Bernie McNally: Lincoln beat Shrewsbury in the physical battle at Wembley

League Two Lincoln came out with the 1-0 win, condemning Town to a fourth defeat at the national stadium.

Danny Cowley’s men are definitely a physical and bullying side at times and I think without Abu Ogogo – our enforcer in midfield – we were out-bullied for periods of the first half.

Town cannot put the defeat down to Ogogo’s absence, after we learned the skipper requires knee surgery and his season is over. Lincoln had to play without some cup-tied players and Town and Paul Hurst will not want to look for excuses like that.

It has been terrific to get to Wembley for the fourth time in the club’s history but we know Paul and his players will be disappointed with not only the result but also the performance too.

Shrews rallied after half-time and for 15 minutes we gave it a good go and put the League Two side under better and more sustained pressure.

I believe a lot of the players perhaps had a weaker day personally than the high standards they have set in their flying League One campaign.

But now the old saying which we all need to bring out is that ‘we can concentrate on the league!’

The much-maligned Checkatrade Trophy has been a welcome distraction but now it is onwards with the real work – promotion!

I thought Alex Woodyard, Elliott Whitehouse and Danny Rowe had, in particular, the better and more productive part of the game in midfield for Lincoln.

The Imps’ giant striker Matty Rhead did what he always does and roughed us up, but I do feel he should have seen a red card for his reckless and premeditated jump into goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the game’s opening exchanges. He could get a place in WWE with that slam challenge!

It is amazing how games can pass you by, especially Wembley trips, so let’s hope that was just preparation for the play-off final later this season – if we don’t make automatic promotion – which is looking unlikely at this stage.

As a player it can be disappointing if you feel and say to yourself ‘I could have done better, I should have done this or that’.

You have to put that feeling in the experience bank and learn from them for the next time.

I thought the 12,000 or so fans who attended were tremendous in making the trip with all the negativity around the Checkatrade Trophy.The result was disappointing for the supporters but I heard a lot of them while coming out the stadium and travelling home, while smiling, they were saying ‘well, that’s only the warm-up for our return trip for promotion’.

So there is still a lot of optimism for Shrewsbury Town this season. I’m sure Paul will already be putting his mind to the next league game at Bradford on Thursday.

Town have a massive six games left in their tremendous League One season where they could write themselves into history and crown this magnificent season.