Lincoln City 2 Carlisle United 0: Carlisle United were knocked out of the FA Cup after Lincoln scored early and late in the second-round tie.

Matt Rhead put the Imps in front after just 28 seconds at Sincil Bank.

Then sub John Akinde made victory safe for the hosts in the 85th minute.

John Sheridan's team had remained in the tie despite their sorry start, with Regan Slater hitting the post and home keeper Josh Vickers making some good saves.

But they struggled to find a way back after the break and are now left to concentrate on the league, while Danny Cowley's side take the £54,000 prize money and go into Monday's third round draw.

They could not have made a worse start, going behind from Lincoln's first attack.

Big striker Rhead was somehow unattended at the back post as he turned home Bruno Andrade's cross.

Neal Eardley then curled a free-kick narrowly wide in the fourth minute as the Blues were put on the back foot by their League Two rivals.

Keeper Adam Collin, who made several good saves, was next called upon to push over a Matt Green shot.

Carlisle then almost levelled when loan midfielder Slater drilled against the post from the right.

The dangerous Green then peeled onto an Eardley free-kick but saw his shot blocked by Maculay Gillesphey.

Cowley's side were on top in these early stages but United came into things later in the half, Gillesphey seeing a header tipped over by Josh Vickers.

Harry Anderson sidefooted wide from the edge of the box when the hosts looked set for a second, then Carlisle continued their search for a leveller, Gary Liddle denied by a block and Mike Jones' attempt from 25 yards parried by Vickers.

Jerry Yates was left limping for the closing stages of the half after landing badly from a header, and he was replaced at the break by teenager Liam McCarron.

The youngster tried to put Lincoln on the back foot and a spell of pressure saw Hallam Hope denied by Vickers.

Lincoln, though, then emerged with more pressure of their own, Frecklington denied well by Collin, Eardley having an attempt blocked and the skipper Frecklington again shooting over when picked out in space by a corner.

Carlisle's attacking efforts were now paltry, Hope with a couple of wayward shots but little from the Blues that truly convinced.

Akinde, on along with Shay McCartan, was put through on the break but Liddle slid in to block.

The sub, though, made no mistake two minutes later when Andrade got he better of Sowerby on the left and crossed low for Akinde to slide it home and complete Lincoln's victory.

Jason Kennedy was a surprise inclusion in the Carlisle squad for the second round tie.

The midfielder, out for more than a year with a pelvis injury, was named among the Blues' substitutes.

Kennedy has long been said to be targeting January for a return to full availabilty.

But the 32-year-old travelled with the team to Sincil Bank and took his place in United's squad for the first time since October 2017.

Jamie Devitt was ruled out of the tie with a calf injury.

Lincoln: Vickers, Eardley, Bostwick, Shackell, Toffolo, Pett, Frecklington (O'Connor 78), Andrade, Anderson, Green (McCartan 63), Rhead (Akinde 63). Not used: Slocombe, Gordon, O'Connor, Wharton, Mensah. 

United: Collin, Liddle, Gerrard, Gillesphey, Sowerby, Yates (McCarron 46), Jones, Etuhu, Slater (Campbell 72), Hope, Bennett. Not used: Gray, Kennedy, Glendon, Adewusi.