LINCOLN 2 CARLISLE 0 Stunning start sets Imps on way into third round
CARLISLE United couldn’t find a repeat of their draw against Lincoln City just over a month ago as they crashed out of the FA Cup.
The Cumbrians went into the second-round tie in confident mood, knowing they at least had the measure of one of League Two’s more impressive sides.
But goals from Matt Rhead and John Akinde sent the Imps through.
The financial reward of progression to round three, coupled with the chance of pulling one of the big boys out of the hat, always adds an extra edge at this stage of the competition, and nerves were clearly on show as the visitors struggled to settle into any kind of clear pattern.
And they had the worst possible start as they allowed themselves to come under pressure straight from the kick off.
A perfect cross from the left from Andrade dipped over keeper Adam Collin and striker Rhead was left unmarked at the back stick, and he had the simple task of tapping his volley into the gaping net with just 30 seconds of the game gone.
The lead was almost doubled minutes later when Eardley took charge of a 28-yard free kick. His thundering effort had Collin well beaten, but it curled late and zipped just past the post.
Carlisle simply couldn’t get a foothold and the hosts went close again when another good flick from Rhead put Green into space. He had just one thing in mind and he forced a good save out of Collin as he sent a stinging drive at the top corner.
The away side finally got themselves going when Yates held play up on the left flank. He fed it back to Etuhu, who found Slater, and his inside pass put Sowerby on the overlap. A neat cut-back eventually came to Slater and he was disappointed to see his first-time shot rattle back off the base of the post before being hooked clear to safety.
There was more good stuff from United in time added on for the half when Yates had a shot blocked as he ran into the area. It bounced clear to Jones and Vickers had to parry as it flew through bodies and towards the bottom corner.
Carlisle looked a much better side at the start of the second period and a deep corner was eventually recycled the way of Hallam Hope as the away side kept the ball alive. His shot was seen late by Vickers, but the keeper readjusted to make a fine save.
The Imps gave themselves a shake and they started to put passes together again as the half wore on.
Collin had to be at his best just after the hour when a ricochet left Frecklington with a clean sight of the target. He drilled his shot at the top of the net but strong hands took it over the bar.
Lincoln should have wrapped up their progression on 74 minutes when Frecklington was allowed to run clear as a corner delivery came in.
At close range, and with plenty of time on his hands, he got his bearings wrong and sent a poor volley into the
evening sky. There was little to show from the closing stages as the hosts stayed in formation and concentrated on holding their lead, but they made sure of their victory with five minutes left to play.
Andrade bullied Sowerby off the ball before going on a devastating run. His cross was superb, and substitute Akinde bagged his seventh of the season to book a place for his team in tomorrow night’s money-spinning third-round draw.