Accrington started the game kicking towards the Stacey West but it was a quiet opening to the game with neither side managing an effort within the first 5 minutes but then, when the game entered it’s 6^th minute, the Imps took the lead. The ball found it’s way to Forrester who played a great through ball to Gritton. The former Torquay striker ran to the edge of the box unchallenged and slotted home past the onrushing goalkeeper to send the majority of a crowd just shy of 5,000 into raptures.

Loanee Nicky Eaden then almost grabbed a debut goal as Stallard sent a ball into the box but an unmarked Eaden could only hit the side netting despite having a full goal to aim at. It was a promising start for the Imps. Kerr had a chance in the 11^th minute when Gritton won a free kick around 20 yards out. Kerr shot but it was well kept out by Dunbavin.

Jamie Forrester defied his age moments later when he improvised well to sent himself up for an overhead kick but it was caught by Dunbavin. Peter Cavanagh was booked for the visitors but Forrester could only hit the free kick straight at the busy Dunbavin. The keeper’s team-mates weren’t causing his opposite a lot of trouble but finally got a chance of goal when they wasted a corner and minutes later, Gary Roberts blasted the ball well over from close range.

Good counter attacking saw the Imps prosper again as Nicky Eaden’s defensive header found it’s way to Kerr from a corner, Kerr passed to Forrester who ran up the wing before crossing the ball along the box and found Stallard. The striker hit his initial shot straight at Dunbavin but the keeper spilled it and Stallard tapped the ball in to join Forrester as the Imps’ leading goalscorer. That was the final significant action of the first half.

Harris was replaced by Mangan for the visitors. City should have had a penalty when Stallard was brought down whilst getting past a defender in the box but the referee seemed unmoved and didn’t even acknowledge that there had been a challenge. Martin Gritton was the victim of a hack down by Welch which earned the defender a yellow card. Gritton was booked a few minutes later when he fouled Richardson.

Accrington won a corner but City turned it into a counter attack when they burst down the right and forced a corner. Mayo almost connected with Frecklington’s delivery but it was well cleared by the defence. Stanley clearly hadn’t brought their shooting boots as they continued to shoot well over every time they went on the attack. City made them pay for this wastefulness as City again broke from an Accrington attack with Frecklington playing Forrester through the middle, the striker slid the ball to Stallard to shot across goal to make it 3-0 to City and fans could relax a bit now.

Not soon after and City had a 1 man advantage as well after Welch was booked for the second time and was sent off with over 20 minutes left. Mangan was then booked for the visitors but he almost scored a few minutes later but his shot was well kept out by Marriott. N’Da came on for Ian Craney for Stanley and seemed a turning point as less than a minute later, Gary Roberts shot from the edge of the area and it took a deflection and past Marriott into the net.

All of a sudden and Stanley appeared to motivated again and a few minutes later and they broke through one on one and it looked as though City were set to be in for another nail biting finish, however, Marriott saved well to kill several nerves around Sincil Bank. City almost extended the lead with both Forrester and Stallard testing Dunbavin from long range. Stallard was viciously fouled just before the 90 minute mark when he was tackled at knee height from behind by Cavanagh and it was no surprise that the midfielder got a red card. Limping out the game, Stallard was given a standing ovation by the Imps fans as he was replaced by Ryan for the final note-worthy incident of the game.