Lincoln City were left cursing their luck at Edgar Street after a late Mathieu Manset penalty for Hereford United ensured that this FA Cup clash will go to a replay at Sincil Bank.
The Imps failed to find the form that saw them impressively beat Hereford 3-1 in League Two last week.
Lincoln made two changes to the side that were thrashed 5-0 against Bury on Tuesday night. Ashley Grimes came back into the starting line-up at the expense of Delroy Facey while Jamie Clapham dropped to the bench with Joe Anderson earning a recall to the Imps’ back four.
On-loan Millwall man Grimes opened the scoring after 19 minutes for Steve Tilson’s side before Robert Purdie replied just three minutes later. Mustapha Carayol was again Hereford’s tormentor as he hit his second against the Bulls in the space of a week and his fourth goal of the season.
Joe Anyon preserved Lincoln’s narrow lead going into half time as he saved a weak Stuart Fleetwood penalty following Adam Watts’ handball. It stayed that way until six minutes from time, when French youngster Mathieu Manset converted Hereford’s second penalty after Watts brought down Fleetwood.
The Imps will have the chance to advance into the FA Cup’s third round when this tie is replayed at Sincil Bank, although a date has yet to be set.