Lincoln United kicked off their pre-season campaign with a convincing display against step six outfit Appleby Frodingham.
Debutant centre-back Henry Moore netted the opener in Scunthorpe, before Jack McMenemy scored a quick-fire brace. Substitute Paul Grimes completed the scoring in the second-half, rounding out a 4-0 win.
Five of the management’s team new signings started, while the rest came on at half-time.
Convincing Start to Scott Hellewell Era:
Employing a 5-3-2, which gave freedom to wing-backs Kallum Smith and Tris Drummond, Lincoln United created a vat of early chances.
The Whites’ stalwart Smith had an shot saved, before he provided the corner that brought the first goal. He curled one in from the right to Sean Wright, who flicked it onto Henry Moore to tap home.
Jack Steggles was forced into action five minutes later, before Jack McMenemy added a brace. First, he reacted well to score from a parried shot, before he chested-down and volleyed home his second a minute later.
McMenemy went close to completing his hat-trick before the break, while Moore and Tom Hipwell both missed narrowly.
Hellewell made a full compliment of changes at the break, with three more of his new signings coming on. It was a slower second-half, but Lincoln continued to control the play.
Grimes flicked home the fourth, as he met a neat Callum Chapman cut-back to stroke the ball past the Appleby ‘keeper.
Hellewell “Very Pleased” with Opening Win:
Speaking after the full-time whistle, to The Linc sport editor Jamie Johnson, Hellewell said: “I’m very pleased, we said before the game that the minimum we expect is a clean sheet. I know we won 4-0, the pleasing thing is we created quite a few chances, but we weren’t clinical. Hopefully, that will come.
“First-half we created a lot, I think the start of the second-half, first 20, 25 minutes, it was very flat. But, the last 10, 15 minutes we got in quite a few times, and we were a little bit unlucky not to add a few more.”
In the 5-3-2 formation, the three central defenders all impressed, including Moore and Hipwell on their debuts.
The Whites’ manager said: “I thought all three centre-backs worked really well together. Henry [Moore] being left-footed gives you that balance on the left-hand side. And, Tom [Hipwell] coming in as the right centre-back, I thought he looked very, very good on the ball, read the game really well. And, then obviously Sean Wright with the experience in the middle.”
Lincoln United now travel to Loughborough Students on Saturday, July 6, as they build towards the competitive season.