln City 3, Forest Green Rovers 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Lincoln City 3, Forest Green Rovers 1.

  3. Substitution

    Substitution, Lincoln City. Elliot Whitehouse replaces Lee Angol.

  4. Booking

    Charlie Cooper (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  5. Substitution

    Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Fabien Robert replaces Sam Wedgbury.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Omar Bugiel replaces Kaiyne Woolery.

  7. Goal!

    Goal! Lincoln City 3, Forest Green Rovers 1. Sam Habergham (Lincoln City).

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Lincoln City. Harry Anderson replaces Terry Hawkridge.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Curtis Tilt replaces Drissa Traoré.

  10. Goal!

    Own Goal by Marcus Kelly, Forest Green Rovers. Lincoln City 2, Forest Green Rovers 1.

  11. Goal!

    Goal! Lincoln City 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. Lee Angol (Lincoln City).

  12. Second Half

    Second Half begins Lincoln City 0, Forest Green Rovers 1.

  13. Half Time

    First Half ends, Lincoln City 0, Forest Green Rovers 1.

  14. Booking

    Luke Waterfall (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  15. Goal!

    Goal! Lincoln City 0, Forest Green Rovers 1. Christian Doidge (Forest Green Rovers).

  16. Kick Off

    First Half begins.

  17. Post update

    Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lincoln City36236770353575
2Forest Green39229880493175
3Tranmere37227856322473
4Dag & Red392241364461870
5Aldershot4019111055342168
6Gateshead401813966402667
7Dover382061272541866
8Barrow391714859401965
9Macclesfield361761349391057
10Wrexham401412143950-1154
11Eastleigh401314135252053
12Boreham Wood401313144034652
13Chester381310155754349
14Bromley39147184558-1349
15Solihull Moors39139175559-448
16Sutton United38139164551-648
17Guiseley401210184660-1446
18Braintree40129194764-1745
19Maidstone United38128184966-1744
20Woking40118215673-1741
21Torquay391010194455-1140
22York38715164160-1936
23Southport3997234584-3934
24North Ferriby United40103272669-4333
View full National League table