Match ends, Port Vale 2, Lincoln City 6.
League Two leaders Lincoln produced a scintillating display to win 6-2 at Port Vale.
Lincoln led after just three minutes when Harry Toffolo's low corner from the right was met by Harry Anderson's driven shot, which beat goalkeeper Scott Brown at his near post.
Shay McCartan doubled the Imps' tally with 38 minutes played, after jinking his way past Vale's defence to drill into the far corner.
Danny Cowley's side increased their lead on the stroke of half-time after Matt Rhead's flick-on from a throw-in was headed into his own net by home defender Leon Legge.
Michael Bostwick soon made it 4-0 after the restart when he bundled into the net after Bruno Andrade's corner was glanced across goal.
Tom Conlon struck a free-kick into the top-right corner for Vale three minutes later to reduce the deficit to three goals.
Scott Wharton's 77th-minute header restored Lincoln's four-goal cushion before James Wilson headed in a sixth from Andrade's corner.
Ben Whitfield netted a stoppage-time penalty for the hosts, who suffered their third straight league defeat.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Brown
- 13Rawlinson
- 5LeggeBooked at 45mins
- 15Smith
- 21Vassell
- 23ClarkSubstituted forKayat 52'minutes
- 22Conlon
- 11Hannant
- 16PughSubstituted forMillerat 45'minutesBooked at 56mins
- 24Whitfield
- 17Kanu
Substitutes
- 6Kay
- 7Worrall
- 10Miller
- 12Hornby
- 19Dodds
- 20Daniels
- 25Hardcastle
Lincoln City
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Vickers
- 23Eardley
- 16Bostwick
- 6S Wharton
- 14Toffolo
- 26Anderson
- 7Pett
- 8FrecklingtonSubstituted forWilsonat 45'minutesBooked at 60mins
- 11Carvalho Andrade
- 17McCartanSubstituted forGreenat 76'minutes
- 9RheadSubstituted forChapmanat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gordon
- 10Green
- 12Chapman
- 15Wilson
- 18Mensah
- 24Slocombe
- Referee:
- Brett Huxtable
- Attendance:
- 5,137
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home2
- Away13
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 2, Lincoln City 6.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 2, Lincoln City 6. Ben Whitfield (Port Vale) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Penalty Port Vale. Theo Vassell draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by Neal Eardley (Lincoln City) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Ben Whitfield (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by James Wilson (Lincoln City).
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Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Connell Rawlinson.
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Foul by Idris Kanu (Port Vale).
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Harry Toffolo (Lincoln City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Nathan Smith (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Matt Green (Lincoln City).
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Attempt missed. Luke Hannant (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Connell Rawlinson (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Bruno Andrade (Lincoln City).
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 1, Lincoln City 6. James Wilson (Lincoln City) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Bruno Andrade with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Scott Brown.
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Attempt saved. Matt Green (Lincoln City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Lincoln City. Ellis Chapman replaces Matt Rhead.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 1, Lincoln City 5. Scott Wharton (Lincoln City) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Harry Toffolo with a cross following a corner.