Lincoln City 1 Forest Green 1
Connor Wickham showed his Premier League quality to net on his debut to rescue a point as Ian Burchnall’s Forest Green came from behind at sizzling Sincil Bank.
Earlier, Baily Cargill’s unfortunate own goal looked to have put Rovers to the sword, but Wickham’s sumptuous strike earned his new side a point.
Cargill’s own goal in the 63rd minute saw Wickham pounce 10 minutes later, to give new-look Rovers a decent start to the embryonic season.
From the get-go Regan Hendry induced a decent save from Lincoln goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
On a sun-kissed day in Lincolnshire, the energetic Josh March tested Rushworth with a stinging strike from the edge of the box.
Luke McGee continued his fine start to the season as he gloved a fizzing Max Sanders’ strike from 35 yards.
McGee then thwarted midfielder Jordan Garrick with a superb save in first-half injury time, pushing his effort past a post.
Lincoln came out swinging after the break – Tom Hopper spanking wide, but Cargill’s goal proved the difference as he deflected a cross under pressure from Garrick into his own net.
But that man Wickham finished with aplomb to bag a point.
In back-to-back games, Rovers welcome Accrington Stanley to The Bolt New Lawn on Tuesday and Plymouth on Saturday.
GAFFER TAPES – Ian Burchnall
Forest Green boss Ian Burchnall felt the tropical conditions had a bearing on the game, he said: “I think both teams really struggled with the heat, the tempo went up and down.
“You certainly didn’t want to spend too much time without the ball in this heat.
“But I thought both teams managed it really well.
“I thought they [Lincoln] played to the conditions better in the first period of the second half, but the tempo was slow because it was 35 degrees.
“But in the end, we found our feet in the game and got a decent point.”
