Lincoln United were taken to penalties by Newark Town on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw, and after a nail biting 15 penalties, The Whites progressed (7-6).
The hosts started brightly at Ashby Avenue, with the ever-present Matt Cotton proving to be danger for the Newark defence. His quick feet following a corner, found Callum Foster, but his effort flew over the bar.
Kallum Smith received the only booking of the first-half following a reckless slide challenge on Shemar Pettet, stopping a potential counterattack. Referee Tyler Machin had no choice but to take Smith’s name.
The visitors responded well to the early pressure and created arguably the best chance of the opening 45 minutes, in the 25th minute. Sam Wright found himself through on goal and managed to get his shot on target, but goalkeeper Jack Steggles stood tall and deflected the effort wide with his hand.
The Whites were forced into an early change on 30 minutes, as defender Sean Wright had to be replaced by Evan Payne due to injury.
A fine save from Newark goalkeeper Berezowski denied Tobias Liversidge from breaking the deadlock just before half-time. The United winger proved to be a constant threat throughout the game. Cotton also had an effort saved by Berezowski’s foot in first half added time, as the players went in level at the break.
Less than a couple of minutes into the second half, the hosts thought they were in front only to be denied by the assistant’s flag being raised for offside. They were able to keep the pressure on the Newark back line, however, they couldn’t find the final touch to take the lead.
Newark were there side to take the lead on 65 minutes. Striker Lewis Chambers was played through one on one with Steggles, and swept his effort home into the bottom left corner.
It took Chris Funnel’s side 20 minutes to find an eventual equaliser, with only 5 minutes left of the 90 minutes. A hooked ball played over the top put Liversidge through on goal, and similarly to Chambers’ finish, Liversidge tucked the ball away.
United may have thought they had won the game in added time, when Kallum Smith somehow jumped highest to head a cross from less than 6 yards, but an acrobatic, fingertip save from Berezowski kept Newark alive.
Following the 90 minutes the two sides could not be separated, resulting in a penalty shootout for a place in the next round of the FA Vase.
Despite having two attempts to win the penalty shootout, United’s Griffiths and Anderson both had efforts saved. It was the heroics of goalkeeper Jack Steggles who saved Newark’s final penalty, before stepping up himself to send the Whites through.