Lincoln United extended their winning run to eight matches as they advanced to the quarter finals of the league cup.
The Whites advanced in the Sports Development League Knockout Cup with a comfortable 9 – 0 win over Coventry United at the Sun-hat Villas & Resorts Stadium.
The Whites came into the game in excellent form with Chris Funnell’s side winning all seven of their matches in October. However, they were without top scorer Matt Cotton meaning Jack McMenemy and Jack McGovern were trusted to lead the line.
The match was a special occasion for Whites’ left back Kallum Smith who was set to make his 500th appearance for the club spanning over a 13-year career at Ashby Avenue. Prior to kick off Smith was presented with a framed commemorative shirt to celebrate his achievement.
Coventry United came into the match in a far more turbulent situation after manager Carl Nolan resigned last week following a run of one win in their last six. John Goodman and Under 21’s manager Ellis Alleyne were in interim charge of the team.
First Half:
It was a wet and gloomy afternoon at Ashby Avenue, but it was a bright start for The Whites as they had most of the early possession.
It took just 8 minutes for the hosts’ early pressure to pay off as Jack McMenemy broke the deadlock. A goalmouth scramble handed a golden opportunity to McMenemy, who couldn’t miss with an empty net to aim at.
The visitors responded with their first forays forward after 15 minutes, but the Whites doubled their lead though with a fantastic goal from Jack McGovern after 26 minutes.
Gibbons swung in a free kick from the left-hand side which hit a Lincoln player, setting it up perfectly for McGovern to hit a sweetly struck volley into the roof of the net and give his side a two-goal cushion.
It was three before the half hour mark as some good hold up play from McMenemy allowed others to join a counter attack, he could then square it for Ted Gibbons to slot it home to make it 3-0. The goal meaning The Whites practically had one foot in the quarter finals before half-time.
A fine save from Coventry keeper Harvey Randle denied Lincoln a chance to put the game out of sight on 37 minutes, diving down to his right to keep out what looked a certain goal from Gibbons who was just 5 yards out.
Despite The Whites’ dominance Jack Steggles had to be alert to save well from Jackson’s snapshot, which could have given Coventry United a lifeline in the latter stages of the half.
Second Half:
A livelier start to the half from the visitors saw top scorer Jamal Adams get his first sight of goal, a deflected shot narrowly rolling past the far post.
But before long it was normal service resumed with the two Lincoln United strikers combining to make it 4-0 the Whites after 50 minutes. McMenemy playing a clever through ball to put McGovern though on goal, before he finished with aplomb.
The Whites added a sensational fifth just after the hour mark as Tobias Liversidge sprung into life and cut in from the left-wing, weaving brilliantly through four Coventry defenders before firing a fierce shot past Randle from just inside the penalty area.
There was a special moment for Kallum Smith on 73 minutes as he was given a rapturous applause by the Lincoln United faithful as he was replaced by Pierce Hudson, Smith showing his thanks applauded the supporters he had now appeared 500 times in front of.
Lincoln did not let up with their pressure and substitutes Jack Butterfill and Jake Park combined to create a well worked sixth goal. Butterfill beat his man on the right wing before flashing the ball across the face for Park to tap into an empty net and make it 6-0.
Coventry threatened the clean sheet of Jack Steggles with a long-distance effort from Jackson and a close range shot from Rodber but were unable to beat The Whites’ keeper.
On 85 minutes another substitute got on the scoresheet for Lincoln as Pierce Hudson shot cleverly across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner, making it 7-0 to the Whites.
A 90th minute penalty added to the scoring for the Whites as Jack McGovern completed his hat-trick from the spot after he was brought down inside the area.
A ninth completed the scoring in added time as good pressure from Liversidge won the ball back on the left-hand side, he cut the ball back for Jake Park to slot the ball into the corner and complete a brace off the bench.
Lincoln United 9-0 Coventry United:
It was a dominant display by Lincoln United which allowed them to be out of sight before an out of form Coventry United team could get any kind of foothold in the match.
The Whites limited the West Midlands side to very few opportunities and bombarded their goal throughout the 90 minutes.
A hat-trick from McGovern, and one each for McMenemy, Gibbons, Park, Hudson, and man of the match Liversidge were more than enough to see Chris Funnell’s side though to a cup quarter final and continue their fine form.