Imps made to pay for sitting on lead

Lincoln City will play Hereford United for a third time in seventeen days when the clubs meet in a Second Round replay. City had taken the lead twice in the first half before sitting on that lead. City came close to progression before Adam Watts gave away a late penalty. Both clubs will now feature in the Second Round draw.

It was a slow start to the game before a fourth minute corner ended with Hereford winning a free kick, although that came to nothing because of a push on Watts in the area. City's first corner came soon after when Heath headed behind Jarrett's effort, the corner came to nothing. With chances few and far between, the opening goal came through a moment of brilliance. City won a free kick when O'Keefe was fouled, Kerr thought quickly and played in Grimes, the striker assessed his options before lobbing over the goalkeeper from 25 yards.

The lead didn't last long though as a mix up between Anyon and Hoyte allowed Purdie to squeeze the ball behind City's goalkeeper and he made sure by following it up. However, it wasn't a day for goalkeepers as five minutes later the Imps retook the lead. Hutchinson flicked a long ball onto Grimes, Bartlett came out to cry and clear the ball, only to pass it straight to Carayol and the Gambian had no trouble in slotting it into the empty net for 2-1.

Kerr was booked for a foul on Featherstone before O'Keefe had a header blocked from a Carayol cross. Grimes was booked for not moving for a free kick before Heath fired wide. Just before half time a trial of Lunt shots ended with the third hitting the arm of Watts, the referee blew for a penalty. Fleetwood stepped up but Anyon not only stopped it, but caught it. That was the final action of the first half.

O'Keefe started the second half by being booked before Fleetwood fired wide for the hosts. Manset was introduced for the hosts after being surprisingly dropped to the bench before Gwynne was booked for a foul on Jarrett. Lund replacement Colbeck for the hosts.

City showed their intent to sit on their lead by bringing on Drewe Broughton for Ashley Grimes. Rose picked up a yellow card for a foul on Broughton before Manset brought a decent save out of Anyon before a very strange attack saw Manset's header loop over Anyon but not anywhere near the line before being cleared by Hutchinson.

Townsend volleyed wide for the hosts before Hereford had another penalty. This one came when Fleetwood ran into the area and was brought down by Watts, Manset put away the penalty to give him the goal he had deserved since coming on. City had their own shout for a penalty when, in a rare second half attack, Broughton headed the ball and it hit the arm of a defender, only for the referee to ignore a handball at the same end for which he had given Hereford one. That was the final action of the game.