City were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation threatened Shrewsbury Town, but still extended their unbeaten home record to five games at the LNER Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Imps made a dream start when Tom Bayliss opened the scoring against his former club after four minutes, but the away side – fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table - hit back through Aaron Pierre midway through the first half.
Despite pushing hard for a winner, City were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after host of missed opportunities.
Michael Skubala made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Charlton Athletic last time out. Jovon Makama came out of the team after the boss confirmed that the attacker would be out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, he was replaced by Joe Gardner. Reeco Hackett, Tom Bayliss and Lewis Montsma also came into the XI, with Ben House, Ethan Hamilton and Tom Hamer making way.
The Imps came flying out of the traps and were rewarded with the opening goal in the fourth minute. Bayliss picked up the ball in the middle of the park and drove forward before bending an effort into the bottom corner from just inside the box to give City the lead against his former club.
Skubala’s side continued to dominate the opening exchanges and could have doubled their lead on nine minutes when Gardner’s cross was stolen off the head of Ring by Pierre.
The first chance for the visitors came with 15 minutes on the clock. Perry made headway down the right flank and did well to dig out a cross towards Marquis at the far post, who fired a low drive into the arms of Wickens.
The Imps were awarded a free kick four minutes later when McGrandles did well to dispossess the lively Perry, who then tripped him. Bayliss looked to pick out Jackson with his delivery from halfway, but the defender was unable to make a telling contact.
The away side – knowing their relegation to Sky Bet League Two would be confirmed with a defeat – equalised with 23 minutes gone. A ball into the box wasn’t dealt with by the home side and fell to Lloyd, who cut the ball back for Pierre to tap into an empty net to restore parity.
City responded well to the setback and could have had their noses back in front six minutes later. A neat exchange of passes in the middle resulted in Bayliss playing Hackett through, but he could only fire wide of the target.
The Imps continued to attack and won a corner when a dangerous delivery from Ring was turned behind. From the resulting delivery, Bayliss’ cross was cleared as far as McGrandles, who lifted a half-volley over the crossbar.
Salop had an opportunity of their own with 10 minutes to go until the break, a goalmouth scramble ensued from a corner which was eventually turned behind by Bayliss. The visitors worked the resulting set-piece short towards Nurse who very nearly beat Wickens with a cross from the right side. Thankfully for the Imps, the ball landed on the roof of the net, rather than under the keeper’s crossbar.
They had an even better chance three minutes later, and it came on the counter attack. Gardner’s cross from the right was cutout and the visitors broke through Marquis, who played a clever pass towards the onrushing Lloyd. He centred the ball low looking for the run of Gilliead, but Wickens was able to smother.
With both teams pressing for a goal before the break, Collins and Darikwa tried their luck from range, but couldn’t find the target. The Imps came closer on 42 minutes when Gardner latched onto Hackett's slide-rule pass and looked to slide the ball under Blackman, but the keeper was able to make the save, as the two sides went in level.
The first opportunity of the second half fell the way of the Imps on 49 minutes. Hackett showed good strength and quick feet to move away from Gape and then Gilliead before letting fly from 25 yards, shooting just wide of the target via a deflection.
Another chance came City's way on 66 minutes when Darikwa and Hackett exchanged passes with the former picking out the run of Gardner inside the area, but he turned the ball over the bar.
Shortly after, boss Michael Skubala made a double change, with Academy graduate Zane Okoro entering the action for his professional league debut and Ethan Erhahon making his first appearance since February.
Salop had an opportunity to take the lead with 20 minutes remaining when Dominic Gape was found in space from 25 yards out and forced Wickens to tip his drive over the bar.
The Imps continued to press at the other end and the visitors were relieved to see Josh Feeney’s sliced clearance from Hackett’s cross go wide of Blackman’s goal on 72 minutes. Moments later, Montsma had a glorious chance to put City ahead when slid in to meet House’s low cross, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
As the game entered the final minute of normal time, Erhahon picked out Hackett who clipped the ball towards House at the far post, but he was denied by an excellent defensive header from Morgan Feeney, as the Imps were forced to settle for a point.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Montsma (Hamer 80’), Jackson, Hackett, Bayliss, Ring (House 62’), McGrandles (Erhahon 68’), Roughan, Collins (Draper 80’), Gardner (Okoro 68’).
Unused: Jeacock, Hamilton.
Shrewsbury Town: Blackman, Hoole (Nsiala 90’), M. Feeney, J. Feeney, Lloyd (Stewart 90’), Perry (Wheeler 77’), Gape, Pierre, Gillead, Nurse (Benning 77’), Marquis.
Unused: Young, Benning, Dinanga.
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Attendance: 9,282 (221 away)
