LINCOLN CITY 0
BARNSLEY 1 (Bogdanovic 72)

DANIEL Bogdanovic grabbed his first of the season after coming on as a sub but the Reds really should have wrapped up this Carling Cup tie long before the Maltese striker finally hit the back of the Lincoln net.

With an ankle injury keeping Darren Moore on the sidelines for tonight's Carling Cup clash, youngster Luke Potter was handed a start in the heart of the Reds defence. Adam Hammill marked his return to Oakwell with a start at the expense of Martin Devaney, who dropped down to the bench. Jacob Butterfield kept his place in an otherwise unchanged eleven from Hillsborough.

The Reds crashed out of the Carling Cup at the First Round stage last season with a 2-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra in a game in which the Reds just could not hit the back of the net. Simon Davey was hoping for better luck in the cup this time around as he looked to continue his side's good run of form and results.

One player certainly looking to impress for Lincoln was former QPR star Aaron Brown, who had an unsuccessful trial spell at Oakwell during Andy Ritchie's tenure as manager.

Lincoln started brightly and the League Two outfit fired the first shot in anger on four minutes as big striker Rene Howe let fly from 25 yards but Luke Steele was comfortably down to smother the ball.

Hammill almost marked his return within eight minutes with a defence splitting pass to send Anderson in the clear but the ball just skipped off the wet surface and through to Rob Burch.

Odejayi was denied an outstanding opener on 12 minutes as he coolly lifted the ball over his marker down the right before racing in on goal only to see his well-struck shot cannon off Janos Kovacs and just over the bar. Butterfield was next to test his shooting boots seconds later as he raced onto a loose ball outside the box but his drive was well blocked away. From the corner Odejayi then did magnificently to rise above his marker but his powerful header was glanced over the bar.

The Reds went close again on 14 minutes from their fourth successive corner as Hammill's kick fell nicely to Potter at the back post but the defender drove his shot high over the bar. Anderson continued the early onslaught from the Reds moments later by breaking through midfield but his low drive trickled well wide of Burch's goal.

Hammill's inch perfect delivery from the right was causing the Lincoln defence all sorts of problems and his cross on 16 minutes almost put Odejayi clean through but the Imps back line was able to smother the ball clear.

For all the Reds dominance, it was Lincoln who so easily could have snatched the lead on 19 minutes when Howe let fly with a fine volley from all of 30 yards which Steele had to be at his very best to claw away for a corner kick.

Hammill again fired a warning shot across the Lincoln bow on 21 minutes as he cut in from the right flank before smacking his effort into the advertising boards from the edge of the box. It was turning into a frustrating first half for the Reds as they broke through the Red Imps again on 24 minutes when Bobby Hassell managed to get to the byline and his cross had Burch flapping but the home side somehow managed to clear before Odejayi could turn the ball into an empty net.

At the other end Howe again was given the chance to shoot under pressure seconds later but his wayward drive was never going to trouble Steele.

The chances still kept on coming as Jon Macken saw a good drive smack into Kovacs on the half hour. Macken was given another chance from the rebound but smacked his effort straight into Burch from the edge of the box. There was a new shoot on sight policy for the Reds as Hammill again let fly from distance on 31 minutes and his dipping drive brought a smart stop from Burch as it looked to creep in at the far post.

The game swung again on 34 minutes as an almighty scramble in the Reds area from Jamie Clarke's cross ended with Stefan Oakes getting a shot away but Potter was bravely down to make an important block eight yards out.

Burch's one man crusade to keep the Reds at bay continued on 38 minutes as Hammill faced up the Imps keeper at the back post from Jamal Campbell-Ryce's cross. Burch came out on top with a fine stop.

Barnsley broke through Lincoln City again on 42 minutes as yet another inch-perfect cross from Hammill's right boot gave Odejayi a great chance 12 yards out but the striker's header was a foot too high with Burch rooted to the spot. Butterfield then brought another stop from Burch on 44 minutes with a low drive from the edge of the box.

Barnsley were on the front foot and forcing Burch into action just three minutes after the restart when Butterfield drove one in from 30 yards. Burch managed to parry the ball wide of the post.

At the other end Steele had a nervy moment seconds later as Hassell sliced Howe's cross over the bar from 12 yards. It could have gone anywhere.

Good positive play by Campbell-Ryce and Macken had Lincoln back peddling on 51 minutes but the Jamaican international could not find the right finish from 18 yards and blazed over. At the other end Jamie Clarke did well up against Rob Kozluk but found Steele well placed to smother his low drive.

Barnsley should have been in front - yet again - on 53 minutes when Kozluk's driven cross gave Macken a great chance eight yards out but the striker could not get enough on the ball to beat Burch. Hassell was next to have a go as he broke onto a loose ball after Macken had challenged with Moses Swaibu. Again Burch was able to turn the ball around the post for a corner.

Stephen Foster picked up the first caution of the night on 58 minutes after pulling down Howe out on the right touchline. Another clear chance fell to Odejayi on 59 minutes as Hassell's deep cross left the Lincoln defence flatfooted and gave the striker a free header from 12 yards only for the ball to fly a foot or so over the bar.

Lincoln were a sixes and sevens again on 64 minutes as Campbell-Ryce raced 30 yards with the ball and into the area but the winger picked the wrong option when Butterfield was screaming for a pass and another great chance went begging.

Lincoln almost snatched one on 65 minutes when Jamie Clarke raced in an isolated Kozluk before bringing a fine save from Steele. Still the opportunities came. Odejayi headed at Burch on 67 minutes from Hassell's cross while at the other end Shane Clarke brought a stop from Steele with a daisy cutter seconds later.

Burch had to be at his very best on 70 minutes firstly to turn away Campbell-Ryce's shot and then the Imps keeper recovered to parry Bogdanovic's effort on the follow up.

Forget all the pretty passing football. When the opening goal came it was true, old fashioned route one as Potter's punt from defence sent Bogdanovic up against Kovacs on 72 minutes. The Imps defender made a real mess of things to allow Bogdanovic the chance to run in on goal and finally plant the ball past Burch.

To their credit Lincoln never gave up and Jamie Clarke brought a decent diving save from Steele on 75 minutes after finding a yard of space on the right to run at Kozluk. Barnsley survived a massive penalty shout moments later as Howe almost tricked his way past Foster and the ball appeared to strike the Reds skipper on the arm but the referee waved away his protests.

At the other end Hammill should have wrapped things up on 76 minutes after Burch had again performed heroics to turn away Campbell-Ryce's effort but was denied by the Imps keeper. Odejayi then went close from the corner as his header flew over the bar under pressure on the six yard line.

A goal for Hammill would really have put the icing on the cake for the Reds and the winger tried to beat Lincoln singlehandedly on 85 minutes but yet again was denied by Burch.

LINCOLN CITY: Burch, Hughton, Kovacs, Swaibu, Brown, Oakes (Fagan 77), Butcher, S. Clarke, J. Clarke, Connor, Howe.
Subs: Hone, Clucas, Adams, Hutchinson, Coleman-Carr, Musslewhite.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, Foster, Potter, Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce, Anderson, Butterfield, Hammill, Macken (Bogdanovic 66), Odejayi.
Subs: Devaney, Sodje, Adam, Hibbert, Noble-Lazarus, Preece.

REFEREE: Andy Haines (Tyne & Weir)
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Paul Curry (Northumberland)
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Glen Hart (County Durham)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Mike Blackledge (Cambridgeshire)

Attendance - 3635
Away Attendance - 1041

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFORMATION FROM OAKWELL!!!