Lincoln United advanced in the Isuzu FA Vase after a comfortable win over Bugbrooke St. Michaels at the Sun-hat Villas & Resorts Stadium.
Striker Matt Cotton netted either side of a Jack McMenemy goal, before Elliott Dye added a late fourth to seal a deserved win. Ed Panter’s injury time penalty was nothing more than a consolation goal.
The Whites came into the game off an excellent run of results, winning all four of their games in October so far. Their visitors have had a mostly positive run, winning three, drawing one and losing the other. They sit 10th in the United Counties League Premier Division South, while United are 5th in the northern equivalent.
Top scorers Matt Cotton and Jack McMenemy lead the line, as Chris Funnell’s side hoped to win and advance into the FA Vase second round.
First-Half:
The game started in energetic fashion and it didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken. Lincoln United star-striker Matt Cotton tapped the ball home from inside the six-yard box after a corner was whipped in and not dealt with by the Bugbrooke St. Michaels defence.
The Whites went close to doubling their lead within the first ten minutes as another corner from the right caused the Badgers trouble. Evan Payne headed the ball from the far post, but it went just over the bar.
Lincoln’s domination continued as they created a number of chances. In the 20th minute, it was great play from Tuesday’s man of the match Tobias Liversidge that almost brought the second. He dribbled beautifully past a number of Bugbrooke men before cutting the ball back to Cotton. Goalkeeper Luke Reece was equal to it and managed to keep the score at 1-0.
As the half hour mark neared Bugbrooke had their first real chance of the game. Ed Panter was played in behind the Whites’ defence and chipped the ball over Jack Steggles. However, instead of landing in the back of the net, his effort landed well over the bar.
Another Lincoln chance went begging as the ball found its way into the centre of the six-yard box. Ted Gibbons lunged a foot at it, but only managed to scoop it over Reece’s goal.
Chris Funnell’s men had missed multiple opportunities to extend their lead in the first-half and had allowed the visitors to get back into it.
In the 40th minute, the ball broke to Calvin Green at the edge of the box, who fired a shot just over the bar. Panter had another good chance too, as he forced a fine reaction stop from Jack Steggles.
Half-time came with Lincoln United deserving their lead, but aware that Bugbrooke had the potential to cause them problems in a feisty contest at Ashby Avenue.
Second-Half:
The first chance of the second-half came the way of Lincoln United. Liversidge collected the ball from a half clearance, but swept a difficult chance just over the bar.
A safety net came just a few minutes later as Lincoln doubled their lead. In the 54th minute, Jack McMenemy scored his second goal of the week, coolly placing the ball past Reece after a Gibbons cut-back.
The Whites were having the better off the second-half and were looking to hammer home their advantage. On the hour mark, the booked Harry Millard was replaced by Mitch Griffiths, while Bugbrooke made a double chance. Chris Makekera and Andy Ankrah come on for Aiden Webster and Johnny Carey.
Chris Funnell was hoping his side could produce a more comfortable win than their penalty shootout victory in their FA Vase qualifying game against Newark Town.
And they looked to be doing just that as Matt Cotton scored his second of the game, from the penalty spot. Referee Shemakay Own pointed to the spot after Cotton was brought down by Tom Walton. The striker got up and fired the ball down the middle after a stuttering run-up.
The game slowed down after the third Lincoln goal, as Bugbrooke realised the mountain they had to climb. Callum Foster almost netted the fourth, but had a header cleared off the line. The fourth was eventually added by Elliott Dye as he volleyed home in the 88th minute.
Ed Panter scored an injury time consolation goal from the penalty spot to cut the deficit slightly.
Lincoln United 4-1 Bugbrooke St. Michaels
It was a comfortable victory in the end for Lincoln United as they put away enough of their chances to sweep aside a potentially dangerous Bugbrooke St. Michaels side.
The Northamptonshire outfit had chances of their own in the game, but couldn’t stop a tirade from the home side.
Two goals from Matt Cotton, one from Jack McMenemy and a late Elliott Dye strike secured a fine win and a place in the hat for the FA Vase second round.