Ben House hailed after earning Lincoln first win of season at Bolton

Ben House opened the door to Lincoln’s first second-tier win since 1961 and earned the plaudits of Imps’ joint head coach Chris Cohen.

House stole in to score a 66th-minute winner as the Toughsheet Community Stadium roof came crashing down on Bolton’s unbeaten Championship start.

Goalkeeper George Wickens also made a string of fine saves for last season’s League One champions to back up his team-mate’s second goal of the campaign.

“It is always mentioned Ben is world class without the ball which I am sure no attacking player wants to be known for,” said Cohen.

“But he is magic whatever we ask him to do. He does it with a determination I have not really seen before.

“However, he is a brilliant footballer as well and maybe that’s not mentioned enough in terms of how good he is.

“He is technically very good and tactically very astute. He has had a top start to the season and I am delighted for him. But we are not surprised by it.”

Lincoln’s last home win on Bolton soil came 42 years earlier at Burnden Park. And it was April 1961 when City defeated Leyton Orient to record their previous second-flight success.

The visitors had been under the cosh in the opening period as Wickens produced some vital stops and striker Sam Dalby hit an upright.

But Lincoln looked dangerous after the interval before House nipped in to head in a long throw from Callum Elder.

Bolton, League One play-off winners last May, laid siege to the visitors’ goal in the latter stages but Wickens would not be beaten, tipping away a stoppage time Josh Sheehan free-kick to ensure his clean sheet.

“It was by no means perfect but it was important we put some points on the board,” added Cohen. “It was a proper Lincoln City away performance.

“We are a football club built on spirit and the lads showed that in abundance. It is the first win in the second tier for 65 years. It is an amazing achievement for this group of players and staff and me and Tom (Shaw) are lucky to working with them.”

Bolton boss Steven Schumacher said: “It is a tough one to take because I thought we played well.

“We executed our game plan well, created loads of opportunities and got into dangerous areas.

“The only negativity about the first-half performance was we weren’t ahead. But we should have been.

“In the second half, apart from a 10-minute spell after half time when couple of refereeing decisions went against us and gave them some momentum, we were the better team.

“So, I am disappointed to come away with no points because there was a lot to like how we played.

“At this level or any level, if you don’t take your opportunities when you create them and then switch off in your own box at crucial time this is what happens.”