Quality moment enough for Imps to send Brewers out of Carabao

IT TOOK a moment of the highest quality to send Burton Albion out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night and Ben House provided it for Lincoln City in the 89th minute.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Receiving a pass from Freddie Draper on the left, House instantly swept an irresistible shot which passed high over goalkeeper Kami Dudek and dropped under the bar.

Any suggestion that Dudek was at fault is as daft as the notion that Jordan Amissah was at fault for Ollie Norwood's stunning winner for Stockport County on Saturday.

To be on the receiving end of two such strikes in successive games is another stat that is unlikely to continue through the season.

Those of us who were behind House's shot knew it was in the second he hit it. It would have been a very easy one to get wrong and it would have looked a hurried and wasteful effort if it had gone straight to the keeper or flown over the bar, as it might have on another occasion - but it did not and the Imps therefore progressed to the third round.

On the balance of play, having used more of their regular first team both from the start and from the bench, Lincoln probably deserved it.

But that should not detract from another terrific effort from the young Brewers who were given another chance to shine after ousting Tranmere Rovers last week - nor is it a result that will remotely define Albion's season.

It was, however, a curious game. The first half was a virtual nonevent, played slowly and with the air of a preseason friendly - you could not imagine the League One game the sides will play in just over a fortnight will follow a similar pattern.

Adam Jackson rolled a weak shot at Dudek for Lincoln and Julian Larsson had a shot blocked for Burton, while Rob Street headed a presentable chance over for the Imps and that was about it.

It was no surprise that the second half came with a deal more urgency from both sides.