CITY 0 LINCOLN 3

IT WAS somehow fitting that City’s deadline night fixture should be sponsored by Papa John’s.

As the clock ticked down to bring in another striker, there will have been shades for some of that infamous night in January 2018 and Kristian Dennis sat helplessly munching pizza at Valley Parade.

The early kick-off allowed the Bantams hierarchy a bit longer to negotiate the extra obstacles always thrown in the way as the cut-off approaches.

With terms agreed, the man was due in the building to undergo a medical around the time the final whistle sounded.

But while he waited for a positive outcome, Derek Adams insisted their Trophy group opener against Lincoln was equally as important as finding cover for the injured Lee Angol.

Adams has promised to take the competition seriously – and that was evident with the line-up on display.

Showing four changes from Saturday’s slip-up at Leyton Orient, it was still a team packed with experience and included a welcome return from injury for right back Oscar Threlkeld. Levi Sutton was also named among the subs.

Finn Cousin-Dawson was away with Northern Ireland under-19s but tellingly none of the other younger pros even made the bench.

Yet such a senior line-up was still handed a lesson in finishing from the League One visitors, who enjoyed a fruitful trip to Valley Parade for the second season running.

Lincoln, too, played a big hand as Michael Appleton took advantage of their approaching free weekend to field the full first 11.

This was not the thrashing of last year’s Carabao Cup mismatch – City were well in it for most of the first half.

But the difference in class in both boxes was evident as the Imps ultimately ran out comfortable winners.

The Bantams did not make the most of their chances while Lincoln tucked theirs away with a clinical precision.

Wreaths had been laid in the centre circle by both teams ahead of kick-off as a mark of respect for the victims of the fire.

The miserable wet weather felt more like early November than late August as City forced the first threat. Callum Cooke was at the heart of a swift passing move before his shot was blocked and Alex Gilliead’s effort smothered by Sam Long.

Gilliead then burst through the middle before teeing up Andy Cook for a swerving effort that Long tipped behind.

So, Lincoln’s opener on 14 minutes came as a shock, Tom Hopper heading home firmly from Cohen Bramall’s cross after the visitors countered with numbers.

Cook stabbed wide with an immediate response as City continued to take the game to the League One side, their passing an improvement on the ragged effort in London.

City came close to levelling just after the half hour when Charles Vernam’s cross dropped for Gilliead whose fierce drive was cleared off the line by Lewis Montsma.

But again, they fell foul of a lightning Lincoln counter. Teddy Bishop rattled the bar and Hakeeb Adelakun made no mistake with an emphatic follow-up.

It was harsh on the Bantams but evidence of the quality of their opponents and their power on the break.

And they were hit by another painful reminder four minutes into the second half.

Cooke’s flat cross was picked off in the box and Lincoln swept from one end to the other where Anthony Scully claimed his fourth goal of the season in emphatic fashion.

Threlkeld was having a testing time on his comeback but was in the right place to block on the line from Regan Poole as Lincoln threatened to score again.

There was no point in risking Cook who was withdrawn in a double change on the hour. Caolan Lavery took his place – and was inches away from a dream start as he held off Montsma to rattle a drive past the post.

Sutton also got a run-out in place of the ineffective Watt to push his claims for a start against Walsall at the weekend.

Vernam, who had been quieter since the interval, had the chance to set his sights on goal from Gilliead’s run.

He lined up the same angle as his goal at Mansfield but shanked the attempt from the edge of the box high into the empty Kop.

Matty Foulds came on for Threlkeld and some in the main stand thought the sub had pulled one back as he dragged a shot into the side-netting and behind the goal after Gilliead cut it back into his path.

CITY: Hornby 6, Threlkeld 5 (Foulds 73min), Kelleher 7, O’Connor 6, Ridehalgh 6, Evans, Watt 5 (Sutton 59min, 6), Gilliead 6, Cooke 7, Vernam 6, Cook 6 (Lavery 59min, 6). Subs (not used): Canavan, Songo’o, Crankshaw, O’Donnell.

LINCOLN: Long 6, Poole 6, Bramall 7, Eyoma 6, Montsma 7, Bridcutt 7 (McGrandles 72min), Fiorini 6, Bishop 7 (Sorensen 63min), Hopper 7, Adelakun 7 (Longdon 79min), Scully 8. Subs (not used): Jackson, Boylan.

ATTENDANCE: 1,739

CITY MAN OF THE MATCH: Fiacre Kelleher.