Lincoln City maintained their great start to the season this afternoon with a fine 4-0 win against struggling Southend at Sincil Bank.

Two goals in each half made this a stroll in the park for Danny Cowley’s side, who never looked likely to concede against weak opposition.

The big team news ahead of kick off saw 17-year-old Charlie Kelman preferred up front for the visitors, only the third league start of his career.

Lincoln’s Michael O’Connor missed out in midfield, with Michael Bostwick stepping out of central defence to cover. He was replaced by Jason Shackell in the only change from their 2-0 win at Rotherham last weekend.

Both sides looked to play plenty of football on the ground in the early exchanges, but neither had much in the way of clear-cut chances. Tyler Walker almost found himself played through with under a minute gone, a smart free-kick routine the Imps have used before almost paying dividends.

Sam Mantom had the best chance of the opening ten minutes, Isaac Hutchinson involved in winning the first corner of the game for Southend. The delivery was half-cleared an Mantom lashed his effort just wide from ten yards.

As the half wore on, Lincoln began to seize control. Joe Morrell and Jack Payne combined to feed in Tyler Walker on 23 minutes, but his effort was blocked in the area. The on-loan Nottingham Forest man was involved again minutes later as he teed up Harry Anderson who fired over.

The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark though. Jorge Grant whipped in a free kick from the right hand side, with veteran defender Jason Shackell rising highest at the far post to loop a header over Nathan Bishop and into the back on the net.

At 1-0 the atmosphere in the ground began to rise and Lincoln pressed forward. Harry Toffolo’s ball in from the left almost found Tyler Walker, with Jack Payne drilling a low effort wide against his old club not long after.

Southend did manage to get forward on 38 minutes, Simon Cox picking up a loose ball to lash a half-volley straight at Josh Vickers from 25 yards.

The inevitable second goal came from another set piece. Grant again the provider, he found Harry Toffolo on the left who cut inside and, thanks to a fortunate bobble, found space to sweep the ball past Bishop.

Just before the break, the visitors seemed to have a good penalty shout. Elvis Bwomono, always a willing runner on the right hand side, saw his cross blocked by Toffolo's hand but referee Andy Haines was having none of it.

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Southend made two changes at half time, bringing off youngster Kelman and Sam Mantom, but Stephen Humphrys and Ethan Hamilton didn’t have a touch before the Imps made it 3-0. This time Haines did award a penalty after a clear foul on Walker as he burst away from Joe Shaughnessy.

Walker himself blasted the ball in from 12-yards to give the home side an unassailable three-goal lead.

The visitors looked to bring some respect to the score line after the third, as Simon Cox fired a shot at Vickers when a ball to the right would have been a better option. Manchester United loanee Hamilton then had a vicious drive palmed away moments later as Southend had arguably their best spell of the game.

Failure to get back into the game cost them though and as the half went on, they looked short of ideas. The lively Walker had an effort saved from 20-yards before he was withdrawn, with Anderson getting away down the right moments later and also being brought off after.

Bruno Andrade entered the fray and saw his effort flash just wide of the post, with Jorge Grant having a 20-yard drive blocked as well. The home side were in the ascendancy and made it 4-0 with ten minutes to go.

Andrade strode away from the tired defence, finishing with aplomb past a despairing Nathan Bishop.

That proved to be the final goal of the game, with Lincoln maintaining their 100% record, now having not conceded in their first four league and cup matches.