Lincoln City all but ended Bolton Wanderers’ League One play-off hopes with a 4-2 victory in a pulsating encounter at the LNER Arena.
James Collins was the hero for the Imps, scoring twice, while Erik Ring and Reeco Hackett also found the net. Goals from Jay Matete and Alex Murphy had given Bolton hope, but Steven Schumacher’s side ultimately suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.
In front of a 10,200 strong crowd at Sincil Bank, the two served up a Easter feast of football with a bit of everything – penalties, goals, and even the referee falling over at one point. Nobody left the home end disapppointed, as the thrills started early on.
Early Goals Set The Tone
City made a fast start and opened the scoring after just 10 minutes. A short corner routine saw Ring’s cross miss everyone before sneaking into the far corner past Nathan Baxter. Lincoln doubled their lead shortly after when Collins emphatically converted a penalty, awarded after Ethan Erhahon was fouled by David Abimbola.
Bolton responded through Matete, who rifled in a low drive from 20 yards to pull one back against the run of play. Momentum briefly swung the visitors’ way when Murphy’s header, which took a deflection, beat George Wickens to level the score before half-time.
After Half Time
Lincoln City took control after the break, with James Collins and Reeco Hackett delivering decisive goals to seal a critical victory and dent Bolton’s promotion hopes.
Collins restored the home side’s lead with a fine header from Sean Roughan’s pinpoint cross just eight minutes into the second half. The hosts then put the game beyond Bolton when Hackett’s inventive free-kick caught Baxter off guard, sneaking in at the near post after hitting the woodwork.
Wickens preserved Lincoln’s advantage with a brilliant save from George Thomason’s header late on, before Bolton’s misery was compounded when Josh Dacres-Cogley received a second yellow card deep into stoppage time.
Writer’s View
Lincoln City’s attacking quality shone through in a thrilling performance that left Bolton Wanderers’ play-off ambitions in tatters. James Collins led by example, while the clever execution from Reeco Hackett showed City’s growing confidence.
For Bolton, defensive frailties and a lack of composure in key moments proved costly once again — an all-too-familiar story in recent weeks as their season now peters out disappointingly.
