Jordan Wright was the penalty shootout hero once again as City progressed into the last 16 of the Papa Johns Trophy against Morecambe.
After a quiet start to the game, City had the first shot at goal in the 24th minute after Lasse Sorensen played a crossfield ball to Regan Poole inside the area whose angled shot fizzed wide of the post.
The Imps threatened once more three minutes later when TJ Eyoma’s pass down the line to Matty Virtue was whipped into the middle and had to be scooped behind by a defender.
Morecambe had a chance to spark the game into life and take the lead as a ball into the centre of the box fell to two attackers who had their efforts bravely blocked by Poole and Eyoma.
Lasse Sorensen tried his luck on the half hour mark when he found space to shoot towards goal from distance, but his effort whistled just wide of the left post.
City began the second half positively and were awarded a free-kick on the left in the 50th minute which was sent in by Vernam and met by Paudie O’Connor who headed it straight into Adam Smith’s gloves.
It was four minutes later when City took the lead when a similar free-kick from Vernam was delivered in towards Tom Hopper who got in front of Farrend Rawson to divert the ball in and mark his first start back in the team since September.
Mark Kennedy’s side almost added a second goal moments later when Tashan Oakley-Boothe pulled the ball back to Virtue on the edge of the box whose sweeping effort dipped just over the crossbar.
The Imps then had a good chance to double their lead as Vernam collected Poole’s cross from the left before spinning towards goal and having his goalbound strike deflected wide of the target.
Vernam found himself in a shooting position again in the 66th minute when Virtue cut the ball back to him whose shot took a slight deflection off O’Connor and went wide.
The missed opportunities came back to haunt City as Morecambe levelled in the 67th minute when Donald Love’s delivery from the right took a deflection and fell to Cole Stockon who slammed his effort beneath the goalie and in.
Derek Adams’ side went close to finding a winner with six minutes to go as an inswinging corner found the head of Liam Shaw who sent it down past the far post from a few yards out to ensure the tie would be decided on penalties.
Two big saves from Wright in the shootout saw City progress 4-3 on penalties and book their place in the last 16 of the competition.
City: Jordan Wright, Regan Poole, Charles Vernam, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Tom Hopper © (Ted Bishop 62’), Paudie O’Connor, Lasse Sorensen (Max Sanders 86’), TJ Eyoma, Sean Roughan, Matty Virtue, Jack Diamond. Subs (not used): Carl Rushworth, Jamie Robson, Ben House, Elicha Ahui.
Goals: Hopper (54’).
Morecambe: Adam Smith, Donald Love ©, Max Melbourne (Ryan Cooney 70’), Farrend Rawson, Ryan Delaney, Cole Stockton, Dylan Connolly (Kieran Phillips 82’), Arthur Gnahoua (Adam Mayor 58’), Jensen Weir, Caleb Watts (Jake Taylor 58’), Liam Shaw. Subs (not used): Connor Ripley, Ousmane Fane, Anthony O’Connor.
Goals: Stockton (67’).
Referee: Carl Boyeson.
Attendance: 1,445 (25 away).