As the final whistle blow for 2025/2026 League One season, Lincoln City don show say dem be true champions. Dem defeat Port Vale 1-0 for Vale Park on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to 29 matches.
Di only goal of the game come from Reeco Hackett, who score for di first half. Di goal na di same player wey score when these two sides meet for November, wey start Lincoln’s long unbeaten streak.
Lincoln City don already win di League One title before this match, reaching 100 points with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. For that game, Hackett score two goals, while Jack Moylan and Tendayi Darikwa also find net.
Port Vale, wey don already be relegated to League Two, still show fight. Dem beat promotion chasers Stockport County 2-1 on Tuesday, with goals from Martin Sherif and Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel. Manager Jon Brady call dat victory “really pleasing” and express hope say dem go “finish di season positively”.
But Lincoln City too strong. Di Imps boast di best attacking and defensive records in di division, with 87 goals scored and only 41 conceded in 45 games before this final match.
For di first half, Port Vale get some chances. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel header from di centre of di box miss close to di right, assisted by Cameron Humphreys. Liam Gordon left-footed shot from di left side of di box also blocked, assisted by Onel Hernández.
Lincoln City show their quality. Conor McGrandles receive yellow card for a bad foul, but di Imps midfield strong. Jack Moylan and Ben House provide attacking support behind striker Rob Street.
Port Vale manager Jon Brady start George Byers and Ben Heneghan, wey return from injury. Byers replace Rhys Walters for midfield, while Heneghan come in for Tyler Magloire for defence.
Lincoln City manager Michael Skubala no make any changes to his starting lineup. Di team wey beat Wycombe remain same, with Hackett, Moylan and House behind Street.
Di match get three minutes of added time for first half, but Port Vale no fit find equalizer. Lincoln City defense, led by Ryley Towler and Adam Elerewe, hold firm.
Dis victory mean Lincoln City end di season with 103 points, an outstanding campaign wey dem go remember for long time. Port Vale, despite relegation, show improvement under Jon Brady since he take over, losing only two of their last seven games before dis match.
For di post-match interview, Jack Moylan talk say: “Dis don be di best year of my life so far, I absolutely love am. You fit sense di belief around di group. When you get great group of players and staff and a city wey back di football team, you know you fit go and achieve something special and we don do am.”
Michael Skubala add: “We want to finish off on a high, so we go see a competitive team out there for sure. Di lads come back on Thursday and train well, and dat just show di mentality we get for di group.”
Lincoln City fans go celebrate dis historic season, wey include FA Cup quarter-final run and di League One title. Port Vale fans fit hold head high, knowing say dem reach FA Cup quarter-final for first time since 1954, defeating Premier League side Sunderland along di way.
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