City’s first penalty claim saw Steve Phillips clumsily brought down Stallard but the referee waved play on before Forrester forced the keeper into a save after Birley’s build up play impressed the Imps fans. It took over 20 minutes for Bristol Rovers to make their way into City’s half and they almost took the lead against the run of play when the ball fell to Campbell who sent a curling effort just wide of the goal.

Beevers tried again to score his first goal since September when he sent a long range shot a few feet wide of the net before Lewis Haldane went down injured. Forrester was unlucky not to open the scoring with an extremely powerful shot that brought an equally impressive save from Phillips and it seemed like City were never going to get the goal that would see them take the lead in a match for the first time since the Swindon game.

Frecklington tested the sturdiness of the goal frame when he rasping shot rebounded off the bar and Stallard’s reaction was saved by Phillips who had been extremely busy in the first half. If the first appeal was a 50/50 decision, the 2^nd appeal was stonewall and somehow still wasn’t given as Forrester was taken down at the knees by Phillips but again the referee waved playoff.

Beevers again tried to break his duck when he looping header his the underside of the bar but somehow stayed out. With the game approaching half time, loanee Matt Birley again brought a fantastic save out of Phillips with a powerful shot from the left. The 3^rd penalty appeal was finally accepted as Forrester fell under the challenge of Elliott, in my opinion it was the least likely challenge to result in a penalty but it was the chance that City’s dominance had deserved. Forrester missed his last penalty at Sincil Bank for the Imps but stepped up confidently and smashed the ball into the net.

City broke again with Amoo running down the wing but the referee blew for half time with a 1-0 win not reflecting the first half in the slightest.

Bristol Rovers had the first chance of the second half although that came after nearly 10 minutes of the game and that was a wasted free kick that was whipped into the net. It was a very slow start to the second half and with 12 minutes of the half gone, Lewis Haldane was replaced by Andy Sandell for the visitors and his appearance signalled City’s dominance beginning again and Lee Frecklington won a free kick roughly 25 yards out on goal.

Forrester had scored a few good free kicks for the Pirates and this was the first free kick that he’d taken for the Imps and despite appearing to his it well, it hit the wall. Good work from Stallard saw him play Frecklington through on the edge of the 6 yard area but his first touch was too heavy and it went out of play.

With half of the second period up, Bristol Rovers made an attacking substitution as Richard Walker replaced Stuart Nicholson. Ironically Walker had a bandage of on his head from the FA Cup against Bournemouth, if City had gotten past Port Vale and then beaten Hereford, the winner of Bristol Rovers and Bournemouth would have been our 3^rd round opponents. The slow second half continued and with 15 minutes to go, Mayo came on for Birley. Carruthers earned a booking for fouling Amoo on the right. Frecklington quickly joined him in the book for having the nerve to be fouled by a Bristol Rovers player.

Stallard made way for Martin Gritton before play was halted when Amoo was injured, he was eventually replaced by Adie Moses. The game entered injury time and Bristol Rovers had their first shot on target but it was a tame effort from Walker as he shot straight at Marriott. That was the final action of the game and it was one of the most 1 sided 1-0’s since the game against Oxford a few years ago.