A late John Johnson goal denied Lincoln City a point against Northampton Town as the Imps lost 2-1 at Sixfields.
Northampton’s Billy McKay had given the home side the lead just after the hour mark, but a 25-yard wonder goal from Imps midfielder O’Keefe—his first in professional football—had looked to have secured a point for City. But with just two minutes remaining, Johnson pounced to refuse Lincoln a share of the spoils.
The Imps remain just above the League Two relegation zone because of Barnet’s defeat to Stevenage, but fellow relegation candidates Hereford United won 2-1 at Aldershot Town to draw level on points with City.
Manager Steve Tilson rang the changes for the game, dropping both Jamie Clapham and Moses Swaibu from the matchday squad. The wing duo of Mustapha Carayol and Albert Jarrett were also not in the starting 11 and were relegated to the bench.
Danny Hone, fresh from his loan spell at Blue Square Premier side Darlington, was given an opportunity to impress at centre back while Joe Anderson replaced Clapham at left back. Luke Howell and Ben Hutchinson returned in place of Carayol and Jarrett, meaning Lincoln lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Such drastic changes did not signal a change in City’s fortunes though with Lincoln still teetering above the relegation zone.
Lincoln now have a two week break from League Two action. The Imps take on Hereford United at Sincil Bank next Saturday in the long-awaited and much-postponed FA Cup second round replay tie.