Two goals in the last ten minutes from Liam Hearn and Conner Robinson sealed Lincoln City a place in the FA Cup first round, and a trip to Whitehawk.
Tranmere Rovers’ goalkeeper, Scott Davies was sent off after 16 minutes for handling the ball outside the area, but then substitute ‘keeper Iain Turner saved a Matt Rhead penalty after 23 minutes.
It looked for all money like the tie would be heading for extra time, but Liam Hearn finished off from a Matt Rhead knock down to give the Imps the lead with ten minutes remaining.
And then, on 87 minutes, Conner Robinson, who had earlier come on Jack Muldoon, fired a crisp half-volley past the helpless Turner in the Tranmere goal.
Chris Moyses made one change to the side which drew in the previous match, Liam Hearn came in for Greg Tempest, as City set up with a 4-4-2 formation as opposed to Saturday’s 4-5-1.
Tranmere made two changes, most notably Gary Taylor-Fletcher missing out, along with Adam Mekki. They were replaced by Johnny Margetts and Marlon Jackson.
However, the former only lasted 16 minutes, as he was sacrificed for substitute goalkeeper, Iain Turner, after referee David Rock adjudged Scott Davies to have handled the ball outside the area, when he collided with his own defender Martin Riley.
A long ball over the top of the Tranmere defence by Bradley Wood was contested between Hearn and Riley, but a lack of communication saw Riley clash with ‘keeper Davies, who handled the ball to avoid Hearn a goalscoring opportunity.
And Turner was called into action straight away, saving a weak Matt Rhead penalty on 23 minutes, after the referee Rock was advised into giving a penalty by his linesman, when the ball bounced up and hit Steve McNulty’s hand.
Tranmere then perhaps should have been down to nine. Jay Harris dived into a tackle with two feet and over the ball when contesting a 50/50 with Liam Hearn. The crowd, baying for more Tranmere blood, were disappointed to see the referee show Harris just a yellow card.
The second half offered very little, Hawkridge and Power both going into the book for professional fouls, and Bradley Wood almost caught out Turner at the near post with a shot from a tight angle.
But, finally the deadlock was broken ten minutes from time. A long diagonal ball from Wood was met by Rhead, who headed back across goal for Hearn to give the Imps the lead.
Hearn almost doubled his tally when he slotted wide when one on one with Turner, but then the tie was put beyond all doubt when Conner Robinson was quickest to react to a bouncing ball on the edge of the area, firing a half-volley past a helpless Turner in emphatic style.
It was far from routine for City, even playing against ten men for the majority of the game, but they book their place in the first round, and will face an away trip to Whitehawk on Saturday November 7.
Manager Chris Moyses was pleased with his side’s performance and said: “Once they went down to ten men they never really threatened us, they defended deep and worked very hard but I thought once we got a goal we’d get another one, and that came.
“I don’t think Farman had a save to make, that happens with ten men, they’re going to try and stay in the game for as long as they can, get to extra time and penalties but fortunately we got a goal.”
Bradley Wood was crucial to the first goal, and is looking forward to their first round tie.
He said: “We said at half time that we weren’t too happy with everything but we knew if we kept going, we never say die in this team, and we persisted with it and got the win.
“We would have taken anyone, in League One, League Two. The way that we’re going at the moment we’ll bring anyone on.”
Full-time: Lincoln City 2-0 Tranmere Rovers
Attendance – 2,380