The Mariners marked their return to Blundell Park with a victory over League One Lincoln City as they stepped up preparations for the new season.

After four friendlies on the road against non-league opposition and a behind-closed-doors test at Hull City, the Town fans got their first opportunity of the summer to see David Artell’s side on home turf.

And they were rewarded with an excellent performance against the Imps, with Darragh Burns opening the scoring before Charles Vernam finished off a great move to make it 2-0.

Lincoln increased the tempo after half-time as they looked for a way back into the game and substitute Reeco Hackett halved their deficit with 15 minutes to go.

But the hosts defended well for the remainder of the contest to secure a second victory of pre-season.

Christy Pym started in goal for Town, behind a back four of Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme, Cameron McJannet and Jayden Sweeney. George McEachran and Evan Khouri sat behind Burns, Jamie Walker and Vernam in midfield, with Jaze Kabia leading the attack.

Seb Auton, Justin Amaluzor, Geza Turi, Reece Staunton, Tyrell Warren, Henry Brown and Matty Carson were all listed as substitutes.

Lincoln made the short trip along the A46 for their penultimate friendly ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, with a game against Bromley forming part of last week’s training camp in Portugal. Prior to that, they had played three behind-closed-doors matches.

FIRST HALF

A foul by Walker on Ethan Hamilton gave the visitors their first chance to create danger, although McJannet was first to the ball into the penalty area from the free kick.

Another free kick from Hamilton on the right was headed away by Sweeney, before Jack Moylan sent a cross-shot out for a goal kick.

Jovon Makama missed the target with a low strike from the left as Lincoln continued to make the early running.

But when the deadlock was broken on 15 minutes, it was the Mariners who took the lead. Sweeney linked up with Khouri on the left and the midfielder pulled the ball back for BURNS, who found the net at the second attempt after his first effort was blocked.

Khouri was brought down on the edge of the box as Town immediately looked for a second goal but Vernam sent the resulting free kick over keeper George Wickens’ bar.

Makama flashed a ball across goal on 22 minutes as Lincoln aimed to respond but nobody was in place to meet it, then McEachran got back to beat Ben House to a through-ball and play it safely back to Pym.

Town were playing some excellent football in possession and Sweeney almost found Kabia after a run through the middle, then a foul on Walker brought a free kick near the right edge of the Lincoln box. Walker headed over the bar from Sweeney’s chipped delivery.

The Mariners doubled their advantage with a brilliant team goal on the half-hour. McEachran played a superb ball over the top for Kabia to run onto on the right and the striker looked up and fired it across the six-yard line for VERNAM, who finished at the far post.

An offside decision against House ended Lincoln’s next attack after Ryley Towler looked for the striker with a ball over the top, then McJannet blocked a 20-yard attempt from James Collins as the visitors came forward again.

McEachran saw the yellow card for a foul on Hamilton on 43 minutes and after the half moved into one added minute, a Lincoln corner was cleared to ensure Town’s two-goal advantage remained intact at the break.

SECOND HALF

Rob Street and Freddie Draper replaced Collins and Makama in the visitors’ attack before the restart, as Town stuck with the same XI.

Tharme made a great challenge to stop House as he burst into he box two minutes in, then Rodgers jumped to head a Tom Bayliss free kick clear.

A Moylan cross bounced off the top of Pym’s bar and out for a goal kick, before Tharme was penalised for bringing Draper down on the away left. Khouri got to Baylis’ free kick first and McJannet completed the clearance.

Burns headed wide at the far post as Town threatened for the first time since the interval, then Rodgers had to head a cross behind for a corner at the other end. Pym punched the flag-kick clear and although

Lincoln kept possession, they were unable to make it count as McJannet made a block from Tom Hamer.

Draper was spoken to by the referee after a poor challenge on Kabia with 62 minutes on the clock and the stoppage proved to be the cue for more Lincoln changes, with Hackett, Conor McGrandles and Adam Jackson replacing Bayliss, Sonny Bradley and House.

Draper headed a Hackett cross over the bar as Lincoln kept looking for a way back into the contest, then a corner from the away right was comfortably dealt with before Street lifted a 20-yard shot harmlessly over the bar.

The visitors kept coming forward though, and with 15 minutes remaining, they were back within one goal as HACKETT sent a powerful drive past Pym from inside the box.

Warren replaced Rodgers after the goal in Town’s first change of the evening and he was followed onto the pitch four minutes later by Staunton, Brown and Amaluzor as Sweeney, Vernam and Kabia made way.

Kabia’s final action of the game had seen him win a free kick as a run from the left was stopped unfairly, although the Mariners were unable to capitalise from the resulting free kick.

Warren did well to stop Hackett at the other end at the expense of a corner, which Amaluzor headed clear as the clock ticked down.

And after two added minutes passed with no further chances for either side, the hosts ensured an encouraging display was rewarded with a win.

Town are back in pre-season action on Wednesday evening when they travel to face National League side Boston United, before their final friendly sees another test against League One opposition when Peterborough United visit Blundell Park on Saturday.

Town: Pym, Rodgers (Warren, 76), Tharme, McJannet, Sweeney (Staunton, 80), McEachran, Khouri, Burns, Walker, Vernam (Brown, 80), Kabia (Amaluzor, 80)
Subs not used: Auton, Turi, Carson

UTM