Lincoln City earn Championship promotion after 65-year absence

Lincoln City secured promotion to the Championship with a 2-1 win at Reading yesterday. 

The Imps needed one point to return to the second-tier for the first time since 1961, and Jack Moylan delivered the victory by scoring in stoppage time.

Michael Skubala’s side got an early breakthrough when Ryan One headed home a Reeco Hackett-Fairchild free-kick in the fifth minute. 

Reading threatened to level the scores when Charlie Savage fired wastefully wide in a rare home attack. 

Ryley Towler had a chance to double the visitors’ advantage, but he failed to hit the target. 

Lincoln didn’t take many risks in the second half as they were happy to sit back and protect their lead. 

The Imps were on course for a comfortable victory before Lewis Wing scored from a free-kick. 

However, Lincoln had the last laugh as Moylan slammed home from close range to spark massive celebrations among the away supporters. 

The victory guarantees automatic promotion with five games to spare. 

It is a remarkable rise from Lincoln, who were relegated to the National League in 2011 and subsequently spent six seasons outside the English Football League. 

They won the National League title in 2016/17 to return to the fourth-tier while also staging a historic FA Cup run to the quarter-finals. 

Lincoln then earned promotion to League One in 2018-19, finishing six points clear at the top.