Lincoln celebrated promotion to the Championship with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at the playoff chasers Reading as they returned to the second tier after 65 years.
Lincoln, needing only a point, made a bright start and went ahead in the fifth minute through Ryan Oné and seemed destined for a 1-0 win, only for Reading to level in the second minute of stoppage time from a Lewis Wing free-kick. However, Jack Moylan snatched the winner four minutes later, seconds after promotion had been secured by Bolton v Stockport finishing in a 2-2 draw, meaning neither could catch the Imps.
City’s 2,884 fans in the packed away end had plenty to cheer early on when Oné nodded home a Reeco Hackett-Fairchild free-kick, an effort which Joel Pereira should perhaps have saved.
Reading, unbeaten at home in their previous 10 matches, were unable to make any headway against the Imps’ well-drilled defence. Charlie Savage fired wastefully wide in a rare home attack, while the defender Ryley Towler drove narrowly over as the visitors almost doubled their lead.
Lincoln were content to sit back for much of the second period, their job almost completed, as the Royals drove forward relentlessly but fruitlessly. The City substitute Alfie Lloyd headed wide from a Conor McGrandles cross before Reading equalised through Wing’s fine 20-yard free-kick.
In the sixth minute of added time, Moylan slammed home from close range as Lincoln returned to the second tier for the first time since relegation in 1961 and dealt a blow to the home side’s playoff hopes.
Leave a Reply