Chris Maguire rolls back the years as Lincoln City put home form woes behind them

Regan Poole was the hero of the afternoon as his injury-time winner secured Lincoln City’s first home win since the opening day of the season with a dramatic 2-1 win over Charlton Atheltic.

With Lincoln struggling for goals, Michael Appleton went with a slightly bolder move of going with the smaller but more experienced Chris Maguire over Dan Nlundulu at the spearhead of the Imps attack.

Whilst Maguire has moved out to more expansive areas as his career progressed, Appleton signed the 33-year-old for Portsmouth from Derby County in 2012 as a striker and claimed his performance against Charlton’ rolled back the years.

Lincoln’s first assault on goal saw him perfectly play a cross-field ball out to the advancing Regan Poole along City’s right. As the full-back volleyed back across goal, Anthony Scully’s effort fizzled wide as the home side looked to put an early stamp on the game.

Enjoying 68% of possession within the first half, the Imps were a much-improved outfit, and despite failing to register a shot on target, Maguire was a constant menace.

Dropping deep to collect the ball and linking the midfield with the front line, the former Sunderland man got a standing ovation from the home supporters as he left the field in stoppage time.

With long term absentee Joe Walsh returning at the back alongside Lewis Montsma, the pair quickly snuffed out any Charlton danger and got Lincoln playing on the front foot.

Montsma shone with his outstanding distribution of the ball with a number of long-range passes that got the home side in advanced positions. Latching onto a 50 yard diagonal from the Dutch centre half, Jamie Robson’s cross on 36 minutes was inches away from finding a red and white shirt inside the six-yard box, but Lincoln’s lack of a recognised striker let them down in a moment where a player with more predatory instincts would have tapped home.

Despite their improved performance, the home side struggled to penetrate the opposition defence, but their mounting pressure finally paid off, albeit through a slice of good fortune.

Clever build-up involving Maguire and Conor McGrandles saw Teddy Bishop get in behind the defence, and as he flashed the ball across goal, Craig MacGillivray could only palm the ball against Jayden Stockley as the Imps took the lead.

It was no more than Lincoln had deserved having dominated proceedings, but the away side stunned them with a goal out of nowhere just five minutes later. Failing to deal with Harry Arter’s corner, Stockley saw his header cleared off the line before Sam Lavelle stabbed the ball home for an instant equaliser. 

Shellshocked by the goal, the home side were momentarily knocked off their stride and failed to keep hold of the ball as their travelling supporters roared on the reinvigorated Charlton side. 

Arter’s over-exuberance saw him avoid a second yellow card as referee David Webb leniently let him off the hook for two challenges in the same passage of play that could have produced further punishment.

With the home crowd growing in frustration at the official’s performance, Lincoln were beginning to run out of patience rather than work the ball as productively as they had previously, opting to shoot from distance, much to the relief of the Charlton support. 

The calm head of Maguire saw him get hold of the game once more, and his on-ball experience saw Lincoln get back into their more accustomed rhythm in advanced positions. 

A late flurry of pressure saw Scully twice denied a winner as he forced Addicks goalkeeper MacGillivray into a smart near-post save following a super run and pass from left-back Robson.

Scully thought he had decided things on 88 minutes, but a late linesman flag ruled out his header from Lewis Fiorini’s cross before Regan Poole took the roof off the LNER Stadium with a dramatic winner in the 91st minute. 

As Charlton initially cleared their lines from a Lincoln corner, Maguire found himself in space on the edge of the box and having the presence of mind to float the ball back into the danger area; his superb cross picked out the onrushing Poole who powered his header home.

It was no more than Lincoln deserved for their efforts which Imps manager Michael Appleton applauded post-match.

“For the players to deal with the disappointment of conceding a really poor goal and then getting the winner was really pleasing.

“We were positive, were always trying to do the right thing, pass the ball and work the opposition.

“There were some big performances and they’ll be a lot of happy players going home tonight.”

The worries continue for Nigel Adkins’ Charlton as they too readily conceded possession and were happy to sit back and let Lincoln play in front of them, enjoying just 41% of the play. Despite their overall performance, Adkins was dismayed with how events transpired after his side got themselves back in the game.

“It’s 1-1, we’re trying to win the game and it’s a stonewall penalty. The player has grabbed Jayden Stockley’s shirt, dragged him to the ground, kicks him while he’s going to the ground.

“They get a corner, second phase, the cross has come in and their player is offside. Fine margins didn’t go our way today, that’s the reality of it.”

Their lack of mobility at the base of their midfield failed to get them up the pitch quickly enough as they invited the home team on, but having got themselves back into the game, Adkins’ men really should have held out in injury time.

The defeat poured more misery on the Addicks’ manager, with his players subjected to a round of jeers at full-time. With an experienced squad, Adkins must improve results soon before the calls grow louder from the stands for a replacement at the helm.

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