Hakeeb Adelakun’s early strike coupled with Jovon Makama’s injury-time finish meant City picked up three points against Wolves U21 in the EFL Trophy.
It took City just 13 seconds to have their first effort of the night with Mide Shodipo striking wide from the edge of the box.
Shodipo then came even closer when a long throw floated towards him at the back post, but he headed just over.
Dylan Duffy crossed in from the left as City continued to push for an early opener, but Joe Young was equal to Jack Burroughs’ header.
The Imps went ahead in the 19th minute when Hakeeb Adelakun controlled Burroughs’ centre before slamming a finish past Young.
Wolves did threaten to fashion out an equaliser with Leon Chiwome lobbing the ball wide after he beat Jordan Wright to a long ball.
Owen Farmer also had a strike well saved as he came onto a loose ball 25 yards from goal.
City nearly made it two before the break but a goalmouth scramble resulted in Alex Mitchell’s stabbed effort being scrambled off the line.
Four minutes into the second half Duffy had a great opportunity to double City’s lead, but a good block saw his deflected effort fly wide.
Ali Smith was the next to come close for the Imps as Ted Bishop’s squared ball found him in the box, but his effort was saved by Young.
Young came to the away side’s rescue after 69 minutes when his reflex save denied Mitchell from converting Danny Mandroiu’s cross.
Mandroiu then sent a deep free-kick towards the back post which TJ Eyoma did well to steer back across goal, but a Wolves defender was alert to deal with the danger.
The Imps thought they had doubled their lead with ten minutes to go but Burroughs was denied by the offside flag after Reeco Hackett played him through on the right.
Space opened for Smith late on, and the midfielder took on the shot from 25 yards, but Young produced an outstanding stop to deny him.
From the resulting corner Hackett found Eyoma unmarked in the box, but another great save from Young prevented the defender from opening his account for the season.
City kept searching for the second goal, and Jovon Makama did well on the wing to pull the ball across to Hackett, but the substitute could only direct his side-footed effort wide.
Young was certainly keeping his side in the contest in the closing minutes as he once again denied City by tipping Makama’s back post header over the crossbar.
Wolves’ ‘keeper was finally beaten in the third minute of injury time as a swift counter left Makama through on goal, with the striker showing composure to finish past the advancing Young.
Imps: Jordan Wright, Jack Burroughs, TJ Eyoma, Alex Mitchell, Sean Roughan, Jaden Brown, Ali Smith, Ted Bishop (Oisin Gallagher 63’), Mide Shodipo (Danny Mandroiu 63’), Dylan Duffy (Reeco Hackett 77’), Hakeeb Adelakun (Jovon Makama 63’).
Goals: Adelakun (19’), Makama (90+3’).
Wolves U21s: Joe Young, Bruno Jordan, Kam Kandola, Harry Birtwistle, Aaron Keto-Diyawa, Owen Farmer (Josh Esen 84’), Tawanda Chirewa, Justin Hubner, Matty Whittingham, Owen Hesketh, Leon Chiwome (Ethan McLeod 72’).
Referee: Scott Jackson.
Attendance: 1,384 (107 away).