MATCH REPORT: LINCOLN UNITED FC 1 - 0 STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS

'The Whites' took on a fourth-place Stockbridge Park Steels at Ashby Avenue. The previous meeting between the two sides saw United come out on top with a 2 - 3 win, after an injury-time winner from Jake Park.

The first real chance of the game didn’t take long to come as within three minutes, Matt Cotton played a ball to Park who was just short on his run to meet the ball.

The next ten saw some pressure from the visitors, with a couple of corners and a free-kicks in a dangerous position, all well defended by 'The Whites'.

The home side then comfortably felt on top with a number of dangerous attacks. The pressure paid off as following a pass into Tayo Alexander-Tucker's path, the young winger won a corner for United. Cotton's cross wasn't dealt with and Foster was on hand to smash the ball past the Stocksbridge keeper.

#TheWhites 1 - 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels

United continued their drive up the pitch, with good link play between Kallum Smith and Alexander-Tucker in the quest to find another. Within moments 'The Whites' gained another free-kick on the edge of the Stockbridge box, Cotton's attempt ending up high over the Wilkinson Stand.

Stockbridge looked to get the ball down the other end, resulting in excellent counter-attacking play from United in the 29th minute; Alexander-Tucker's ball in the box was eventually cleared by Steels but Shane Clarke was on hand to shoot the loose ball towards the Stocksbridge goal, only just fizzing wide of the post.

Stocksbridge's fist real chance of the game just before the break, as their number nine, Luke Rawson, headed the ball over Jack Steggles but the effort went just wide of the goal.

Lincoln United 1 - 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels (HT)

The second half got underway with a Lincoln United kick-off. Stockbridge were eager to get level, winning a free kick early on, the resulting set piece was quickly cleared to the edge of the area before a Steels' player hit the ball on the volley towards goal. Steggles was quick to parry the ball down and claim.

10 minutes in, once again Cotton, Smith and Alexander-Cotton linked up, with a good cross-in from Smith that Alexander-Tucker couldn't quite get to. The 70th minute saw a quick one-two from Tobias Liversidge and Cotton, the resulting shot going just wide of the post.

Ten minutes later, Park had a missed opportunity, Smith delivering a ball that the striker was unable to hit home. Stocksbridge's substitutions continued to probe United and Steggles was equal to Ofoegbu's effort on the turn.

'The Whites' had the final chances of the game; Park, with a brilliantly laid off ball to Liversidge on the left, whose sweeping ball found Elliot Dye, the dynamic midfielder stepped onto the ball sweetly but his shot struck the inside of the post and bounced out. 'The Steels' threw everything forward in the last few minutes, but again were hit on the counter with another strong run from Liversidge finding Cotton, United's skipper cruised past the last defender and Jake Park stepped onto the loose ball but the shot smashed off the visitor's keepers' shoulder and out for a corner.

The whistle went following the last corner of the game and 'The Whites' were deserved winners after a steely home performance.

Lincoln United 1 - 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels (FT)

Not long to wait for United to be back in action, with a mid-week trip to Grimsby Borough on Wednesday night, 19:45 KO.