It’s harvesting season in Lincolnshire, but our good start against Reading was ploughed into the London soil as we dropped to a defeat against the Wombles.
City slipped to a 2-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon, their first away outing of the League One season marred by an early red card for Adam Jackson and costly defensive lapses. What might have been a steady, workmanlike away performance unravelled in stages, leaving City empty-handed and frustrated.
Cagey Start Turns Sour
Michael Skubala kept faith with the XI that beat Reading on the opening day, resisting any temptation to tinker. It looked a logical move – why disrupt a winning side? – but this contest bore little resemblance to the composed, controlled display at the LNER Stadium a week earlier.
The opening exchanges offered little to stir the travelling 789 Imps supporters. Wimbledon’s early threat came from a flurry of corners, Myles Hippolyte delivering two awkward inswingers under George Wickens’ crossbar. The City keeper was alert, tipping over one effort before claiming the third delivery with authority.
Lincoln’s first meaningful attack arrived around the 20-minute mark, Jack Moylan cutting inside from Conor McGrandles’ pass before firing over from the edge of the box. It was the sort of half-chance that hinted at a way through: keep it on the deck, work it into feet, and the opportunities might come.
But optimism was short-lived. Three minutes later, a high ball was contested between Jackson and Wimbledon striker Matty Stevens. Jackson made contact with the ball but followed through with studs high into Stevens’ chest. Referee Matthew Russell went straight to his pocket for a red card. Intent was absent, but in the modern game, raising a foot that high and making contact leaves an official little choice. The decision split opinion among supporters, but when roles are reversed, most would expect a dismissal.
Adam Jackson is shown a straight red card.
⌚️ 24’ | 🔵 0-0 🟣 | #WIMLIN
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) August 9, 2025
Setback Before the Break
Reduced to ten, Lincoln reshuffled, pushing Reeco Hackett and Rob Street into deeper wing-back roles to protect the flanks. The change stemmed Wimbledon’s momentum temporarily, but it left James Collins isolated up front. City were largely limited to hopeful balls forward, easily swallowed up by a packed home defence.
The critical blow came in the 42nd minute. A cross from the right struck Sonny Bradley’s raised arm inside the area, and the referee pointed to the spot. There was no real protest; hands were up, the ball struck them, and in the current climate, that is always punished. Stevens converted calmly, sending Wickens the wrong way and giving the Dons a lead they would not relinquish.
Bradley, to his credit, responded with a vital block moments later to deny Stevens a second before half-time. Lincoln’s appeals for a penalty of their own, when Moylan went down under Hippolyte’s challenge, were waved away.
Half-Time Changes and Missed Openings
Skubala acted at the break, introducing Tom Hamer for Street. The defender’s long throw offered a different attacking outlet and allowed City to revert to a back four, restoring some natural width.
The Imps began to see more of the ball and fashioned their best chance of the afternoon on 56 minutes. Captain Tendayi Darikwa surged forward from right-back, with Collins to his right and Hackett to his left. Opting for Collins, Darikwa’s pass was underhit, allowing Joe Lewis to sprint back and execute an outstanding sliding interception. It was a pivotal moment – a clean ball would have left Collins one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Minutes later Moylan was again frustrated in the box, this time after tangling with Ryan Johnson. Again the referee was unmoved. It summed up a contest where little went Lincoln’s way in the final third.
Hamer’s throws did create moments of anxiety for the home defence. On 68 minutes one sailed through to substitute Ethan Hamilton, whose reaction header from close range looped just over the bar. It was as close as City came to levelling.
😫 City break through on goal but Darikwa’s pass is blocked which denies Moylan a chance at goal.
⌚️ 58’ | 🔵 1-0 🟣 | #WIMLIN pic.twitter.com/MHCSqhdI1k
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) August 9, 2025
Wimbledon Shut the Door
Wimbledon, to their credit, managed the game well. They broke up play, slowed restarts, and kept City’s tempo low. The Imps’ 63% pass completion rate reflected a disjointed performance, as did the stark shot count – just two attempts all game, neither on target, compared to the Dons’ sixteen.
Any hopes of a late rally ended with 12 minutes remaining. A corner was only partially cleared, and Nathan Asiimwe collected inside the box. With his back to goal and several red shirts around him, he was still allowed the time to turn, take two touches and drill a low shot past Wickens. Hackett’s desperate attempt to clear on the line came too late. It was poor defending, borne perhaps from hesitancy after already conceding one penalty.
There was a late flashpoint when substitute Freddie Draper challenged for a high ball with the goalkeeper. The loose ball fell to Darikwa with the net gaping, but the whistle had already gone for a foul against Draper – a baffling decision given replays suggested minimal contact and the keeper had collided with his own defenders. It might not have salvaged the game, but it felt emblematic of the day’s officiating: the big calls (red card, penalty) arguably correct, but an array of smaller, inconsistent decisions breaking up play for both sides.
⏹️ City battled hard throughout but it ends in defeat.
⌚️ FT | 🔵 2-0 🟣 | #WIMLIN pic.twitter.com/m5Ku955C6i
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) August 9, 2025
Lessons to Take
Skubala used his bench as the half wore on, introducing Hamilton, Draper, Erik Ring and finally teenager Zane Okoro. None were able to shift the pattern. Wimbledon’s backline, marshalled by Lewis and Ryan Johnson, dealt with everything aerially and were quick to close down second balls. Former Imp Ali Smith patrolled midfield diligently, breaking up play and ensuring City never found a rhythm.
In truth, the match was decided by three key moments: Jackson’s dismissal, Bradley’s handball, and the defensive lapse for Asiimwe’s clincher. All three were preventable, all three came from experienced players who will know better days are ahead. As one supporter wryly observed, if League One players never made mistakes they wouldn’t be in League One.
Skubala admitted post-match that he had opted not to make an immediate substitution after the red card to preserve minutes in the legs of his starters, preferring to hold shape until the interval. It was a calculated risk that might have paid off with a bit more discipline before half-time. He will also know the squad still requires additions: a specialist left-back, a midfield presence to replace Ethan Erhahon, and depth in attacking areas. Three signings feel essential, with perhaps a fourth if the right late-window opportunity arises.
The contrast with the Reading performance was stark. At the LNER, Lincoln were composed, clinical and secure at the back. Here, they chased the game for over an hour, lost their structure, and rarely threatened. That inconsistency is something the head coach will want to address quickly.
In the days of bad press that stewards get can you feed it back in @Long19Alan please for yesterday. Seen so many ✍️ positive tweets about all the stewards in the away end 🏟️. Despite losing not one single negative directed towards them they have set the bench mark for me 👏 ⭐️
— Andy Pearson (@AndyPearson68) August 10, 2025
Looking Ahead
This was not a disaster, but nor was it a performance to brush off lightly. Early-season defeats can be instructive if the lessons are learned: the importance of keeping discipline, making better use of the ball when reduced in numbers, and ensuring that attacking moments like Darikwa’s second-half break are converted into clear shots on goal.
Wimbledon will take heart from a disciplined, organised display that belied some gloomy pre-season predictions. For Lincoln, the response next time out will be key. With the right additions and a return to the composure shown against Reading, this can be a blip rather than a trend. But it was a reminder that in League One, even against teams tipped to struggle, nothing comes easy – especially with ten men.
My apologies for the slightly different coverage this week. A family emergency has made content a little difficult to create, but hopefully, normal service will soon be resumed.