Lincoln City fell to the hands of Harrogate Town, being knocked out of the EFL Cup after a 1-2 defeat at the LNER Stadium.
Goals from Sam Folarin and James Daly were enough for the League Two outfit to notch an upset.
Michael Skubala made a number of changes to his side that beat Burton Albion on Saturday, with Zach Jeacock, Lewis Montsma, Tom Hamer, Jay Benn, Dom Jefferies, Jack Moylan, Rob Street and Freddie Draper all coming in to make their first starts of the season.
It was an important night for Dutchman Montsma, who made his first competitive start for Lincoln since March 2023, when he was ruled out with an ACL injury.
As for the Sulphurites, Simon Weaver made four changes from the side that tasted defeat to Bromley. Matty Foulds, Warrren Burrell, Sam Folarin and Ellis Taylor came in to replace Dean Cornelius, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Jack Muldoon and George Thomson.
First-Half:
The first chance of the first half fell to Jack Moylan, who cut inside of his man and curled an effort which fell wide of the mark. The lack of quality in the final third became more apparent for both sides as the game went on. The Imps attacked well, but once they broke into the final third the pass wasn’t there.
Some brilliant link up play between three players on Lincoln’s right wing broke them through the Harrogate defence, leaving an easy ball into the box. The Imps attackers did not capitalise on the opportunity, however, with Erhahon seemingly leaving the ball for Draper, who couldn’t get in front of his defender as the ball was cleared away.
City goalkeeper Jeacock was called into action once in the first-half. Harrogate defender Toby Sims volleyed an effort towards goal after a failed clearance, with a deflection leaving the new recruit a lot to do. He saved it brilliantly, however, as the ball went away from danger.
Harrogate’s lack of quality in attack showed in the first-half, too. After beating Lincoln on a counter-attack, a drilled cross couldn’t be met by Sam Folarin, who missed the ball as it went away for a goal kick. There was no real danger to shout about, while Lincoln were the dominant side without finding the cutting edge to break the deadlock.
Second-Half:
Harrogate took the lead early on in the second-half. Ellis Taylor ran down the left wing and cut it in to a free Sam Folarin in the Lincoln City box. Folarin had an easy tap in to give the Sulphurites the lead.
The Imps looked to equalise almost immediately, with a ball falling perfectly to the feet of JJ McKiernan, who’s effort was hit high over the bar.
Harrogate got their second with half an hour to go. City’s defence was pressured by Zico Asare, causing the Imps to make a mistake. James Daly use this as his chance to capitalise, as he put it calmly past Jeacock in goal.
Lincoln decided to use reinforcements to try to get back into the game. The additions of Dylan Duffy, Ben House and Jovon Makama showed the intent from Skubala, as Lincoln played out the final ten minutes of the game with four recognised strikers, and additional wingers.
The Imps got one back with five minutes to play. Ben House was brought down in the box, which gave referee Scott Tallis no choice but to point to the spot. Makama was the man trusted to take the spot kick, placing it to the keepers left and giving Lincoln life.
Harrogate did their best to run down the clock, but the home side looked dangerous every time they were on the ball. Rather than long ball football or hopeful crosses, Lincoln played good football around the Town players, only for a last-ditch challenge to be enough.
With six minutes added on at the end of the game, City through everything they could at the visitors, but weren’t able to find a second to keep themselves in the cup.
Overall, the Imps couldn’t find the finishing touch from open play to get them back in contention to progress.
Full Time: Lincoln City 1-2 Harrogate Town
Lincoln couldn’t repeat the scoreline between these two in pre-season, as the Imps found themselves out of the EFL cup at the first hurdle.
Attention now turns to Saturday now, as Lincoln City host Barnsley in their first home game of the League One season.