Freddie Draper the difference as Lincoln beat Northampton

Lincoln made it three wins from four to start the League One season after beating winless Northampton 1-0 at Sixfields.

Freddie Draper’s brilliant first-half finish proved the difference as the Imps survived a heap of second-half pressure to cling on.

Lincoln made the brighter start but the first big chance came for Northampton when Tyrese Fornah was denied by goalkeeper George Wickens after racing through on goal.

The visitors continued to make most of the running and they took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when Draper converted Tendayi Darikwa’s right-wing cross with a superb first-time volley.

James Collins skewed over before Northampton enjoyed a good spell in the last 15 minutes of the first half, albeit without creating anything clear-cut before half-time.

They were close to a leveller shortly after the restart as Conor McCarthy’s close-range shot smacked Draper flush in the face.

Northampton spent most of the second half pressing for a leveller and they had a couple of late chances to snatch a point but Elliott List glanced wide and Wickens denied Cameron McGeehan from close range.