City’s Papa Johns Trophy journey came to an end in the quarter-final stages after a 3-1 defeat on penalties against Accrington Stanley.
Accrington had a golden opportunity to open the scoring early on after Carl Rushworth rushed out of his area to meet the ball, but mistimed his effort. Shaun Whalley latched onto it but placed his effort narrowly wide of the open net from just inside the area.
The visitors were made to pay for this missed chance as they fell behind shortly afterwards. Goalkeeper Lukas Jensen hesitated with the ball at his feet inside his six-yard area before sending his clearance into the onrushing Tom Hopper who deflected the strike into the back of the net.
City caused the Accrington goalie another problem in the 31st minute after Jack Diamond broke forward, before Hopper helped the ball on its way to Mandroiu who struck a fizzing effort from 20 yards which had to be tipped past the post.
John Coleman’s side found an equaliser five minutes later through Aaron Pressley who was found running in behind the Imps’ defence before keeping his composure to slot it across Rushworth and into the bottom left corner.
Accrington believed they should have been awarded a penalty after the break, however the referee deemed the foul to be outside the box. Ethan Hamilton took the resulting set-piece but couldn’t find a way through the City bodies in the way of the shot.
Rushworth came to the Imps’ rescue in the 62nd minute as McConville delivered a cross back into the middle which was accidentally sent goalwards by Paudie O’Connor and pounced on by the ‘keeper on the goalline.
The visitors were awarded a penalty 10 minutes later when O’Connor caught Whalley inside the area. Pressley took responsibility and calmly struck his effort into the bottom left corner, with Rushworth going the wrong way.
Mark Kennedy’s side were back on level terms in the 80th minute as Mandroiu spotted Sanders with a reverse pass, whose deflected strike looped up towards the back post for Hopper to head home and send the tie to penalties.
Accrington came out on top in the shootout, winning 3-1 after misses from Mandroiu, Sanders and Poole.
City: Carl Rushworth (Jordan Wright 90+4’), Regan Poole, Adam Jackson, Charles Vernam (Jovon Makama 76’), Tom Hopper ©, Ted Bishop (Max Sanders 69’), Paudie O’Connor, Danny Mandroiu, Lasse Sorensen (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 90+4’), TJ Eyoma, Jack Diamond. Subs (not used): Jay Benn, Elicha Ahui.
Goals: Hopper (7’, 80’).
Accrington: Lukas Jensen, Ethan Hamilton, Ryan Astley, Liam Coyle, Shaun Whalley, Sean McConville, Rosaire Longelo, Harvey Rodgers, Dan Martin, Seamus Conneely ©, Aaron Pressley. Subs (not used): Toby Savin, Jack Nolan, Harrison Perritt, Alhagi Touray, Josh Woods, Leslie Adekoya, Baba Fernandes.
Goals: Pressley (36’, 73’).
Referee: Simon Mather.
Attendance: 2,304 (61 away).