📝 Match Preview: Lincoln City (A)

City head to Lincoln to kick off League One

28 July 2022

For the first time in ten years, Exeter City will kick off a League One season, and we begin at the LNER Stadium as we take on Lincoln City away from home.

The Imps have had a mixed bag of results in pre-season, and played six times in their summer preparations. They began with a 4-0 win over Gainsborough Trinity in early July, before a 6-0 defeat (2-0/4-0 over two games) to Sheffield United. They also drew 1-1 at Hartlepool, 0-0 at Lincoln City, and were beaten 1-0 at home to Blackburn in their final friendly.

This will be City's first trip to the LNER Stadium - or Sincil Bank - since February 2019. More on that one later...

The Kit

City will be in our blue third strip for this fixture.

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Matt Taylor's Thoughts

"There will be an air of expectation and excitement from everyone associated with Exeter City."

Hear from Matt Taylor as he gave us his pre-match thoughts ahead of the trip to Lincolnshire:

Tickets

Adults: £24
65+, 18-21, Disabled*: £19
Under-18: £10

Pay on the day
Available from the visitor ticket window, card only.

Parking
Parking is available in advance at £5 from www.weareimps.com

The Stadium

Name: LNER Stadium, Sincil Bank, Lincoln, LN5 8LD
Capacity: 10,780
Year opened: 1895

Overlooked by Lincoln Cathedral, the Imps have at the LNER Stadium since it opened in 1895. Known colloquially as 'Sinny Bank,' the stadium is dominated by the large Co-operative Stand that holds just over 5,500 people and is home to the most vocal of the home support. Opposite is the 'main' SRP Stand which houses the benches, directors and press area, and is a unique looking stand in context of the whole ground, straddling the half way line yet only a third of the length of the pitch. Behind one goal is the Stacey-West stand. This is used as the away stand for most games. At the other end is the KryptoKloud End - a small seated stand which houses executive boxes and a supporters bar. It sometimes houses away fans, dependent on the size of the following. There is also a small 'Poachers Corner' seated stand between the KryptoKloud End and the SRP Stand which is often used by community initaives and university students.

How to get there

Driving

From Exeter, follow the M5 and M42 and A42 to the M1 before taking the A453 to Nottingham. Then follow the A52 to to the A46 Fosse Way through Newark-on-Trent and into Lincoln. The stadium is well signposted within the city.

Parking

There are several options for parking. The club recommend the Central Car Park (1,000 spaces) which offer a "Saturday Game Day" for match ticket holders. Other car parks include King Street (100), Tentercroft Street (380), Lucy Tower (420). South Common Car Park can also be booked online vua eticketing.co.uk/imps on a first come first serve basis for £5 per car (tickets for the car park must be booked in advance with no cash sales on the day).

Supporters with disabilities must contact the Ticket Office regarding parking by calling 01522 880011 or by emailing dlo@theredimps.com.

How to Follow

Live audio commentary of the match is available in the UK on iFollow. Those overseas are able to tune in to a live stream.

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To purchase a match pass please click here.

For further details on iFollow, please click here
For a first time guide to iFollow, please click here

You can keep up to date with all the action by following us on social media. After the match we will bring you reaction from manager Matt Taylor and a player.

Exeter City on social media

Previous Encounter

Lincoln City 1 Exeter City 1 | February 2019 | Sky Bet League Two

A 96th minute equaliser from John Akinde snatched a point for the Imps boosting their lead at the top of League Two. Matt Jay scored 22 minutes in for the Grecians with a curling free-kick, which dipped in at the far post leaving Lincoln keeper Matt Gilks helpless.

Pubs for Away Fans

There is a small fan zone located outside the stadium which is for both home and away supporters. It has a number of food outlets, some with local produce and beer is available too. Close to Sincil Bank on the High Street is the Hop and Barley micropub. The Golden Eagle, which is a Castle Rock Brewery pub is also recommended. If arriving by train then not far from the station is the Marina area, which has a number of eating and drinking places, including a Wetherspoons pub called the Square Sail. When trying to find the Marina area, just look out for the large Odeon Cinema building, which is also on the same complex. Also near to Lincoln Railway Station is the Treaty of Commerce.

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: Lincoln City 1 Exeter City 1

City gain their first League One point

30 July 2022

Exeter City started life back in EFL Sky Bet League One with a very well earned 1-1 draw away to Lincoln City.

As the rain came down 579 Grecians made the 500+ mile round trip to the LNER Stadium for the Grecians first appearance in League One for ten years.

A beautiful goal courtesy of some magic between Jevani Brown and Sam Nombe secured Exeter's first points of the season.

The game started slowly, with both teams starting to get into the game and find space. Archie Collins was making a nuisance of himself at every opportunity with the set pieces favouring The Grecians.

Then came the 14th minute and everything changed. A lovely piece of skill from Jevani Brown down the right hand side left the Lincoln defence in the dust, executing the perfect pass across goal for Nombe to get the opener.

There was little to favour Lincoln in the first half with Exeter dominating possession and the long ball to Brown and Nombe working a treat. The dominant force of Alex Hartridge, Pierce Sweeney and Cheick Diabate making the first half light work for Scott Brown in net.

A breakdown in communication between a couple Lincoln players at an attacking corner saw a big chance go a miss. Next it was The Grecians turn to miss a chance with Jevani Brown's strike sailing just over the bar

When the 37th minute came around both sets of fans joined together and broke out into a minutes applause for much loved Lincoln supporter David Pickwell who sadly passed away in the last week.

In the final moments of the half the hosts started to get more into the game but the Grecians defence was very much untroubled. Matt Taylor's side wandered in at half time with the game very much in their favour, and veteran keeper Scott Brown in his 550th professional career game yet to break a sweat.

The second half started very much the same it ended with both teams unchanged from the first 45. However, this half saw the boys from Exeter shooting towards the travelling Grecians.

An enthralling start straight out of the blocks in the second half for City saw Jevani Brown making the Lincoln defences afternoon worse as the game continued.

But only moments later a looping header saw The Imps equal the score too 1-1 albeit very much against the run of play. The Grecians got straight back into the game, dominating the ball once again.

Exeter had a goal ruled out for offside in the 54th minute, a late flag from the linesman ended The Grecians away supports cheering. Big claims for a penalty not long after for the home side but the referee waves it away after some big shouts from the Lincoln attack.

The 68th minute saw a change in personnel with Harry Kite coming on to replace Josh Coley. A heart in mouths moment as only five minutes later Nombe goes down clutching at his hamstring and has to be replaced by Matt Jay.

A chorus of boos erupted after the 80th minute after Jay was almost decapitated right in front of the travelling away fans.

With the game coming to the tail end the game was starting to get scrappy but the ball very much staying in Exeter's attacking third. With only a couple minutes to spare, Scott Brown combined with his defence clear the ball right from the goal-line, The Grecians playing with fire at the back, yet survived the scramble to hold on.

Despite both teams peppering both goals in the final ten minutes the game ends 1-1 with The Grecians travelling back to Devon with a well earned point.

Next week the Grecians welcome Port Vale to SJP in the much anticipated first home game in the third tier since 2012.

Starting XI: S. Brown, Sparkes, Hartridge, Diabate, Sweeney (C), Key, Dieng, Collins, Coley, J. Brown, Nombe

Subs: Lee, Caprice, Stubbs, Jay, Chauke, Kite, Grounds

Lincoln City XI: Rushworth, Eyoma, O’Connor, Poole, Robson, Sanders, Sorensen, Oakley-Boothe, Adelakun, Hopper (C), Scully

Subs: Wright, Jackson, Bishop, Benn, Maguire, Makama, Kendall

Referee: Andy Haines

Attendance - 8,162 (579)

Ticket News

🎟 Tickets and Travel: Lincoln City

Details for our first game of the season

24 July 2022

Tickets are now on sale for our Sky Bet League One opener away to Lincoln City on Saturday, July 30.

We have been allocated an initial 700 tickets for the Stacey West Stand, behind the goal, with further tickets available should these sell out.

Tickets can be purchased on the day from the visitor ticket window and is card only.

Prices

Adults: £24
65+, 18-21, Disabled*: £19
Under-18: £10

*supporters with disabilities should have medium/high level of DLA and any rate of PIP. Complimentary carer tickets are free of charge.

Tickets are on sale now online via your ticketing account or in the club shop during opening hours.
For those looking for postal please do this by 25th to guarantee post. After that all collections uncollected at ECFC will be sent to Lincoln for collection.

Pay on the day
Available from the visitor ticket window, card only.

Parking
Parking is available in advance at £5 from www.weareimps.com

Grecian Travel

Grecian Travel, completely run by the Supporters' Club, and not for profit, is already sold out for the trip to Lincoln!

Grecian Travel departs Unit 1 in Exeter at 7.15am, costing £35 per-person.

Other pick-up points include: Honiton Road park and ride (by Miller and Carter Steakhouse), junction 28 (Cullompton services). Junction 27 (Tiverton), junction 25 (Taunton.) All other pick-ups by prior arrangement.

For more information or to book please contact John Bishop on 07904 036334 or by email at: john.bishop760@btinternet.com (after 6pm).