Lincoln City drew 1-1 with league leaders Plymouth Argyle in a dominant attacking display. Max Sanders drew the Imps level after Adam Randell opened the scoring for the visitors just before the half-hour mark.
Lincoln saw the visit of two familiar faces from the Pilgrims, James Wilson and last season’s loanee Morgan Whittaker return to the LNER stadium.
An impeccable minute’s silence was held before kick-off to mark Remembrance Day.
Kick-off:
The Imps had a fantastic start to the half, with a dominant attacking display within the first five minutes. Jack Diamond’s volley blocked, and the Plymouth defenders struggled to contain Ben House inside their own box.
Lincoln continued their attacking momentum throughout the half, with Charles Vernam and Max Sanders both going close with distanced shots.
Regan Poole had a glorious chance to put the Imps ahead in the 24th minute. A free kick found the head of Adam Jackson, who headed the ball back across the box, which fell to Poole, whose strike forced a quick reaction save from Michael Cooper.
Ryan Hardie went for a speculative chip on the volley inside the penalty area, forcing Carl Rushworth to scramble backwards and collect the ball in the 29th minute.
Against the run of play, Adam Randell struck the ball low and hard from outside the area to put the visitors ahead. Plymouth led 1-0.
On the edge of half-time, Diamond spun his man and got a low-driven shot away to the bottom left, which Cooper parried. Vernam, who had the open goal to himself, missed controlled the ball and could not convert the chance.
Plymouth had one final chance in the game, with Hardie forcing an exceptional save from Rushworth.
It was a frantic end to the first half, with the Imps hitting Plymouth on the counterattack. Vernam went close again, forcing a big left-hand save from Cooper to tip it around his post.
Yet there was to be more drama. A deep corner delivered into the box for Lincoln found Sanders at the back post, who brought it down and then smashed it past Cooper with an unstoppable effort to draw the Imps deservedly level.
Half-time: Lincoln City 1-1 Plymouth Argyle.
The second half started off as frantically as the first half ended. A goalmouth scramble in Rushworth’s goalmouth was cleared away for the Imps. Diamond broke through the Plymouth defence before being hacked down by Bali Mumba, which referee Craig Hicks missed.
In the 63rd minute, Diamond had the ball played back to him from House, but he was unable to get a dangerous strike away. Sanders followed in with his shot straight at Cooper.
Minutes later, Lincoln had several shots towards the goal, with Diamond again at the centre of it. A miracle for Plymouth as every shot looked destined for the back of the net.
In the 76th minute, Whittaker set up Jordan Houghton, whose shot produced a fine save from Rushworth, tipping it wide for a corner.
In the 81st minute, Diamond was brought down again. The on-loan Sunderland winger was too much for Plymouth to handle, who had to resort to just fouling him. Nigel Lonwijk was booked for the cynical foul.
Full-time: Lincoln City 1-1 Plymouth Argyle.
The Imps maintain their unbeaten streak at home in the league this season as they take points off league leaders Plymouth.
Mark Kennedy’s side now have a whole week to prepare for Morecambe at home next Saturday, with no midweek fixture for Lincoln after a busy period of the season.