Aspin angered by slack Halifax defensive play

Ben Tomlinson’s hat-trick at Sincil Bank meant Halifax dropped down to ninth and have now gone six games without a win.

The Halifax boss pulled no punches in his criticism of his defence after his side fell 2-0 down only 10 minutes in.

He said: “I thought it was a very poor performance. Defensively we were terrible and some of the decision making at the back was woeful.

“We can’t come away from home and defend like that if we’re going to get a result.”

Tomlinson, who had scored three in his previous four games, was left unmarked at the far post to turn in Tom Miller’s long throw after only three minutes.

It soon got worse for Halifax when a long ball set Tomlinson clear before he chipped the on-rushing Matt Glennon.

Halifax produced little in response other than Craig Clay’s low shot after a superb one-two with ex-Lincoln winger Adam Smith.

Tomlinson could have sealed his hat-trick before the break but prodded Conner Robinson’s cross over and midfielder Charlee Adams hit a post as Halifax managed to reach half-time without falling further adrift.

Debutant Ryan Crowther looked to have dragged Halifax back into the contest a few minutes after the interval when his free-kick swung straight in, helped by a swirling wind that had hindered the visitors in the first half.

But Tomlinson restored the Imps’ two-goal advantage moments later when he was again allowed to latch onto a through ball before he confidently lifted it over Glennon.

Alan Power missed a clear chance to add some gloss to the scoreline late on, and Lee Gregory and Marc Roberts both went close for the visitors in the closing minutes.

Lincoln City: Farman, Miller, Brown, Audel, Newton, Tomlinson (Sheridan 86), Adams, Power, Jordan, Robinson (Austin 73), Sam-Yorke. Unused substitutes: Rowe, Gray, Nolan.

FC Halifax: Glennon, Challinor, Ainge, Roberts, McManus, Smith (Jackson 71), Pearson, Maynard, Clay (Gray 46), Crowther, Gregory. Unused substitutes: Senior, Wilson, Bolton.

Referee: Wayne Barratt.

FC Halifax man of the match: Ryan Crowther.