Lincoln City made history after becoming the first #non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup. The Imps travelled to Turf Moor yesterday full of hope and belief that they could do something that #Premier League leaders Chelsea couldn’t – beat Burnley. And they did just that when Sean Raggett headed home at the far post to send the 3,200 travelling Lincoln fans into euphoria.
Lincoln City hold their own against top opposition
Going into the game, Burnley hadn’t suffered a defeat at home since the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at the back end of November last year.
Little did we know that a National League side, who are leading the way in their respective league, were to become just the fourth team this season to get the better of the Clarets.
Lincoln’s journey through the competition began in the qualifying rounds – beating Altrincham in the final stage – before going on to pick up big scalps along the way.
The Imps drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town at Portman Road in the Third Round, and a late goal against the Championship side in the replay at Sincil Bank saw Lincoln set up a tie with Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Championship side were another scalp for Danny Cowley’s side, who won 3-1 at home, and it was revealed that their next opponents would be Premier League side Burnley.
Result will go down as one of the greatest
Yes, the Clarets aren’t exactly the side that the Imps would have been hoping for – with the likes of #Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal still in the competition. However, despite there being 81-places between the two sides, it wasn’t apparent that afternoon.
Raggett forced a header over the line at the back post to spark jubilant scenes among the travelling supporters behind the goal.
The result will go down as one of the greatest scalps in living memory.
Two people cried on my shoulder. I think may have cried also. I've never seen anything like it. Ever. #Impvasion pic.twitter.com/u5U6pBAQNe
— Jordan Brown (@jordbrown96) February 18, 2017
Lincoln fan Jordan Brown tweeted out how emotional things got in the away end.
Newcastle United were on the receiving end of a cupset, just like Burnley yesterday, in 1972when they were beaten by Hereford United, and more recently, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side were beaten at home by a brilliant Bradford City side two seasons ago.
Whether the magic of the FA Cup is disappearing with the top sides remains to be seen, but it certainly hasn’t disappeared at the lower end of the football pyramid – and Lincoln City’s success in the competition has to be admired.