The Imps fell to a 2-0 defeat to neighbours Scunthorpe United on a very damp July afternoon in North Lincolnshire, with two first half goals proving the difference.

Adam Hammill and a superb solo effort from Trialist A gave the Iron a two-goal lead going into the break.

City had the lion's share of the possession and played some excellent football, but found it difficult to breakdown Scunthorpe's resolvent defence limited the Imps to very few clear cut chances.

The Imps will close pre-season on Monday night against a Nottingham Forest XI.

The Imps team:

City made one change to the starting line-up from the midweek fixture against Stoke City as Michael Bostwick returned to the side for his first minutes of pre-season. 

Subs: Smith, Shackell (Bostwick 45'), Pett (Chapman 57'), Adebayo-Smith, Bradley, Anderson (Andrade 57'), Trialists A, B (Akinde 77') and C (Eardley 76').

Scunthorpe United team:

Rory Watson, Jordan Clarke, Kgosi Ntlhe, Matthew Lund, Yann Songo'o, Andy Butler (c), Adam Hammill, Lee Novak, Alex Gilliead, Harrison McGahey, Trialist A.

Subs: Eastwood (Watson 45'), Colclough (Hamill 72'), Wootton (Novak 71'), Dales (Gilliead 85'), Perch (Songo'o 81'), Hallam, McArdle (Clarke 90'), McAtee (Trialist A 77').

Kick-off:

City looked after possession well in the opening stages, as they drove down either flank, while playing some neat football through the middle of the park.

Jack Payne was close to breaking the deadlock just past the quarter of an hour mark, as he fired a right-footed effort inches past Rory Watson's post, with the Scunthorpe United stopper beaten.

Minutes later, Harry Toffolo broke the the Scunthorpe back line to receive a smart chipped through ball from Joe Morrell, but the City left-back couldn't get enough on his first-time effort to help it over Watson, who held on.

The hosts took the lead in the 24th minute, as Alex Gilliead got to the byline on the City left, before cutting back to Adam Hammill who finished low and into the corner from 12 yards.

City were close to levelling shortly after as Payne had another effort from the edge of the area, this time with his left foot, but again it fizzed inches past Watson's post.

As half-time loomed, a piece of individual brilliance from Trialist A for the hosts doubled their lead. He skipped past two City defenders on the edge of the area, before firing past Vickers.

Half-time: Scunthorpe United 2-0 Lincoln City

Bostwick was replaced by Jason Shackell at the break, with a host of changes made by both sides in the second-half.

The Imps had a penalty appeal waved away early in the second half as Toffolo went to ground near to the byline, before Payne's effort was denied at the near post by substitute goalkeeper Jake Eastwood.

James Perch and Kyle Wootton, both second half substitutes for the Iron, went close to extending their lead, but were denied by the woodwork and a superb stop by Josh Vickers respectively. 

Full-time: Scunthorpe United 2-0 Lincoln City