City 3 Lincoln City 1

Jayden Stockley, Hiram Boateng and Ryan Harley all scored sublime efforts to book Exeter City’s place at Wembley on May 28th.

After taking the lead through Stockley’s strike in the first half, Boateng and Harley both fired home in style after half-time to put City three goals in front. Matt Green then scored a late consolation goal for the visitors, as City outshone the Imps on the night.

The Grecians made one change from the side that battled to a goalless draw in the first leg at Sincil Bank, with Robbie Simpson replacing Lloyd James in Paul Tisdale’s starting line up.

Both sides looked to make a quick start in what was an electric atmosphere at St James Park, and it was City who had the game’s first chance through Robbie Simpson.

Boateng threaded a neat ball into the feet of Stockley, whose deflected cross found Simpson in the box. The striker looked to steer the ball towards goal on the turn, but his effort was narrowly wide of the near post.

In response, Lincoln looked to make their presence felt when Alex Woodyard’s long ball was met by the head of Michael Bostwick in the penalty area. Bostwick’s lofted header landed to Matt Rhead at the far post, but he couldn’t adjust his body to direct any meaningful effort at goal from close range.

City then applied a period of sustained pressure on the Lincoln back line, which included a couple of long-range efforts from Ryan Harley, as well as a fine save from Ryan Allsop to keep out Jordan Storey’s bullet header.

City’s persistence then eventually paid off as they took the lead in the 26th minute. Jordan Moore-Taylor’s long ball was knocked forward to Pierce Sweeney and the defender calmly nodded the ball to his right, and into the path of the oncoming Stockley. City’s top scorer was first to the loose ball and he then rifled the ball home from a tight angle to send the Big Bank into raptures.

Soon later, it appeared that Elliott Whitehouse had pulled the Imps level before the goal was ruled out by referee Darren England, who adjudged there to have been a handball in the build-up.

Seconds after half-time, the tie was lit up by a moment of genius as Boateng doubled City’s lead in style.

For the full match report click HERE