Athletico Lincoln 1-4 RM Imps
A break from league affairs gave Athletico Lincoln the chance to cause an upset and progress in the Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup against Division Two high fliers RM Imps. Despite a stirring performance in the second half, Lincoln found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline to see their hopes of cup glory dashed.
The preliminary round tie, held at West Common, was preceded by an impeccably observed minute silence to commemorate Remembrance Sunday.
It was the Imps that came out of the blocks fastest when the action got underway, leaving their lower league opposition fearing the worst. The away side were 2-0 up inside 15 minutes, courtesy of a spectacular half-volley and a placed header past the helpless Jack Guest in the Lincoln goal.
The remainder of the first half saw few openings for Lincoln, with the Imps keeper not required to make any saves of note. Contrary to what many were expecting, however, the tie didn’t turn into a demolition. Apart from an optimistic penalty claim, several speculative long range efforts and a mishit cross that beat everything but the crossbar, RM Imps could not beak through a resolute Athletico defence to create any gilt-edged chances.
Imps went into the half time break two goals to the good. For Athletico Lincoln though, with several key players missing, the scoreline was far from the disaster some had predicted and their confidence grew in the second half as the game opened up and saw numerous chances for both sides.
Alex Cripps and Dan Romay, both making their debuts for Athletico, had a string of opportunities but were thwarted each time by the assured Imps backline. It was the visitors that broke the second half deadlock, with a strike that would have the Dubious Goals Panel scratching their heads. A low cross from the Imps left winger fooled everyone to sneak in behind the keeper, Guest, whose desperate attempts to parry the ball away only ended up diverting it into his own net. The fourth, a sublime lob, seemingly put the tie beyond all reasonable doubt.
Athletico weren’t going down without a fight however, and during one ten minute period they could have had three goals to make the final moments of the game interesting. Unfortunately, Dan Brown, perhaps showing signs of his advancing age, lost all composure and somehow managed to shoot wide from two yards out with the goal at his mercy. It was Callum Gibson’s turn to hang his head in shame shortly afterwards, as he squandered a golden opportunity ten yards out after being perfectly set up by Alex Cripps cutting inside from the right hand side. The right back, fast becoming an Athletico cult hero for his occasional marauding runs into opposition territory, struggled to dig the ball out from beneath his feet and the eventual shot bobbled harmlessly wide.
Dan Romay finally grabbed a goal for the home side with a majestic lob over the onrushing Imps keeper, but it was too little, too late as the strong finish from Athletico only served to provide much needed momentum going in to the crucial basement battle with Birchwood Social at West Common next Sunday.
The loss means Athletico Lincoln are free to concentrate on their Division Three survival quest. RM Imps advance to the Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup first round proper, where they have been gifted a bye straight into the second round courtesy of F.A suspensions imposed on several clubs.