Lincoln City secured a play-off place in League Two after a late stunner from substitute Tom Pett earned the Imps a point against Yeovil Town.
Tom Pett’s delightful effort on 77 minutes cancelled out Jordan Green’s early goal in a tense 90 minutes at Sincil Bank on a dramatic final day of the season.
The Imps started the game brightly, and nearly carved an opening in first 30 seconds when Rhead’s poke found Palmer, but his shot was blocked.
And the Lincoln City supporters would have been buoyed at news that Mansfield had gone a goal down against Crawley Town.
But this was a Yeovil Town side who have caused problems for City’s play-off rivals in recent weeks, putting six past Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena. And the Glovers opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Jordan Green dribbled past Wharton and slotted the ball past Allsop to stun Sincil Bank.
Jordan Green was causing all sorts of problems for the hosts. On 21 minutes, his darting run and shot was blocked by Wilson, and Lewis Wing’s speculative effort on the follow up flew just wide of the post. In truth Yeovil looked more likely to snatch a second.
However, Matt Green had the golden chance to level the score on the half-hour mark when Bevis Mugabi clearly handled in the area, giving Eddie Ilderton no choice but to point to the spot. But his penalty was too easy for Krysiak, and Green’s rebound looked easier to score than miss, but his effort hit the bar and Yeovil cleared.
Yeovil almost punished the Imps on 34 minutes when Zoko shrugged off Waterfall and saw his shot edge past Allsop’s post.
Just four minutes later and the Imps should have equalised. Rhead’s flick on from a long ball fell right into the path of Palmer who’s header luckily landed safely in Krysiak’s arms.
The sell-out home crowd were starting to grow frustrated as City lacked zip in their attacking play, and the Imps went into half-time knowing a goal would seal them a play-off position.
HALF TIME: 0-1 (J. Green)
Huge cheers greeted the Imps players as they came out for the second half. But as City struggled to create clear chances, Danny Cowley threw on Tom Pett and Harry Anderson to drive his Lincoln City side forward.
On 56 minutes, City really began to pile the pressure. Eardley’s corner found an onrushing Whitehouse who headed over. Just a few minutes later, good build up play between Woodyard and Palmer freed Eardley on the right, whose cross found almost found Green who couldn’t head the ball in.
Lincoln City’s domination continued on the hour mark when Waterfall’s header from a corner was blocked, and Rhead’s rebounding header was cleared off the line.
News of an equaliser for Mansfield Town whispered around Sincil Bank, and they made their tensions known as the Imps continued to turn the screw.
If Lincoln City were going to get something from this game, it had to be something special, as Yeovil looked to sit back. And super sub Tom Pett delivered beautifully.
On 77 minutes, Sincil Bank erupted when the ball bounced towards Pett on the edge of the area. The substitute took one touch before lobbing Krysiak with a stunning curling effort into the top corner.
From the goal, City looked to the corner flag to run down the clock instead of searching for a winner, with Rhead frustrating the Yeovil defence.
And the Glovers never looked like threatening since Pett’s goal, and after five long minutes of stoppage time, the 10,004 supporters in Sincil Bank was sent into raptures as the referee blew for full-time.
Lincoln City seal a play-off place at the first time of asking since their return to the Football League at the end of last season, and they have a chance to return to Wembley if they can get past Exeter City over two legs.
What a time to be an Imp.
FULL TIME: 1-1
Lincoln City XI: Allsop, Eardley (Williams, 75), Wharton, Wilson (Pett, 55), Waterfall (C), Bostwick, Woodyard, Whitehouse, Palmer (Anderson, 62), Rhead, Green.
SUBS: Farman, Long, Pett (55), Chapman, Williams (75), Anderson (62), O’Hare.
Yeovil Town XI: Krysiak, Bird, Mugabi, Wing, Khan (Gobern, 67), Zoko (C), Green (Browne, 72), Fisher, Whelan, James, Donnellan.
SUBS: Phillips, Smith, Browne (72), Surridge, Barnes, Gobern (67), Santos.
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
Man of the match: Tom Pett
Attendance: 10,004