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FA Cup | Third Round
Jan 17, 2017 at 8.05pm UK
 
IL

1-0

Arnold (91')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Lincoln City 1-0 Ipswich Town - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Lincoln City 1-0 Ipswich Town - as it happened: ID:289699: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup clash between non-league Lincoln City and Ipswich Town.

Non-league side Lincoln City have booked their place in round four of the FA Cup after dumping out Ipswich Town in a third round replay at Sincil Bank.

The Imps dominated the game for lengthy spells but had to wait until the 91st minute to net their deserved winner.

A Nathan Arnold strike at the death proved the difference between the two sides, who drew 2-2 in the original fixture at Portman Road.

Find out how all the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.

Good evening and welcome to our live text coverage of the FA Cup third round replay between non-league Lincoln City and Ipswich Town. No prizes for guessing which one of these two is the bookmakers' favourite, but a shock result is always a possibility in fixtures like this. That's the magic of the FA Cup!
Here comes the team news...
LINCOLN: Farman; Wood, Habergham, Waterfall, Power; Rhead, Hawkridge, Raggett, Arnold, Woodyard; Robinson
IPSWICH: Gerken; Emmanuel, Chambers, Digby, Berra; Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Ward; Lawrence, Best
The big news for Lincoln fans is the return of two key players to their first XI - with captain Luke Waterfall and top-scorer Matt Rhead returning to the fold - but my player to watch this evening is defensive powerhouse Sean Raggett, a towering England C international who has been tipped for the big time.
Meanwhile, Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy has made five changes to his side in a bid to avoid a potential upset, recalling Gerken, Digby, Douglas, Ward and Best.
The National League's top team Lincoln proved they are no pushovers at Portman Road, twice leading against a strong Ipswich side through a pair of Theo Robinson strikes before Tom Lawrence salvaged a replay for the Tractor Boys. That draw must have ultimately felt like a defeat for the Imps, but no doubt they would have taken it before kickoff.
There is a poignant tribute to former Lincoln player and manager Graham Taylor in tonight's programme, this being their first game since his passing. Taylor played more than 150 games for the Imps before retiring in 1972 and led them to the old Fourth Division title as coach several seasons later. Rest in peace, Graham.
There may be several divisions separating these two teams, but the stats suggest that Lincoln are the team to beat tonight. The Imps have lost just once in their last 21 matches in all competitions, while the Tractor Boys have four wins in 10.
A quick glance at the season stats for goals score also gives Ipswich reason to be fearful - Lincoln have netted a whopping 55 times in the National League this team, compared to the visitors' 28 in the second tier.
Pre-match quotes from both camps coming up...
LINCOLN BOSS DANNY COWLEY: "There's no doubt we are going to see a better version of Ipswich, you will see a more focused Ipswich. To have this nationwide exposure is great for everybody. We are in front of the cameras, it will be a great night for the club and we want to make the most of it." (via BBC Sport)
MICK MCCARTHY: "They're flying, they brought 5,000 fans and were up for it. It's easy when you're that team to be up for it, I've been there. Everybody says it should be just as easy for us, but it's not, and I don't know why. Sometimes you just have to be hard-nose, brutally professional and deal with it, and we weren't. We will be a bit more experienced, so I would hope for a much better performance and for us to win."
As Mick points out, he has a more experienced Ipswich at his disposal tonight, with skipper Luke Chambers and vice captain Cole Skuse back in action. With this in mind, they have to be the favourites tonight despite Lincoln having home advantage.
PREDICTION: Those who underestimate Lincoln do so at their peril, but I think Ipswich, with their key players returning, will edge this one tonight. I'm going for a 2-1 win to the visitors without the need for extra time.
This is a tough one to call as history gives us no clues about what to expect. Prior that the 2-2 draw in the original fixture, these two sides have not met in a competitive fixture since 1961!
Ipswich got the double over today's opponents in that season, winning 3-1 at home and 4-1 away. I couldn't tell you who scored in either of those fixtures as the records I have access to aren't that detailed - but it's a good omen for the Tractor Boys nonetheless.
Northampton Town's Paul Anderson is looking forward to this one, and so are we. You can't beat a good FA Cup tie:
Ipswich head into this replay off the back of a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, while Lincoln went one better in the fourth tier by defeating Guiseley 3-1. However, the league form guide is often irrelevant in these fixtures.
To give you an idea of what is at stake here - the winners of this tie will earn £67,500 in prize money, which is like a few million in National League terms and take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the next round.
Just five minutes to go until until kickoff. Can Ipswich Town overcome the National League leaders at the second time of asking? Stay tuned to find out...
KICKOFF! The match gets underway following a minute of applause for the late, great Graham Taylor. Lincoln will kick from left to right in the first half - the packed-out Sincil Bank is absolutely rocking!
Lincoln look to cook something up along the right channel as wing-back Bradley Wood makes it as far as the byline, but Chambers doesn't give him an inch, shepherding the ball out for an Ipswich goalkick.
Now it's Ipswich's turn to break along the right, with Emmanuel whipping a cross into the box towards the head of Douglas, but it's too high for his teammate to reach and goes out for a throw to the hosts.
It's been a nervy start from Ipswich. They give Arnold too much space and allow him to get in on the right flank once again. He plays what was almost a dangerous ball into the penalty area but Chambers intercepts before Gerken clears his lines.
The first shot on goal goes Lincoln's way but it's nowhere near the target. Arnold latches onto a loose ball and shoots on the half-volley but his effort sails over Gerken's crossbar.
CHANCE! Tom Lawrence, who found the net twice in the original fixture, runs at the Lincoln defence and pulls the trigger, forcing Farman to get down quickly and smother the shot. The visitors have claimed the only attempt on target so far.
Lincoln are clearly wary of Lawrence, and with good reason following his brace at Portman Road. The Imps' skipper Luke Waterfall appears to have been given the task of man-marking the striker and he's just conceded a foul for carrying out his duties overzealously.
Neither of these teams have managed to make their mark on this cup tie yet, but they're both vying for control of it. We've seen attacking intent at either end of the park, but only one shot on target so far.
There's a scramble in and around the Lincoln penalty area as Ipswich throw numbers forward for an attack. The home side's defending is haphazard but Farman races off his line and snuffs out the danger before the opposition can capitalise.
Here are the scenes as the entire stadium held a minute's applause for the late Graham Taylor. A poignant moment indeed:
CHANCE! The ball finds its way to Theo Robinson inside the box, who makes space for himself with a deft turn and shoots. Fortunately for Ipswich, Digby is there to make a vital block and keep the scoreline at 0-0!
That Robinson chance has really got the crowd of just under 10,000 fired up. You have to say that was a let-off for Ipswich, who are only level pegging thanks to Digby's quick thinking.
CLOSE! Lincoln are asking all of the questions at the moment and have just come close through a Woodyard header. The midfielder nodded just wide from the centre of the box following good work from Robinson, whose delivery was flawless.
Possession has been an even 50-50 split but it's Lincoln who have created more chances. They look more up for this one than Ipswich and are playing with fervour - their movement off the ball has also been superior.
Here's that excellent interception from Digby earlier, a challenge which could well turn out to be decisive in this FA Cup tie:
We have our first corner of the game as Chambers put the ball behind under pressure from Hawkridge, but Lincoln fail to make anything of it. They've got Ipswich on the ropes at the moment and are looking the more likely to break the deadlock.
GREAT SAVE! Gerken pulls off a brilliant reaction save to deny Waterfall at close range! Rhead's knockdown falls kindly for the Lincoln skipper inside the penalty area but he can't find a way past the Tractor Boys keeper. The Imps are denied a stonewall corner as the ball bobbles behind.
HALF TIME: Lincoln City 0-0 Ipswich Town
It's goalless at the break and Lincoln might just be disappointed by that scoreline given the chances they've created. They've been superior on and off the ball tonight - you wouldn't think there are so many league places between these two teams.
Theo Robinson, Luke Waterfall and Luke Woodyard have all come close to hurting Ipswich, who are only still in this thanks to the form of their goalkeeper Gerken and defender Paul Digby.
No doubt Mick McCarthy will have a few choice words for his players in the dressing room after they were bossed by National League opposition. They've lacked cohesion across the park tonight.
There are a number of other FA Cup replays going on this evening. Here's the latest from around the grounds:

AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Sutton
Barnsley 1-1 Blackpool
Burnley 1-0 Sunderland
Fleetwood Town 0-1 Bristol City
Crystal Palace 0-0 Bolton

McCarthy needs to get more out of his players in the second half. Lincoln will fancy their chances after the way the first period went but I think the opening goal could be pivotal tonight. If it goes the way of Ipswich, the Imps could rue those missed chances.
KICKOFF: We're back underway at Sincil Bank where neither team has made any half-time changes, which is surprising from an Ipswich point of view.
Lincoln are quick off the blocks in the second period as Habergham's free kick leads to a corner, which they can't make anything of. Rhead is shown the first yellow card of the evening moments later for a late challenge on Berra.
There's been a scrappy aspect to Lincoln's game early in this season half. Wood was lucky to escape a yellow card for plowing into Lawrence there - is their frustration at the scoreline starting to show?
Plays is interrupted as Knudsen is on the deck receiving treatment after taking a cross square in the face. It doesn't look like anything too serious, so we should be back underway soon enough.
SAVE! Lincoln allow Emmanuel too much space on the edge of the box and he lets fly from there. Farman sees it late but gets down quickly to save low to his left, palming the ball away. That's as close as Ipswich have come to a goal tonight.
Robinson tangles with Berra along the left flank and the ball ends up behind for an Ipswich goalkick, much to the Lincoln striker's frustration. He's claiming his marker had the final touch but the replay suggests otherwise.
BOOKING! Douglas becomes the second player of the evening to receive a yellow card. He's been booked for a dangerous challenge on Rhead, a caution he can have zero complaints about.
The hosts have taken their foot off the accelerator after dominating the first half but Gerken has just been called into action, diving to his right to snuff out Arnold's long-range strike, which didn't look like it was going to hit the target anyway.
Ipswich are looking more disciplined in the second half but have rarely threatened. They need to get more service to Lawrence, who we know is capable of doing damage when he gets a sight of goal.
SUBSTITUTIONS: It's a double substitution for Ipswich as Sears and youngster Dozzell come on for Best and Ward. Changes are much needed for the Tractor Boys, but it's debatable whether any of their players deserve to stay on.
SUBSTITUTION: Lincoln make their first change of the night, throwing on Adam Marriott for Theo Robinson with just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Do either of these teams have the stomach for extra time and possibly the dreaded penalty shootout? We might not have to wait too much longer to find out but I'd say the game has become too close to call.
Both sides look like they're low on energy now and mistakes are creeping in across the park. It would only take one moment of madness or a sudden rush of blood to the head to decide this contest in normal time.
SHOT! The Lincoln defence fails to clear its lines and the ball falls invitingly for Knudson to smash from the edge of the area. He keeps his effort low and applies plenty of power, but it was heading wide from the moment it left his boot.
Bradley Wood is shown the yellow card for bringing down Lawrence in the final minute. Ipswich win a free kick in the final minute of the game...
GOAL! Lincoln City 1-0 Ipswich Town (Arnold)
Oh my word! Ipswich end up conceding right at the death after giving the ball away from their own free kick. Lawrence's delivery is poor, allowing Adam Marriott to break. He threads the ball through to Nathan Arnold who rounds Gerken and places the ball into an empty net. That's surely Lincoln into round four!
FULL TIME: Lincoln City 1-0 Ipswich Town
Non-league outfit Lincoln City have reached the fourth round of the FA Cup in sensational fashion! Arnold's last-minute winner has handed them a deserved 1-0 victory over Championship opposition and set up a tantalising showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion.
There was a mini pitch invasion at Sincil Bank when the full-time whistle sounded - what a night from the National League leaders.
As for Ipswich, they were awful. Mick McCarthy needs to take a good hard look at how his side played in this match and the 2-2 draw at Portman Road. Perhaps his position in charge may come under increased scrutiny following that result.
And that's all we have time for this evening, but stick with Sports Mole for all of the fallout from tonight's FA Cup ties. Many thanks for reading!
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