Ashby Avenue welcomed Lincoln United on Saturday as they faced a tough tie against second-placed Hebburn Town. The match ended up being a feisty one, with The Whites winning 3-1.
There were very few chances within the early stages of the game, with Lincoln United playing mostly in Hebburn’s half, but unable to break down the strong defence.
Lincoln United were given a free kick early on, with a dangerous cross by Kallum Smith unable to meet any of the United players’ heads.
The biggest chance of the first half came to Lincoln captain Matthew Cotton, who picked up the ball in the box and cut inside, before his curling effort narrowly drifted over the bar. United would however not capitalise on this, as the visitors came back fighting.
Hebburn started to apply the pressure after the half hour mark, as forwards Liam Henderson and Olly Martin linked up to put Martin in a dangerous area of the box, yet his cross was quickly collected by goalkeeper Jack Steggles.
As the first half was coming to an end, United had a few more chances, as Matthew Cotton placed a cross into the box, with attacking heads being denied before being cleared, and a free kick for Lincoln coming to nothing.
Referee Matthew Tyers had a big decision to make just five minutes into the second half, after Jack Donaghy made a dangerous challenge on Jake Park, who instantly needed treatment. Tyers opted for the yellow card, before having to separate players on opposing teams soon after. A challenge that increased the intensity of the game, with aerial battles getting much more aggressive as the game drew on.
United looked to start the second half similar to how they began the first, as Cotton had a shot blocked by the Hebburn defence, with the resulting corner drifting immediately out of play. Captain Cotton came to have a big chance once again, as he ran past two defenders with a good turn, before cutting inside, this time onto his left, and striking wide of the goal.
After this, the contest drew much closer, with the visitors coming back into the game after denying many of United’s chances.
The first goal of the game came in favour of the away side just after the hour mark. Olly Martin picked up the ball in the box, before cutting inside, and curling his effort inside the post and to make it 0-1 to the visitors.
An immediate response came from United, after the ball was worked into the box before a rash challenge by the Hebburn defender gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Cotton took his penalty sweetly, sending goalkeeper Shaun Newbrook the wrong way and making the scoreline 1-1.
Lincoln United almost became their own worst enemy, after a clearance by Callum Foster was closed down by Henderson. However the Hebburn man couldn’t capitalise, as he struggled to get the ball out of his feet.
The game turned on its head again as United scored their second goal. As a dangerous cross arrived into the box from the boot of Liversidge, before it was knocked on with an audacious backheel towards Louie Jarvis who made it 2-1 to the hosts.
Joe Walton received a yellow card soon after United’s second, after an elbow to the head of the Lincoln defender. This was the case in many of the battles, angering the Whites’ players that no visiting player had been dismissed for it.
Lincoln sealed off a hard fought win with just 5 minutes to play, with the hosts having a corner arrive dangerously, with AJ Adelekan towering over all Hebburn players to net Lincoln’s third, and seal a big 3 points.
Lincoln will look to build on this victory as they face Ossett United away in a week’s time, with Hebburn looking to change their sudden drop in form as they face Worksop Town.