AND NOW THEY’RE OUT OF THE CHECKATRADE!
LINCOLN legend Lee Frecklington was the hero last night as the Imps beat Chelsea Under 21s in a shootout to book the club’s first Wembley appearance in their 134-year history. The 32-year-old penalty expert, who started his career at Lincoln in 2003, came off the bench in stoppage time so he could take a kick. And manager Danny Cowley’s tactic paid dividends as Frecklington struck the decisive penalty. Lincoln will play Shrewsbury or Yeovil in the final on April 8 and Cowley said: ‘It felt poetic. Lee is someone who knows this club better than anyone and the way it happened was really special.’ It seemed unlikely penalties would be needed when Lincoln central defender Luke Waterfall headed past Marcin Bulka, only for Daishawn Redan to level 12 minutes from time for Chelsea. The match was frantic throughout and one that looked too much to handle for Chelsea’s youngsters at times. Lincoln had chance after chance, Elliott Whitehouse, Matt Green and Matt Rhead all going close. Harry Anderson nearly scored a winner in the dying seconds, but Chelsea hung on for a shootout. There was just enough time for Cowley to bring on Frecklington and that would prove crucial. The majority of the 9,444 fans inside Sincil Bank gasped as Lincoln missed the first penalty, Sam Habergham’s effort bouncing down on the line and out after hitting the bar. But it did not matter as misses by Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu and Jacob Maddox teed up Frecklington to finish the job. The home hero stepped up and rammed his shot home.