Imps reach the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy. What more do you want?

If ever there was a cup tie that delivered on all fronts this was it. Accrington slick and looking every inch a team third in League Two, City workmanlike and industrious. Who would win out? Don’t take your eyes off the pitch.

Accringtons manager was mealy mouthed. We’re direct, the pitch was awful. He was half right. How many times have you sat at home watching the Champions League, some fast passing continental outfit playing their opponents off the park only to be undone by a bit of good finishing while they passed the ball all around the box. That’s what last night was like.

So Stanley looked the part, in the first half anyway but that’s not the whole story. It was City that started the best and pinned Accrington back only for them to break away and take the lead. Paul Farman received some grumbles but could he really have got to the shot? City equalised but Stanley got back ahead through McConville with an amazing and audacious strike from the centre circle. It looked a howler but on reflection was it?

The same player then inadvertently restored parity with an oggy although Matt Green would be happy to spare his blushes by claiming it himself.
Farman more than redeemed himself though with a series of brave and instinctive saves. This wasn’t a performance to put him in the managers mind when selecting for the next league game but it was mightily entertaining.

Let me see, yes we had an almighty pitch side spat between each dugout with much finger pointing and angry words. We did our best to crank up the animostity, what fun.

City produced a trademark strong finish to take the tie and upset the purists. To make matters worse for them the pitch resembled Skeggy rather than Sincil Bank for some reason Danny Cowley couldn’t fathom.

I’m quite breathless just describing it all.