LINCOLN CITY 1
Sanders 66
BOWERS & Pitsea boss Rob Small admitted he was disappointed despite his side coming to within one goal of bridging a three-division gap in front of a crowd of nearly 6,000 at Sincil Bank.
The Isthmian Premier side gave the League One Imps an almight fright and would have secured a famous replay at their modest Len Salmon Stadium but for Max Sanders’ 66th-minute winner. If you’re looking for some potential winners, check out this casino bonus code.
“We are disappointed,” Small said. “A lot went into it, a lot of preparation, a lot of effort on the pitch…and we nearly did it, we nearly did it. I’m still proud despite defeat.
“We’ve put the work in preparing for this game. Both in terms of trying to understand Michael Appleton and trying to understand Lincoln and the areas of the pitch they look to exploit.
“We didn’t want to come to Lincoln and play basketball. We know they’re fitter than us, we know they’re stronger than us and probably better at football.
“So we did out best to not play football today. Which is a strange thing to say, know. But we tried to level the playing field.
“I want more of this. I want more games like this, more regularly. We’ll keep working as a group of people to keep trying to create the memories we have created over the last seven or eight years at the club. This has given us a toast.”
Bowers had the better of the first half and went close to breaking the deadlock when Max Cornhill rattled the Lincoln crossbar with a rasping half-volley, while Jamie Dicks’ free-kick forced keeper Sam Long into a fine save.
City’s Dutch defender Lewis Montsma had an effort that was deflected just wide, while Dan Nlundulu and Hakeeb Adelakun both fired tame efforts at goal.
Lincoln introduced young striker Freddie Draper in their search for a winner and his header forced visiting custodian Mitch Beeney into a one-handed-save just before the hour.
City winger Adelakun then struck a post before Sanders produced a moment of magic to beat Beeney from a tight angle to eventually knock the stuffing out of the visitors.
Draper almost added a late second, but his looping strike was kept out by Beeney.
Imps boss Michael Appleton breathed a sigh of relief, commenting: “If you don’t score in that opening period, when we had a couple of chances, you could become nervous for no reason other than this is the FA Cup and that is what it does.
“I know how difficult it can be and how difficult it can be to break down a group of players who are determined, defend really deep and make it hard to play against.”
STAR MAN: Mitchell Beeney (Bowers & Pitsea)
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