Chris Moyses was unable to sign off with a win in his final home game in charge of Lincoln City as Woking scored late on to steal a 3-2 win.
Moyses made two changes to the side that battled back twice to earn a point at Southport last weekend, with top scorer Matt Rhead returning for Robbie McDaid and Luke Waterfall replacing Chris Bush.
The Imps dominated the first quarter of an hour and created a string of half chances from corners and long throw-ins from Bradley Wood. It looked only a matter of time before the pressure would tell but it was the visitors who took the lead on 18 minutes, with their first dangerous attack. Former Imp Jake Caprice drove down the right wing and fizzed in a low cross which was scrambled clear. From the resulting corner, Matt Butcher found the head of Kieran Murtagh who headed home.
Barely three minutes later, Woking had doubled their lead. Matt Robinson nipped in ahead of Lee Beevers on the Imps’ left touchline to release Caprice for a second time, in acres of space, he picked out the unmarked Bruno Andrade to guide past Paul Farman.
Despite the double sucker-punch, Lincoln continued to look threatening themselves and nearly pulled a goal back immediately as George Maris stung the palms of Cole after the ball fell kindly to him in the penalty area. However, they had an even better chance on 38 minutes as Jack Muldoon latched onto a Rhead knock-down but he couldn’t beat Cole who spread himself well to block.
Lincoln started the second half at the same tempo and from a superb deep cross from Elliott Hodge, the club’s Young Player of the Season, Matt Rhead towered above the Woking defence to head home his 20th goal of the season in the 47th minute.
Before the visitors had time to regroup, it was 2-2. The Imps’ top scorer won the ball back from kick-off and Jack Muldoon took over, beating several Woking defenders before smashing an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top right-hand corner.
It seemed as if Lincoln would go on and complete the comeback but once again, they were nearly caught out at the other end. Andrade skinned the Imps’ Player of the Season Bradley Wood and drew Farman out of his goal before cutting the ball back to Robinson but he couldn’t keep his shot down with the goal gaping.
Chances for both sides from then on were few and far between. One of Lincoln’s better openings came as Muldoon won a foot race against Cameron Norman but he was unable to replicate his earlier heroics as his wildly lashed shot smacked the roof of the stand. Callum Howe had the hosts’ best chance but he could only glance his header wide from a Terry Hawkridge free kick.
A minute or so later, Woking created one final chance and they took it. The Imps lost the ball cheaply in midfield which allowed Robinson to slip a ball through to substitute John Goddard who calmly rolled the ball through the legs of the advancing Farman.
After the match, Lincoln City manager Chris Moyses bemoaned his side’s lack of a killer instinct in front of goal: “We’re just not ruthless enough and it’s been the story of our season. We had lots of play in the first half, created some reasonable chances (whereas) they’ve had two attacks and scored two goals, it’s been the story of the season.”
“I’m gutted that we didn’t win but it’s all there for someone else to take on now.”