City Women exited the FAWNL Plate at the first round stage following their 2-0 defeat to Sheffield at Moorlands.
City had an early chance to go ahead when Leah Kellogg passed the ball to the feet of Maddi Green, but the winger missed the target with the ‘keeper stranded.
Ella Thompson-Moulding then forced Kellogg into a good save to her right after the ball fell to the centre-back in the box.
Thompson-Moulding came even closer from the resulting corner when her header nestled into the bottom corner, but the referee adjudged that she had fouled Kellogg in the process.
Toni McHamilton also had a shot saved by the Sheffield shot-stopper as the Imps continued to pepper the away side’s goal.
Sheffield were struggling to get forward but did force Lana Timson into action when Caitlyn Douglas took aim from the edge of the box, but Timson pushed her shot over.
Maddi Green floated a free-kick over while Chantelle Robinson struck the crossbar with an improvised effort after the ball dropped to her from a corner.
After a good start to the second half Sheffield broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with Sam Brooks lobbing Timson to put the visitors ahead.
Just six minutes later they were two ahead as Millie Fulger directed her headed attempt past Timson from a free-kick.
Following her introduction from the bench, Neve Hincks almost marked her first appearance of the season with a goal, but Kellogg made a save at her near post to deny her.
From the resulting corner, Ella Thompson-Moulding came agonisingly close once again, but Phillipa Cassidy cleared her header off the goal-line.
McHamilton was then denied by a brilliant sliding challenge from Fulger while Melissa Riley forced Kellogg into a decent save from the edge of the box.
Hincks then came close again, with Kellogg pushing her attempt over, and in injury time City were once again unfortunate to see another chance cleared off the line.
City are back at Moorlands next Sunday when they take on Solihull Moors.
Imps: Lana Timson, Millie Quaintance (Neve Hincks 55’), Tilly Fantom, Ella Thompson-Moulding, Chyna McIntosh, Faith Horner (Alice Wood 53’), Katie Williams (Melissa Riley 72’), Chantelle Robinson, Maddi Green, Lucy Farrow, Toni McHamilton (Jemima Footitt 77’).
Sheffield: Leah Kellogg, Phillipa Cassidy, Millie Fugler, Natasha Wood, Eden Hinchcliffe, Caitlyn Douglas, Amy Pashley, Matilda Hallas-Potts, Sam Brooks, Kelly Filler, Stacey Buxton.
Goals: Brooks 51', Fulger 57'.
Referee: Gavin Price