Carlisle United 0-1 Lincoln City

Lincoln boosted their hopes of securing a League Two play-off place at the expense of 10-man Carlisle with victory at Brunton Park.

Matt Green's 16th goal of the season ended Carlisle's eight-game unbeaten run although the Cumbrians may feel hard done by after referee Robert Lewis awarded and then rescinded a second-half penalty.

The Imps move up to fifth in the standings, while the defeat leaves Carlisle five points adrift of the top seven.

Both sides contributed to a bright opening although it was the visitors who created the best chances with Jack Bonham twice coming to Carlisle's aid with smart saves.

Lee Frecklington seized on a Matt Rhead knock down to force the goalkeeper into a one-handed save low down to his left then Green got power behind a 20-yarder that Bonham beat away.

Carlisle had to wait until midway through the first half for their first effort, a fierce drive by Jamie Devitt which was turned away at the near post by Ryan Allsop.

The breakthrough came for Lincoln a couple of minutes before the break when Neal Eardley's free-kick from just inside the Carlisle half caught the home defence sleeping and Green was able to run on and slip the ball past the advancing Bonham, finding the bottom left-hand corner.

Rhead should have doubled Lincoln's lead in the 54th minute when Eardley's delivery picked him out in the six-yard box, but the downward header lacked conviction.

There was a moment of controversy in the 73rd minute when referee Lewis pointed to the penalty spot after an appeal for hand ball in the Lincoln goalmouth. However the official changed his decision following a chat with his assistant and awarded City a free-kick.

Carlisle midfielder Mike Jones was sent off in added time for a second yellow card after fouling Harry Anderson.

Report supplied by Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Carlisle

• 1Bonham
• 5Liddle
• 16Ellis
• 29Hill
• 6ParkesBooked at 45minsSubstituted forGraingerat 62'minutes
• 11DevittBooked at 86mins
• 4JoyceSubstituted forCampbell-Ryceat 62'minutes
• 8JonesBooked at 90mins
• 9HopeSubstituted forStocktonat 77'minutes
• 14Bennett
• 30Nadesan

Substitutes

• 3Grainger
• 13Campbell-Ryce
• 15Gray
• 17Brown
• 19Lambe
• 23Stockton
• 28Twardek

Lincoln City

• 22Allsop
• 23Eardley
• 6Wharton
• 4WhitehouseSubstituted forWaterfallat 79'minutes
• 3Habergham
• 16Bostwick
• 30Woodyard
• 19Frecklington
• 10GreenBooked at 34mins
• 9RheadSubstituted forPalmerat 59'minutes
• 24RoweSubstituted forAndersonat 66'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Farman
• 5Waterfall
• 7Pett
• 8Palmer
• 14Williams
• 15Wilson
• 26Anderson

Referee:

Robert Lewis

Attendance:

5,068

Match Stats

Home TeamCarlisleAway TeamLincoln City

Possession

Home50%

Away50%

Shots

Home10

Away8

Shots on Target

Home2

Away3

Corners

Home9

Away6

Fouls

Home16

Away11

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Carlisle United 0, Lincoln City 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Carlisle United 0, Lincoln City 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).

Posted at 90'+6'

Harry Anderson (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Ollie Palmer (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).

Dismissal

Posted at 90'+5'

Second yellow card to Michael Jones (Carlisle United) for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+4'

Harry Anderson (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Michael Jones (Carlisle United).

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Danny Grainger.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).

Posted at 90'+1'

Ollie Palmer (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Danny Grainger.

Posted at 89'

Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Mark Ellis.

Posted at 87'

Attempt missed. Cole Stockton (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Booking

Posted at 86'

Jamie Devitt (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 85'

Attempt missed. Jamie Devitt (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 85'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Luke Waterfall.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Mark Ellis (Carlisle United).

Posted at 81'

Luke Waterfall (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 80'

Michael Jones (Carlisle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Harry Anderson (Lincoln City).

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Lincoln City. Luke Waterfall replaces Elliott Whitehouse.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Sam Habergham.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Carlisle United. Cole Stockton replaces Hallam Hope.

Posted at 76'

Jamie Devitt (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Lee Frecklington (Lincoln City).

Posted at 74'

Scott Wharton (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Ashley Nadesan (Carlisle United).

Posted at 71'

Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Sam Habergham.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).

Posted at 70'

Harry Anderson (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 69'

Richard Bennett (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Lee Frecklington (Lincoln City).

Posted at 69'

Hand ball by Elliott Whitehouse (Lincoln City).

Booking

Posted at 68'

Michael Jones (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Michael Jones (Carlisle United).

Posted at 68'

Elliott Whitehouse (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Lincoln City. Harry Anderson replaces Danny M. Rowe.

Posted at 63'

Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Mark Ellis.

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