Hakeeb Adelakun's late winner earned City three points as they finished off the 2021/22 season with a victory.
Adelakun struck shortly after coming off the bench, adding to Tom Hopper's earlier strike to seal the win.
Imps goalkeeper Jordan Wright was called into action after five minutes as the visitors registered the first shot on target. Long beat his man down the right hand side and fired a shot in at the near post which was parried out for a corner.
City were then awarded free-kicks in the seventh and eighth minutes. Lewis Fiorini stepped up to take them both, with the first one being saved and the second finishing just wide of a post.
The Imps’ keeper made another important save moments after as Crewe full-back Ryan Alebiosu let fly from 20 yards out. The shot was at an uncomfortable height but dealt with by a strong hand from Wright.
Mikael Mandron had another opportunity to put the visitors ahead after Lincoln gave away possession in the middle of the park. The Railwaymen’s striker failed to hit the target from the edge of the area.
Morgan Whittaker played a nicely weighted through ball to put Fiorini one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was saved by Dave Richards. John Marquis was also played through shortly after, but Richards was first to it to deny City the lead.
Crewe then took the lead in the 21st minute through Long. Callum Ainley played a neatly lofted ball over the Imps defence which found Long who calmly slotted it past Wright.
Michael Appleton was forced to make a change 10 minutes before half-time as Anthony Scully went down injured. Max Sanders came on in his place while Liam Cullen moved into the left of the front three.
Crewe boss Alex Morris also had to make a change early in the second half following a knock to Alebiosu who was replaced by Josh Lundstram.
Tom Lowery came close for the visitors in the 53rd minute with a long-range effort which troubled Wright as he tipped it onto the post.
City fired back with a chance of their own minutes later. Fiorini chipped it through to Brooke Norton-Cuffy down the right who played it first time to Marquis, but the striker’s low shot was saved by Richards.
Dan Agyei came on for Crewe in the 65th minute replacing Oliver Finney.
The substitute was in on the action straight away as he found himself through on goal but his first touch was two heavy and dealt with by Wright.
A fantastic reaction save from Richards denied Marquis once again in the 76th minute. Norton-Cuffy advanced down the right before picking out Marquis on the edge of the six yard box but his first time shot was parried out for a corner.
City then found an equaliser as the corner was whipped in by Fiorini to Tom Hopper at the front post. The striker pulled off a glancing header across goal to earn his fourth goal of the season and get the Imps back into the game.
A change was made for both sides in the 82nd minute. Hakeeb Adelakun replaced TJ Eyoma for City whilst Rekeem Harper made way for Luke Murphy.
The Imps continued to threaten late on. Fiorini unleashed a trademark long rang effort in the 89th minute which forced an outstreched save from Richards.
Substitute Adelakun snatched the winner for Lincoln in the 90th minute with a powerful cross goal strike from 25 yards out. Richards couldn’t get a hand to the ball as it bounced into the bottom corner.
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