Lincoln City preview 14/12/2013 - Written for Braintree Town

This weekend, Braintree will welcome Lincoln City to the Amlin Stadium in the FA Carlsberg trophy second round.

In order to qualify for this fixture, Lincoln had to overcome Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic in what turned out to be a six goal thriller at Sincil Bank. No mercy was shown to Stalybridge as the Imps displayed total domination, with Gary Simpson’s side already 3-0 ahead at the break. Irish midfielder Alan Power claimed the match ball in the second half as he completed his hat-trick; Lincoln’s fourth of the afternoon. Stalybridge did snatch a consolation in an otherwise one sided affair, but that was all it was to be as Mo Fofana squashed any thoughts of a comeback with the game finishing 5-1.

What looked to be a tougher test was set up for the Iron, who faced fellow Skrill Premier outfit Welling United, a side that had taken three points from the Amlin Stadium in the same league fixture just one month prior. Dan Holman eased the home team ahead on eighteen minutes, with the visitors holding on until 69 minutes before Dan Sparkes could meet a Kenny Davis cross to double the advantage. Substitute Jordan Cox fired home a third with three minutes remaining in what turned out to be a comfortable afternoon for Braintree.

A final sixteen place is the reward for the winner of this Saturday’s tie, a place that each side will be keen to occupy as both have struggled to build a run in this competition in recent seasons. Last year Braintree were eliminated in the first round, whilst Lincoln failed to progress past Tamworth at the same stage. They matched records again by reaching the second round in 2011/12, but one of these sides are guaranteed to go at least one better as they face each other this weekend.

The teams are yet to meet one another in the league this term, but it was Lincoln who enjoyed the fixture last season, beating the Iron 3-0 on each occasion.