Tuesday night saw two points dropped for Lincoln Untied, as they salvaged a late 2-2 draw against sixth-place Eastwood CFC at Ashby Avenue.
The game saw debuts handed out to Paul Grimes and Jamie Ture from the start. Mitchell Tait also had his first experience for The Whites, from the substitutes bench.
First-half:
It was nearly the perfect start for the hosts as Ify Ofoegbu found striker Jack McMenemy at the near post inside thirty seconds. However, the Whites’ number nine could only place his header into the hands of visiting goalkeeper Sam Wilson.
McMenemy went close again only a couple of minutes later, as Wilson spilled a high ball into the box, but the ‘keeper was able to recover and collect his scuffed effort.
It was the post that denied United the opener next as Bradley Wells got his foot to the ball before goalkeeper Wilson, only for his flicked effort hit the outside of the near post.
Evan Payne couldn’t direct his header on target after 21 minutes, as the hosts continued to dominate proceedings.
It would be the visitors that had the best chance to take the lead on 23 minutes as Sean Wright was deemed to have handballed a shot from the edge of the box.
Captain Aaron Connor stepped up but dragged his shot wide of the target to spare Wright’s blushes.
Full-back Kallum Smith sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal which somehow missed McMenemy and Ofoegbu at the back post, before it was claimed by Wilson.
Eastwood defender Elwaud Elhaghany was first to be cautioned by referee Robert Pealing as he hacked down Ture on the counter-attack. Alex Troke also found his name taken by Pealing, taking down fellow new-signing Paul Grimes.
In the last of a laundry list of first-half chances, Wells somehow missed from a couple of yards out. Mitchell Griffiths’ free-kick was flicked wide by the winger and cleared before half-time.
Second-Half:
Eastwood started the brighter of the two sides after the interval, with Kobi Eratt-Thompson having the first attempt on goal of the second half. His long-ranged strike stayed low, but fizzed harmlessly wide.
The Eastwood left back was not finished there, as it would be him who opened the scoring on 55 minutes.
Jack Steggles made a fine save to deny O’Connor from close range, but the rebound was followed in by Eratt-Thompson to give the visitors the lead.
Lincoln manager Chris Funnell made a triple change with just under half an hour to play as Ture, Wells, and Ofoegbu were all replaced by Tobias Liversidge, Jake Park, and Leo Priestley.
The Whites levelled the game on 69 minutes, as Jack McMenemy pounced on a defensive mistake from a Steggles kick to tuck the ball past Wilson at the Allen Crombie End.
Kallum Smith was replaced by debutant Mitchell Tait with just over a quarter of an hour to play in defence, as United looked for a winner.
The visitors took the lead again with ten minutes to play, as Alex Troke’s free-kick was flicked goalwards by Chris Robertson to give Eastwood the advantage.
Then, substitute Jake Park rescued a point for the hosts. He got onto the end of a Griffiths cross from the right to level the scores at 2-2 with only a couple of minutes to play.
There was enough time for Eastwood substitute Terry Ateem to be booked for delaying the restart. Grimes had an effort on the edge of the box deflected wide before the full time whistle was blown.
Lincoln United 2-2 Eastwood CFC:
The late Jake Park equaliser meant Chris Funnell’s side avoided back to back defeats, but they still dropped two points in the title race with Sherwood Colliery.
Next up for the Whites is the Isuzu FA Vase quarter-final tie at home against Deal Town on Saturday March, 9.