Portsmouth secured their inaugural victory of the Championship campaign by defeating Lincoln 3-1 in a convincing display at Sincil Bank. After dropping their first two fixtures by identical scorelines, the visitors found themselves on the back foot early in the match, but a swift strike from Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen in the seventh minute gave them the early advantage they needed.
Just nine minutes later Adrian Segecic doubled the lead, delivering a powerful left‑footed free‑kick from the edge of the box that slipped past Lincoln keeper George Wickens into the bottom corner. The Imps managed to pull one back before the hour‑mark when Reeco Hackett converted a penalty, awarded after Adam Reach’s 20‑yard effort was judged to have been handled by Zak Swanson while attempting to block the shot. The decisive moment arrived in the 69th minute when substitute Ebrima Adams, given ample space in the middle of the park, unleashed a spectacular 25‑yard drive that left Wickens stranded, sealing a 3-1 win for Portsmouth and leaving Lincoln still searching for their first triumph back in the second tier after more than six decades.
Lincoln began the encounter brightly, earning a free‑kick just outside the box within two minutes of kickoff. Adam Reach’s delivery was tipped over by Portsmouth’s goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, and a subsequent corner from Ivan Varfolomeev was cleared but rebounded for a second set‑piece. Captain Tendayi Darikwa met the ball with a first‑time effort that was deflected, prompting another corner. Freddie Draper then set up Ben House, whose shot lacked the necessary power for Schmid to make an easy save.
Portsmouth’s early surge came quickly. The ball was played to Kavuma‑McQueen on the left side of Lincoln’s penalty area, and he slotted a low, precise finish into the bottom corner, giving the visitors an early lead.
Shortly after, Colby Bishop’s looping header was gathered safely by George Wickens, but Segecic’s free‑kick soon made it 2-0, showcasing his ability to strike from distance with accuracy. The Imps’ response came via a penalty after Reach’s attempt was adjudicated as a handball by Swanson.
Hackett stepped up and calmly placed the ball past Schmid, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Both Hackett and Varfolomeev missed chances that went wide, while Wickens had to stay alert to push away a Bishop strike that threatened to create another corner.
Ten minutes into the second half, Darikwa was forced off with a knee injury, prompting a home debut for City’s record signing Andrei Coubis. The sun shone brightly over the ProAmpac Stadium as both sides struggled to create clear opportunities. Around the hour mark, Wickens again denied Bishop, this time in the first meaningful attack of the second period. It was a late substitution that finally broke the deadlock.
Adams, given too much space, surged forward and unleashed a stunning 25‑yard effort that curled past Wickens, making the score 3-1. Segecic nearly added a fourth goal in the dying minutes, but his low shot was comfortably saved by Wickens.
Post‑match, Lincoln’s manager expressed disappointment: “It was a disappointing result on what was a huge day for the club. I thought we were dominant for most of the first half, but we were really let down by the goals we conceded. After a good start, the first goal knocked the wind out of our sails.
I was pleased with how we responded, but the second half just petered out a bit. Freddy (Draper) and Ben (House) caused their defence a lot of problems in the first half, which was great to see. We can’t, however, keep conceding as many goals as we have in the past couple of games. We need to go away and think about how we’ll be more solid.” Portsmouth captain John Mousinho praised his side’s performance: “I thought it was excellent.
Considering the context of the game and the fact that we were up against a side that collected 103 points last season, it was a very, very good performance. Two aspects stood out – we handled Lincoln’s physical threat well for the most part, and when we settled down we broke the lines effectively and created a real attacking threat at the top of the pitch.
There were a couple of defensive moments we could have improved – I have no issue with the goal they scored – but overall, against a very different test, we handled it well and got the reaction we needed.” The win not only marked Portsmouth’s first three points of the season but also provided a morale boost after a shaky start. For Lincoln, the defeat underscored the challenges of re‑establishing themselves in the Championship after a 60‑year absence, highlighting the need for defensive solidity and consistency if they hope to secure their first win in the division this campaign.