Top scorer Aaron Collins added another goal to his collection to fire Wanderers within two more wins of Wembley, writes Pete Oliver.
Collins took his total for the season to 13 as he followed up his effort in the Whites’ League One win over City at Christmas with another in the Vertu Trophy to take Ian Evatt’s men into the quarter-finals for the third year in a row.
The striker is now the outright leading scorer in the competition and his 21st-minute effort – and fourth goal in five games – and a first clean sheet since the win over the Imps at the end of December was enough to keep alive Wanderers’ hopes of again winning the Trophy they lifted in 2023.
A spirited performance and a second away success in three games also gave Wanderers the chance to try and build some further momentum when they return to league duty with back-to-back home games to come against Cambridge and Charlton Athletic.
With the cup-tied pair of Aaron Morley and recent recruit Joel Randall among the absentee, Wanderers made seven changes to the side that had started Saturday’s League One loss at Rotherham.
Collins was among the four to retain their places and he enhanced his fondness for the competition with his sixth goal of the Whites’ Trophy run to put Evatt’s men ahead.
Lincoln had gone closest early on through Jack Moylan and Freddie Draper but it was Collins who showed them the route to goal with the Whites’ first real chance with 20 minutes gone.
A fine ball over the top from George Johnston saw Wanderers’ top scorer beat City keeper Zach Jeacock to the chase. And although Collins’ first effort was blocked, Klaidi Lolos fed the loose ball back to the striker who then made no mistake with a driven finish.
That prompted a further response from the home side who thought they had levelled when Reeco Hackett had the ball in the net before a discussion between referee Thomas Parsons and one of his assistants saw the effort was chalked off for off-side.
Defender Adam Jackson then saw a deflected effort bobble just past the Wanderers’ goal as the Whites made it to the break in front in a lively contest played at cup-tie pace and intensity.
Lincoln, who had gone out of the FA Cup at Birmingham last Saturday as part of a five-match winless run, maintained their momentum after the re-start but again didn’t work Luke Southwood on his return in goal until 13 minutes from the end when he made an excellent tip-over from Sean Roughan’s shot.
Wanderers had opportunities on the break to add to their advantage and substitute John McAtee also had a sight of goal from Jordi Osei-Tutu’s cross after coming off the bench late on and almost capping a fine move with his second goal in two games.
And even though his effort went over the top, Wanderers showed the control and composure to keep it tight at the other end and secure a passage through with the chance to keep challenging on two fronts.
Wanderers: Southwood; Jones, Almeida Santos, Johnston; Matete; Dacres-Cogley, Lolos, Thomason, Osei-Tutu (Schön, 79); Collins (Mendes Gomes 73), Adeboyejo (McAtee 73). Substitutes: Baxter, Forrester, Williams, Sharples-Ahmed.
Booked: Almeida Santos, Matete, Schön.
Lincoln City: Jeacock; Jackson, O’Connor, Roughan; Darikwa (Jefferies 71), Hamilton (Bayliss 71), Erhahon, Hackett (Duffy 71); Makama (House 71), Moylan; Draper (Cadamarteri 79). Substitutes: Pardington, McGrandles.
Booked: Erhahon
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 2,252 (417 Wanderers)