Matlock Town were the visitors to Sincil Bank on Wednesday evening in what proved to be high scoring game in the FA Youth Cup.
Referee Matthew Maddison got this FA Youth Cup tie underway with the visitors kicking off and defending the Stacey West Stand, the Imps were soon on the attack with left back Leon Loftus playing the ball down the line, which just managed to stay in play with Jenk Acar in pursuit, his run into the box and his cross just evaded the oncoming Lewis Millington.
The first free kick of the game came in the fifth minute to Matlock Town, on the half way line, the visitors captain McNeil played it forward into the Imps box, it eventually fell to Walden but Liam Harris nipped in to deny the Matlock Town striker from getting a shot away with Jack Weatherell completing the clearance.
The first shot of the tie by Sam Fewkes, who had a neat first touch when between the two Matlock centre halves after a long pass from Weatherell but his effort went wide of the goal.
Jack Fixter made an important block to stop Richard Walton in the Imps goal being called into action, the ball running out for a corner, from this Walton made a good safe catch and quickly got the Imps on the attack with Acar down the right, his ball into the centre came to nothing. It was then Loftus who blocked well after a error in the defending third.
Midfielder Liam Harris played the ball out to the right for Millington whose cross, with the Town keeper hesitating, neither Harris nor McMenemy could capitalise, Fewkes was beginning to find his passing range and a terrific pass to McMenemy, who controlled and passed to find Millington six yards out in front of goal but he could only manage to shoot over the bar.
In the 23rd minute, McMenemy took full advantage of a defender losing his footing with the ball at his feet, some 25 yards out from goal, the Imps striker twisted and turned the other centre half in the box then drilled the ball past the keeper’s left to open the scoring.
Within a minute it was 2-0 Fewkes finished off a move that he started with a neat side foot after his initial pass out wide to Acar, who took on the defender and pulled the ball back to the 18 yard line to find Fewkes.
Bulheller in the Gladiator's goal made two great saves to deny the Imps increasing their lead, down to his right from Millington then McMenemy after the former had headed down into his path. Lincoln now looking more dangerous and likely to extend their lead but it was Bulheller again who came out well to block a Millington effort and then managed to smother the loose ball. Millington receiving a cross from down the left by Calum Stewart but his shot went over the bar.
A free kick to Matlock Town down the Imps left in the 43rd minute, with the defensive line all pushing out, there was no linesman's flag for offside, Ollie Walden collected and finished well past Walton to reduce the deficit, 2 - 1.
Lincoln managed to create two more opportunities before the break with McMenemy failing to lob the keeper from just inside the area, the keeper's legs then blocking a Acar shot just before the referee ended the half, the Imps should of really been further in front.
With no changes made by either team at the break, however Matlock were soon forced to make a change after Josh Middleton had to be replaced after taking a knock, Aiden Macadam coming off the bench.
Archie Moyses and Fewkes standing over a free kick just outside the Matlock box on the right, tried to play a ball into feet but Town were aware and cleared up field. The Imps were pushing forward and were rewarded when a Matlock defensive error resulted in Harris, 30 yards from goal latching onto a misplaced pass and chipped home over the stranded keeper to increase the Imps lead, 3-1, great vision and execution.
On the hour mark a Town free kick from the left, 25 yards out, beat the wall and Walton's dive but struck the outside of the post, a minute later, Fewkes picked up the ball 40 yards out and let fly with a terrific strike, power and precision to extend the Imps lead to 4 - 1, Fewkes was then involved in the 5th, when his pass inside the right full back with Acar running in behind and his first time effort found the bottom corner of the net.
Another minute, another goal, McMenemy with his back to goal after Moyses had played the ball into him, his turn and strike saw him convert for number six, before the restart the Imps made 3 changes with Fewkes, Acar and Weatherell being replaced with Andersen, Clarke and Horton.
Belheller in the Town goal made a excellent full stretch finger tip save to stop Moyses getting on the score sheet, Millington once again seeing a shot over the bar after good work by McMenemy, Matlock made a further change with Keen replacing Banks, with seven minutes remaining McMenemy completed his hat-trick when rounding the keeper and rolling the ball in from seven yards out, 7-1. The Gladiator's bar was then struck by Millington with a header following a Clarke cross.
Space and time for Archie Moyses on half way, a long pass forward over the Matlock defence into space down the left with McMenemy running on and collecting before his low cross picked out Matthew Clarke who steered the ball into the net, into added time, Moyses with a free kick from the right, 22 yards out, the bar rattled again but Millington was finally rewarded after following up to tap home the rebound.
The Imps running out comfortable winners in the second half with some well taken goals, the Imps will now travel to Leicester Road Football Club with the tie to be played week commencing Monday 21 September.
Lincoln City: Walton (c), Fixter, Stewart, Moyses, Loftus, Weatherell, Acar, Harris, McMenemy, Fewkes, Millington. Subs: Andersen, Thompson, Clarke, Horton, Start.
Goals: McMenemy (3), Fewkes (2), Harris, Acar, Clarke, Millington.
Matlock Town: Bulheller, Middleton, Marshall, Cooper, McNeil (c), Hague, Edgson, Banks, Walden, Brown, Hallsworth. Subs: Hitchcock, Hill, Macadam, Keen, Snow.
Goals: Walden.
Referee: Matthew Maddison
Assistants: Louis Stamp & Jack Snowdon
Attendance: 127
