Lincoln United extended their winning run to nine matches as they advanced to the third round of the Isuzu FA Vase.
The Whites recorded a convincing 6-0 win over fellow Northern Counties League side Heanor Town at the Sun-hat Villas & Resorts Stadium.
Chris Funnell’s side came into the on an eight-game winning streak, making one change from last Saturday’s 9-0 win over Coventry United. Whereas, the visitors came into the game with their own undefeated run, having not lost in their last three games.
First-Half:
Both teams came out the blocks strong, with Heanor’s captain, Kieran Debrouwer, forcing keeper Jack Steggles into a save down to his left in the 2nd minute.
The Whites would hit right back a minute later with a chance of their own, with Jack McGovern’s free header being held by the keeper.
United would take the lead in the 9th minute from their first corner of the game after McGovern would score from Callum Foster’s knock down inside the 18-yard box.
The Whites doubled their lead in the 19th minute, with Jack McMenemy’s cute touch on to Elliot Dye resulting in the keeper bringing him down for a penalty, which McMenemy would squeeze past the keeper into the bottom left corner.
United had been putting on the pressure throughout the first half, with Sean Wright attempting an audacious volley following McGovern’s flick on.
McGovern was yet again involved in the play two minutes later, stealing the ball off of Heanor defender Jake Carlisle, with McMenemy taking on the loose ball and curling it into the top right corner from outside the 18-yard box to make it two for him and 3-0 to the hosts inside 30 minutes.
In the 42nd minute, Tobias Liversidge would make it 4-0 after cutting in past Heanor defender Reece Horne and placing it into the bottom right corner. Heanor manager Glen Clarence was booked for his touchline antics after believing the linesman should have flagged for and offside on McMenemy.
Heanor’s struggles continued as Horne was sent to the sidelines following his tackle on McGovern just outside the box. McGovern’s resulting freekick was comfortably saved by the keeper.
Second-Half:
The visitors’ worries continued into the second half, with substitute Jemson’s failed clearance resulting in McGovern fizzing the ball across the 6-yard box. However, McMenemy failed to get a foot onto it.
McMenemy was certainly looking for his hat trick, lashing a shot over the bar in the 53rd minute after Evan Payne’s cross.
The visitors would show some fightback in the 55th minute, with Debrouwer’s effort from 25-yards just going over the bar, and Max Thornberry’s effort being held by Steggles.
However, it would not last long as the returning Horne gave away the ball in the middle of the pitch to McMenemy who burst into the 18-yard box before cutting it back to McGovern to tuck it under the keeper’s body to make it 5-0 to the Whites.
Heanor’s top scorer Sacha Markelic would be subbed off after 72 minutes, with the hosts successfully keeping the 17-goal striker at bay for the afternoon.
The hosts would not let up with the pressure they had put on since kick-off, as Leo Priestley’s shot deflected off of Jemson’s arm for another penalty. Substitute Matt Cotton, who replaced McMenemy in the 74th minute, would convert from 12-yards out, making it 6-0 in the 85th minute.
The Whites thought they had made it seven two minutes later, with Liversidge rounding the keeper, but he was denied by the defender. The ball fell to substitute Joe Smith’s feet who smacked the crossbar from inside the 18-yard box.
Lincoln United 6-0 Heanor Town:
It was a commanding win for Lincoln United, with the game being put to bed in the first-half. The Whites shut out the East Midlands side throughout the game, with Jack Steggles barely being tested.
Two goals for man of the match Jack McMenemy and Jack McGovern, as well as one each for Tobias Liversidge and Matt Cotton sealed the tie for Chris Funnell’s side.