Lincoln United advanced into Round Two of the Lincolnshire FA County Senior Trophy, seeing off Louth Town in a 2-1 win at the newly named Sun-hat Villas & Resorts Stadium on Tuesday night.
Coming into the game, new signing Jack Butterfill from Barnsley made his first start for Chris Funnell’s side, with Josh Wilson making his first appearance of the season in goal.
First-Half:
A slow start for both sides meant the opening phases of the game saw plenty of evenly contested long balls, as both sides looked to assert themselves on the game. The first chance for either side came with Louth’s Bailey Wright cutting in from the right and stinging the palms of goalkeeper Wilson.
The first opportunity for the Whites came 10 minutes in as Evan Payne met a deep corner at the back post, before heading just over the bar.
The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute, in rather fortunate fashion. An outside of the boot pass from Tobias Liversidge carved open the Louth defence, looking for Jake Park. A sliding challenge from a defender, meant the ball bounced off Park, and into the path of an onrushing Jack McGovern, who made no mistake from the middle of the penalty area.
Wright caused a threat to Wilson’s net again only a couple of minutes later, when his right footed shot fizzed across the face of goal, with the goalkeeper beaten, as Louth looked to get back on level terms.
Somehow the Whites’ lead was not doubled half an hour in, when Sam Swinn connected well with a corner. However, it was parried clear by Louth goalkeeper Alexander Lait. In the second phase the defence made a mess of a clearance, miss-kicking the ball, resulting in the ball looping over Lait. The goalkeeper could only get a touch onto the ball, deflecting it onto the inside of the post, before it was eventually smashed clear.
A wild effort from Butterfill, flying high and wide kept the pressure on. The visitors were camped in their own half, with the woodwork rattled again from a corner, but the ball was eventually cleared. Tobias Liversidge had an effort whistle just wide of the far post, before Butterfill’s free kick from the edge of the box was well saved by Lait. A McGovern header from the penalty spot was also saved.
A Swinn header was powered over the bar, as the Whites struggled to find a second goal to give themselves a cushion at half-time. There was time at the end of the first half for Reece Southwood of Louth and Elliott Dye to be booked by referee Ethan Nundy, before he blew the half-time whistle.
Second-Half:
At the start of the second half, midfielder Harry Jacklin picked up a caution from referee Nundy before Liversidge had another effort deflected over.
A major chance came and went for United, as Payne once again found himself free in the penalty area, before his header from 6 yards was placed wide of the target.
The lead was doubled in the 63rd minute, when Tobias Liversidge picked up the ball on the left, before driving into the middle of the pitch and striking a powerful effort underneath goalkeeper Lait.
Things got worse for Louth, as twenty minutes from time, forward Jordan Smith was sent off for a reckless two-footed tackle in the Lincoln penalty area. Down the other end, Harry Millard went close straight after, but was met by a sweeping Lait.
Louth’s best chance of the game to that point came moments later when Harry Jacklin fired a shot at Josh Wilson. Despite spilling the first shot, he managed to claim the ball before the situation got worse.
Jake Park went close with 10 minutes to go from a corner, but his near post effort was clipped over.
Substitute Callum Foster also found himself in the referee’s notebook, for delaying a restart.
In the 89th minute, Louth halved the deficit with a tap in for an unmarked Ollie Kendall, who made no mistake from close range. A one-on-one chance for Kendall in added time was importantly held by goalkeeper Wilson as United saw out a victory which could have been a lot more comfortable.
Lincoln United 2-1 Louth Town
The victory sees The Whites through to the second round of the Lincolnshire FA County Senior Trophy, and they will now eagerly wait to find out who their next opponents will be. Lincoln United are next at home to Bugbrooke St .Michaels on Saturday (October 21st) in the FA Vase First Round.