Fulham old boy Phil Stant came back to haunt his former club as Lincoln City inflicted the Whites’ fourth defeat in five games at Sincil Bank this afternoon.
Micky Adams’ men were unable to end their miserable run as they were distinctly second best to the Imps despite including new signings Matthew Lawrence and Charlie Hartfield. The promotion contenders, who relinquished top spot in the Third Division after this listless defeat, barely featured as an attacking force having had an early penalty shout for a foul on Mike Conroy waved away by the referee.
Gareth Ainsworth, a scorer in the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage, broke the deadlock midway through the first half. He found the net at the second attempt with a powerful drive from twenty yards having seen his first shot blocked after he cut in from the left flank. Fulham’s best opportunity fell to former Lincoln midfielder Glenn Cockerill, who somehow stabbed wide from six yards when it seemed easier to score from Rob Scott’s long throw.
Ainsworth wasted a good chance to wrap up the three points when he failed to connect cleanly with a cross having been left unattended at the back post but Lincoln did score a second with ten minutes to go. Stant, who famously scored a winner at Brentford during his short stint with Fulham, raced clear of a horribly square Fulham defence to lift a lovely finish over the stranded Tony Lange and high into the net.
LINCOLN CITY: Richardson; Brown, Austin, Barnet, Holmes; Martin, Ainsworth, Fleming, Dennis; Cort (Alcide 89), Stant. Subs (not used): Bimson, Sterling.
BOOKED: Barnett, Dennis.
GOALS: Ainsworth (22), Stant (72).
FULHAM: Lange; Thomas, Lawrence, Blake (Freeman 70), Cusack (Stewart 85); Cockerill, Carpenter (Brooker 45), Hartfield, Morgan; Conroy, Scott.
BOOKED: Thomas, Freeman.
ATTENDANCE: 3,984.
