Football Apr 06, 2026

Reading 1-2 Lincoln: League One leaders promoted to the Championship for the first time in 65 years

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Reading 1-2 Lincoln: League One leaders promoted to the Championship for the first time in 65 years

Lincoln have been promoted to the Championship for the first time in 65 years with five games to spare after a 2-1 win at Reading.

Jack Moylan's stoppage-time winner secured their second-tier return to mark an incredible rise by the Imps, who were in non-League just nine years ago.

Lincoln earned promotion to League Two in 2017, then to League One in 2019, and seven years later, they will be playing Championship football for the first time since 1961.

Under Michael Skubala, the runaway League One leaders are now unbeaten in 24 matches and sit 12 points above second-placed Cardiff.

Lincoln have become the first team in the EFL to earn promotion this season.

Their stoppage-time win at Reading means the Imps have now won 27 matches in League One this term, only taking more victories during an EFL campaign in 1975/76 (32) and 1951/52 (30).

Needing just one point to return to the second tier, the Imps made a bright start and went ahead in the fifth minute through Ryan One.

Reading levelled in the second minute of stoppage time from a Lewis Wing free-kick, but Moylan snatched the winner four minutes later.

City's 2,884 fans in the packed away end had plenty to cheer early on when One nodded home a Reeco Hackett-Fairchild free-kick, which home goalkeeper Joel Pereira should perhaps have saved.

Reading, unbeaten at home in their previous 10 matches, were unable to make any headway against the Imps' well-drilled defence.

Charlie Savage fired wastefully wide in a rare home attack, while defender Ryley Towler drove narrowly over as the visitors almost doubled their lead.

Lincoln were content to sit back for much of the second period, their job almost completed, as the Royals drove forward relentlessly but fruitlessly.

City substitute Alfie Lloyd headed wide from a Conor McGrandles cross before Reading equalised through Wing's fine 20-yard free-kick.

In the sixth minute of added time, Moylan slammed home from close range as Lincoln returned to the second tier for the first time since 1961 and dealt a blow to the home side's play-off hopes.

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala:

"We want to win the title, the lads have said that they definitely want to win it. It's going to be tough, but let's go and get that done as well.

"Every game is tough, but if we can go and put in some more good performances, we can do it.

"We'll enjoy tonight, we'll go out and have a beer. But we'll be back in on Wednesday, after a day off tomorrow, and then we'll be ready for a big game at home [Leyton Orient on Saturday].

"It's an unbelievable feeling now. The lads have been excellent all season and to get the job done today, to get promoted on Easter Monday, just epitomises our season.

"Every game is tough at this level. You have to be ready, you have to be on it, and Reading are good team and it was an excellent goal from Lewis Wing that brought them back into it.

"Be we kept believing, that we could catch them on the counter, and that's what happened.

"I'm not really thinking about next season yet. I'm not thinking about anything else today, I'm just enjoying this."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Premier League free transfers: Harry Wilson, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate could leave this summer

Premier League free transfers: Harry Wilson, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate could leave this summer

A number of Premier League stars have entered the final few months of their deals and now look increasingly likely to become free agents at the end of...

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo's Premier League legacy, claims Jamie Carragher

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo's Premier League legacy, claims Jamie Carragher

Mohamed Salah will depart Liverpool with only Thierry Henry ahead of him in the pantheon of the Premier League's greatest overseas players, according...

Scotland Women: Eilidh Adams recalled for upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against Belgium

Scotland Women: Eilidh Adams recalled for upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against Belgium

Eilidh Adams has been recalled to the Scotland squad for next month's Women's World Cup qualifying double-header against Belgium.The Hibernian forward...

Man Utd, Arsenal and Man City transfers: Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton among midfielders on market

Man Utd, Arsenal and Man City transfers: Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton among midfielders on market

Elite central midfielders will be top of the agenda for the Premier League’s biggest clubs this summer.There is set to be a group of Premier League st...

Jess Carter: Man who racially abused Lionesses defender avoids jail but banned from football

Jess Carter: Man who racially abused Lionesses defender avoids jail but banned from football

A man who sent racially abusive messages to England footballer Jess Carter on social media has avoided jail but has been banned from football for four...

Mohamed Salah is Premier League’s best player of the last decade and will leave Liverpool as one of the greats

Mohamed Salah is Premier League’s best player of the last decade and will leave Liverpool as one of the greats

A look back at Jurgen Klopp's comments on Mohamed Salah following his arrival from Roma in 2017 highlights the extent of his transformation at Liverpo...