A goal in injury time seriously hampered United's chance of making the final as they came out on top in 5-3 thriller at Sincil Bank.

The Iron had the first shot of the game on three minutes when Andy Dawson cut in from the left but his shot from the edge of the area was straight at Marriott.

Lincoln hit back and Bimson's cross from a short corner found Weaver on the far post but his looping header was easily claimed by Evans under the cross bar.

The home side went in front on 15 minutes when Dawson gave a free kick away ten yards from the touchline wide on the left. Bimson's in swinging cross was missed by 'keeper Evans and headed home on the far post by Simon Weaver.

It got worse for the Iron three minutes later as Lincoln made it two. The Iron could only half clear their lines with Ben Futcher picking up the lose ball. His long ball over the top found Mayo in space and as the Iron defence appealed for offside he coolly lobbed Evans.

Scunthorpe were clearly shell-shocked but after Carruthers had won a free kick Andy Dawson saw two shots blocked away by the Lincoln defence.

The Iron did get one back on 25 minutes when Beagrie won a corner and when the winger curled the ball to the near post it was flicked on for Alex Calvo-Garcia to flick the ball goalwards. Mayo desperately tried to clear off the line and though it appeared he had the referee judged the ball to have crossed and Scunthorpe had their lifeline.

Scunthorpe continued to push forward and Sparrow tested Marriott with a long range left footed effort from outside the box.

Lincoln continued to look dangerous from set plays but just before the interval Martin Carruthers created a chance out of nothing for the Iron. The forward received the ball with his back to goal wide on the left and turned to fire in a half volley that just cleared the cross bar with Marriott beaten.

The Iron started the second half brightly with Beagrie and Dawson combining on the left before the full backs cross was headed into the path of Garcia whose effort from inside of the box was held by Marriott low to his left.

At the other end a poor clearance by Strong put the Iron in trouble. His clearance went straight up in the air inside his own penalty area forcing Evans to attempt to punch under pressure with the ball dropping to Cropper who fired wide with an overhead kick.

More poor defensive play on the right saw Mayo get the better of Jackson and he cut the ball back to Cropper six yards out who in turn fed Smith who forced the ball home.

Brian Laws made a double substitution on 65 minutes with Steve Torpey replacing Martin Carruthers and Paul Dalglish replacing Matt Sparrow.

Within three minutes the Iron had pulled a goal back. Beagrie's left wing corner was fumbled by Marriott under pressure and Garcia was first to react to fire into the net.

Things got a whole lot better two minutes later as Iron levelled. Substitute Dalglish combined with Stanton on the right but his attempted cross was blocked back to Stanton on the edge of the area who drilled across goal into the bottom corner for his first ever goal.

More good work from Stanton saw the Iron win a corner on the right but this time Alex Calvo-Garcia headed Dawson's cross over the top at the front post.

Lincoln went back in front eight minutes from time when Futcher's long ball was misjudged by Jackson allowing Simon Yeo to race through and slide the ball past Evans.

Worse was to follow a minute into injury time as United were again undone on the right, this time Butcher cut the ball back for Yeo to volley home from six yards out.

The second leg at Glanford Park four days later saw the Iron fail to break down City, and they ran out 1-0 winners after a late Yeo goal.

They were subsequently beaten 5-2 in the final by Bournemouth, and are yet to leave League Two.

Born On This Week

May 6 - Nathan Stanton (1981)
May 7 - Derek Charnley (1954)
May 8 - John Hawley (1954), Barry Horstead (1935), Paul O'Berg (1958), Gareth Sheldon (1980)
May 9 - Tony Reid (1953), Ian Richardson (1954)
May 10 - Steve Charles (1960), Paul Johnson (1963)
May 11 - Alan Boxell (1953)