Lincoln City 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
- Published
Lincoln City made their first trip to Wembley in the club's 133-year history
Lincoln City upset the odds as they beat Shrewsbury to win the Checkatrade Trophy on their first trip to Wembley.
Elliott Whitehouse's close-range strike proved enough for the League Two play-off hopefuls to defeat League One automatic promotion chasers Shrewsbury.
But the Imps rode their luck, Bryn Morris hitting the bar for Shrewsbury.
Town should also have had a penalty for handball against Luke Waterfall as luckless Shrewsbury's fourth visit to Wembley ended in a fourth defeat.
The Imps had their biggest let-off when big striker Matt Rhead was only booked in the 10th minute for his blatant elbow on Shrewsbury goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
The moment Lincoln's Matt Rhead collided with Shrewsbury goalkeeper Dean Henderson
Shrewsbury players rushed to goakleeper Dean Henderson on the floor after his collision with Lincoln's Matt Rhead
Morris had already gone close for Town with his 25-yard left-foot half volley which clipped the top of the bar when Lincoln should have been reduced to 10 men.
Instead, Rhead stayed on, as did the dazed Henderson after lengthy treatment. And, just six minutes later, Lincoln went ahead when the Town keeper could only parry from a corner - and Whitehouse was first to react.
Then, after Shaun Whalley had shot just wide, Shrewsbury twice could have levelled in the same incident on 32 minutes.
After Omar Beckles' header was saved brilliantly one-handed to his left by Imps keeper Ryan Allsop, fellow defender James Bolton's follow-up effort was kept out by Waterfall's outstretched arm.
A blistering start to the second half brought a succession of Shrewsbury chances, but they could not find a way through.
And, instead, the best opening came at the other end when the reprieved Rhead volleyed over from 12 yards, just before he was taken off.
Shrewsbury battled hard to the end but, when Beckles ballooned a volley high and wide late on, it summed up their frustrating afternoon.
Lincoln are unbeaten in the seven games Elliott Whitehouse has scored in
Back at Wembley in May?
For both clubs, Sunday's final could prove the first of two visits to Wembley this season.
Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst did that with Grimsby Town two years ago, when his team won promotion via the National League play-off, then lost the FA Trophy final to Halifax a week later.
But he is still hoping to win automatic promotion, despite Town dropping back into third place this weekend - and their next stop is at Bradford City on Thursday night.
As for Danny Cowley's Lincoln, coming off the back of last season's National League promotion, the Imps stay sixth after this weekend's results.
With six games left, they are seven points off an automatic place, although they have at least game in hand (and in some cases two) on every one of their promotion rivals except leaders Accrington.
More pertinently, going into next weekend's trip to relegation threatened Port Vale, they are four points clear of eighth-placed Mansfield - and very much on course for a play-off place.
Reaction
Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
"It was always about winning. We were only going to enjoy the occasion if we won. And the fact that we were able to do that makes me very happy and proud.
"To have 27,000 fans watch a League Two club play at Wembley for the first time, having been a non-league club so recently, and then also win too makes it even more special.
"We were very respectful of Shrewsbury. Paul Hurst has done an amazing job there. But we stuck to our game plan and the players executed it so well. We matched them and managed to restrict their more technical players.
"We woke up this morning knowing we had a chance to do something special. The best teams grab the opportunity and we did that."
Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst told BBC Sport:
"I've been told there was a couple of decisions which were major talking points. But it's a pointless exercise making excuses as it's not going to change the result.
"I certainly wouldn't want to run into Matt Rhead, that's for sure. He's a big lad. Clearly, there was an incident, something happened. Whether Dean Henderson was winded, or dazed, or whatever you want to call it, he had every right to be on the floor and take a bit of time.
"A lot of the decisions made were debatable. If you did try to stand up to the physical element, you were pulled up for it.
"But I don't want to kid anyone. I just don't think we were good enough. We found the occasion difficult to handle."
- Published5 April 2018
