Lincoln City Women lost 3-1 to Sheffield FC Ladies to drop out of the FA Cup in the third qualifying round in a disappointing afternoon for Lee Mitchell’s side.
As the game got underway, Sheffield wasted no time in pressurising the Lincoln defence, as they entered the home side’s final third.
In the 3rd minute of the game, the visitors made the breakthrough, as Alex O’Neill’s shot from distance beat Timson and found the roof of the net, giving Sheffield the early advantage.
The Imps reacted after going a goal down, with some nice play down the right between Farrow and Kay, resulting in a shot that Leah Kellogg did well to save at her near post.
As the game progressed, Lincoln were reducing the visitors to attempts from range, whilst at the other end, the home side saw repeated corners cleared.
Lee Mitchell’s team threatened to level the score in the 19th minute, after Rousseau swivelled and shot at goal, but the keeper saved well.
The game was then halted in the 21st minute, as McKevitt went down injured for the visitors, requiring treatment from the physios.
After the stoppage in play, the Imps continued to drive forward in search of the equaliser. Jessica Rousseau was fouled as she progressed down the left wing, giving Lincoln a chance to throw players forward for the free kick. McHamilton sent the ball into the area, but the ball was scrambled away to safety.
A few minutes later, Farrow was able to break through the Sheffield backline and attempted to find a teammate in the area, but Sheffield were able to clear
Despite Lincoln dominating possession, Sheffield still found chances to launch the ball forward, but the home side were able to hold a good defensive line, catching the visitors offside on numerous occasions.
With around five minutes left to play in the first half, Rousseau and Farrow switched flanks to try and disrupt the Sheffield defence.
One minute later, Lincoln equalised, as Kay found Hardy in the middle, who turned and rifled a strike into the top right corner.
After levelling the score, the Imps pushed forward looking for a second. Hardy was now at the centre of all the attacks, as she curled an effort just over the bar.
There was time for one more drilled shot from Hardy, before the half time whistle sounded, as the team’s headed in at the break all square.
Chantelle Robinson replaced Katie Williams for the second half, as Lincoln retained the ball in the early stages after the break.
Robinson almost made an immediate impact for the Imps, when her powerful effort at goal forced Kellogg into a save.
Play was once again stopped ten minutes into the second half, as Sheffield’s Autumn Marshall went down injured for a prolonged period, with the stretcher eventually having to be used. As a result, Milly Colford entered the pitch for the visitors.
Once play resumed again, Sheffield found themselves with a free kick on the edge of the box after two players collided in the air.
From the resulting set piece, O’Neill gave Sheffield the lead once more with her second of the game, hitting a powerful strike beyond the reach of Timson.
Lincoln immediately tried to hit back, with a flurry of corners causing chaos in the Sheffield penalty area, culminating in a wayward strike from Lincoln that sailed over the bar.
In the hopes of trying to stamp their authority on the game, Pedersen replaced Fletcher for Lincoln’s first substitute of the match in the 68th minute.
Shortly afterwards, Sheffield had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman’s flag ruled it offside.
Lincoln were once more in search of a leveller, and it nearly came in the 75th minute, as Farrow shot narrowly wide of the far post after being played through by McHamilton.
Despite Lincoln threatening to find an equaliser, it was the visitors who scored the next goal. In the 79th minute, substitute Milly Colford was able to loop the ball over Timson, and in to the back of the net to extend the away side’s lead.
The Imps tried to mount a comeback in the closing stages and had a chance to make it a nervy finish when Robinson powered a shot at goal, but it was parried by the keeper.
Nine additional minutes were added at the end of the game after some lengthy stoppages, but the latter stages of the game petered out, with Lincoln resorting to long balls into the box.
Sheffield progress into the next round of the cup after being more clinical than the home side, who were unable to gain a foothold in the game. This would have frustrated Lee Mitchell, as he saw his side beat the same opposition 2-0 only a week ago.
Lincoln now set their sights back on the league, as they face Northampton up next.