It’s the magic of the cup lads! Not even Harry Potter on a sh*t-load of Hogwarts cocaine could have mustered up such a spell, as Lincoln City beat Premier League Burnley 1-0.
The Imps waited until the 89th minute before shocking the Clarets, and are now the first non-league side to reach the final eight of the FA Cup for more than a century. In this scary world of Trump and the rising price of Freddos, this is exactly the kind of feel-good story we need – and for punter Lincoln’s unlikely triumph was even sweeter.
One Paddy Power punter from Lincoln had £5.50 on defender Sean Raggert to score first and Lincoln to win 1-0 at eye-watering odds of 550/1. Despite having to weather the kind of storm that would sink a cruise boat, Lincoln kept Burnley out as the Clarets fired a total of 17 shots towards Paul Farman’s goal. The Imps were on the ropes, but with the fourth official signalling three minutes of stoppage time they won a corner.
Sean Raggert nodded in from a few yards out – Lincoln’s first shot on target in the whole game – and history was made. Our punter also scooped £3,030. You Beauty!
89' GOAL!!!! Burnley 0-1 #Imps - Habergham corner headed across by unmarked Waterfall and there's SEAN RAGGETT to head City in front.
— Lincoln City FC (@LincolnCity_FC) February 18, 2017
Lincoln have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions and shocked Ipswich and Brighton in this tournament already – now they’re on for a mighty league and cup double.
Their FA Cup roller coaster started with an uninspiring 0-0 draw with non-league rivals Guiseley in October – eight games later and they are potentially only 180 minutes away from a final at Wembley.
Whisper it quietly, but there is also one punter in Lincoln who had £10 on them to win the Cup at 2,000/1 on October 1. It couldn’t happen, could it? Somebody pass Potter those magic mushrooms and his wand…