Despite a valiant display, City lost out 2-1 to Sporting Khalsa in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands.
It was a lively start to the game at Moorlands, with both sides battling to retain possession of the ball.
Sporting Khalsa almost took the lead in the 17th minute, when a corner for the away side reached the goal line, but the ball was expertly cleared by McIntosh.
Soon after, Timson made a brilliant save down to her right, denying Joyce in the penalty area.
The Imps were close to going one up in the 24th minute, after a superb strike from Faith Horner on the edge of the box sailed narrowly wide of the top left corner.
City were growing into the game, and took the lead in the 28th minute, when Lauren Nicholson’s fantastic cross into the box was met by Maddi Green at the back post, who headed the ball into the roof of the net.
Sporting Khalsa thought they found the equaliser minutes after conceding, but were denied by the offside flag.
The Imps were defending admirably, with Thompson-Moulding and Fantom commanding the back line and preventing any efforts on goal.
The away side nearly levelled the game with minutes remaining in the first half. Austin-Short had a chance from five yards out, but the ball travelled narrowly wide of the post.
That was the last big chance of the first half, as City ended the first 45 one goal up, courtesy of a Maddi Green header.
City’s Leah Hardy was replaced by Katie Williams as play resumed in the second half.
53 minutes into the match, Lana Timson did well to dive on the ball and deny the onrushing Khalsa player.
Timson could do nothing about Khalsa’s next effort though, as Stubbs lifted the ball into the back of the net to level the game.
The match was then halted after a clash of heads between Smith and Williams.
With 25 minutes remaining, City made their second change of the afternoon, as Lauren Nicholson was substituted for Lucy Farrow.
In the 72nd minute, Sporting Khalsa took the lead for the first time, after a massive deflection lifted the ball over Timson.
City were fighting hard to find the equaliser, and nearly did just that when Farrow drilled a pass across the six-yard box, but the Khalsa goalkeeper cut out the danger.
With 10 minutes remaining in the match, Toni McHamilton replaced an injured Katie Williams for City’s third and final substitute.
The Imps weren’t giving up, and earned themselves a late corner, but it came to nothing. Khalsa ran down the clock late on, and held on to claim all three points, despite City’s disciplined performance.
Imps: Lana Timson, Brogan Pugh, Ella Thompson-Moulding, Tilly Fantom, Chyna McIntosh, Faith Horner, Millie Quaintance, Leah Hardy (Katie Williams 46') (Toni McHamilton 81'), Jemima Footitt, Maddi Green, Lauren Nicholson (Lucy Farrow 65').
Goal(s): Green (28)
Khalsa: Hall, Smith, Sparkes, Cann, Austin-Short (Stubbs 46'), Smith, Cooper (Hall), Joyce (Graham), Szymkowiak (Green), Denham (Wickett), Kennerley.
Goal(s): Stubbs (56), Denham (72)
