Lincoln City vs Newport County AFC. Sky Bet League Two.
LNER StadiumAttendance8,632.
Saturday 22 December 2018 19:41, UK
Lincoln ensured they will be top of the League Two table for Christmas with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Newport County.
The Imps made a dream start with two goals in the first seven minutes but a Padraig Amond double meant they were never comfortable.
The opening goal arrived in the third minute after Tom Pett's dangerous cross found John Akinde, whose deflected effort completed wrong-footed keeper Joe Day.
Four minutes later, a slick passing move near halfway saw Lee Frecklington feed Harry Anderson, who galloped into the box before firing into the corner of the net.
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Newport pulled a goal back in first-half added time. After the Imps failed to deal with a corner, Smith stopped the ball on the line but Amond was on hand to hammer home the loose the ball.
The Imps restored their two-goal advantage after 67 minutes when a knockdown by Akinde was latched on to by Pett, who fired into the net via a slight deflection.
Ten minutes later, City gifted Newport a second goal when a mis-kick from Smith went straight to Jamille Matt and he set up Amond, who slotted over the out-of-position Imps keeper.
