Lancaster City 3 Lincoln Utd 2 LANCASTER'S progress to the next round of the FA Cup was marred with a controversial late refereeing decision at Giant Axe on Tuesday night. The Blues had done the hard work on Saturday, earning a replay with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at unbeaten Lincoln United. And at 3-1 ahead in Tuesday's replay, their progress looked smooth until a crazy final few minutes. With time running out, Lincoln pulled one back thanks to a Steve Hartley own goal and then threw themselves at the Lancaster defence in a desperate attempt to grab the third that would take the tie into extra-time.

And when Ray Runshaw was felled by Mark Thornley as he raced clear in the dying seconds, they thought they had a chance to do just that.

However, despite sending Thornley off the field - leaving striker John Coleman to don the 'keeper's shirt and gloves - the referee awarded Lincoln a free-kick on the edge of the area rather than the penalty they were hoping for.

That free-kick was blasted into the defensive wall, cleared and the ref blew the whistle for full-time. He left the field surrounded by furious Lincoln players and officials.

City had taken the lead thanks to two goals from the excellent Stuart Diggle whose constant running and hassling unsettled the Lincoln defence. Steve Trainor hit the third.

The Blues are now left with what should be a plum home tie against Blakenall North in the second qualifying round.

TEAM: Thornley, Macauley, Armstrong, Gelling (Flannery), Hartley, Stimpson, Key, Trainor, Diggle, Coleman, Shirley (Tomlinson). Blues force replay Lincoln Utd 2 Lancaster City 2 CITY survived a tricky FA CUP first qualifying round tie at Lincoln United on Saturday to earn Tuesday night's replay. Before meeting CIty, Lincoln had won five and drawn one of their first six games this campaign leaving them top of the Unibond First Division, the league won by the Blues last season.

And they took the lead after just three minutes, Billy Heath heading the ball past Mark Thornley from an early corner with the City defence caught napping. Alan Tinsley's rejuvenated side replied with 35 minutes on the clock, John Coleman putting Stuart Diggle through to score.

And Coleman grabbed what looked like the decisive goal in the 69th minute with a clever finish from a tight angle but Lincoln squared things 15 minutes from time after another corner to force the replay.

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