Lincoln City secured their first win of the season and their first victory in the Championship in 65 years with a 1-0 home triumph over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. The sole goal came in the 66th minute when Ben House headed in from a long throw by Callum Elder.

After opening the campaign with two losses, Lincoln’s result was a welcome breakthrough under co-manager Chris Cohen, who acknowledged the team’s resilience despite an imperfect performance. “We had to fight but we are a club built on spirit and we had to show that,” Cohen said. He praised House’s work rate off the ball and credited him for a strong start to the season.

Bolton, also newly promoted to the second tier, dominated much of the first half but failed to convert several promising opportunities. Sam Dalby struck the post early on, while Lewis Brunt’s header was well saved by Lincoln goalkeeper George Wickens. Despite their pressure, the visitors were unable to find a breakthrough before halftime.

In the second half, Bolton pressed for an equalizer. Ryan Hardie and Josh Sheehan both tested Wickens, who produced crucial saves to maintain Lincoln’s lead. Bolton manager Steven Schumacher expressed frustration at missed chances but acknowledged his team’s overall positive performance. “We played well. We created lots of chances and should have been ahead at half-time. Apart from a ten-minute spell in the second half, I thought we were the better team,” Schumacher said.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Lincoln City as they seek to establish themselves in the Championship following their promotion as League One champions last season.