Lyle strike means no repeat run for Imps
THERE will be no repeat of the fairytale FA Cup journey for Lincoln but manager Danny Cowley insists his troops still ran themselves into the ground against AFC Wimbledon .
Then a non-league side, the Imps were one of the stories of the competition last season, progressing all the way to the quarter-finals where they took on eventual champions Arsenal.
Drawn against Wimbledon in the first round, there was no lack of effort again but crucially the cutting edge evaded them.
Instead it was the Dons who progressed with Lyle Taylor’s early strike just enough to separate the teams.
“We tried exceptionally hard but it just didn’t fall for us. We played a League One team and we dominated,” said Cowley.
“We played with energy and intensity and we suffocated them. We didn’t let them out of their half.
“But it just wouldn’t fall for us in that final third.
“I will be interested to see what the GPS says. That is the hardest we have run all season. If we run that hard, game in, game out, we will be fine. We’re just lacking goals. The only way you work yourself through these periods is through hard work.”
Striker Taylor was the Dons hero, capitalising on a loose back pass by Rob Dickie to nip in and score early on.
The Imps were second-best before the break but did almost fashion an equaliser when Alex Woodyard’s first-time effort was tipped over by George Long.
They then had their best chance shortly after half-time with Ollie Palmer pressurising Long into a mistake, but Billy Knott took a touch instead of hitting it first time and the chance was gone. The visitors continued to press with Matt Rhead teeing up Nathan Arnold in the closing minutes, but Long dived in to make a crucial save and the hosts held on.
Dons assistant manager Neil Cox said: “The boys stuck together and grinded a result out. We are through to the second round of the FA Cup, that’s what we set our sights on at the start of the week.
“They were probably favourites for the game because of what they did last year, but this is the FA Cup and you’ve just got to win the first game.
“The boys have been brilliant this week, absolutely unbelievable.
“We’re focusing on the team at the minute, the main priority is the team. There are no individuals. It is about the squad staying together.”