A youthful Lincoln City side had their hearts broken late in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup quarter-final as they were beaten 2-1 by cross-city rivals Lincoln United.
Billy Heath made five changes for his first game in charge of the Whites as Charlie Dunkerley, Lewis Cunningham and Alan Power all made their debuts for the club.
It took a while for the side to get going as they left Connor Brown to open the scoring shortly after the break, before Gbolahan Okewoye found the equaliser from 30-yards out.
However, Elliot Dye was the difference maker once again late on as he turned home from the spot after Max Baker, who started on the left-wing, was brought down.
A slow start
It was a slow first 15 minutes as Brown had a penalty shout turned down after he claimed to be pushed in the back before Stef Galinski volleyed over from a corner.
However, Ell Dye found the first real chance of the game as he was played in by Baker but dragged his first time shot wide of the far-right post.
The first chance for the visitors, fell just short of the half-hour mark as Okewoye struck on the turn from 12-yards out but Heath Richardson got down well to claw it away.
In the dying embers of the half, Ell Dye had a spectacular bicycle saved by Jaden Taylor after Sam Swinn headed down a cross from the left.
That was the last chance of a relatively uneventful in which the hosts had more of the ball but neither side were really able to create a clear-cut chance.
More energy after the break
Despite that, it was a much quicker start to the second half as Brown had an effort clawed off the line before the ball was recycled well and the striker turned home at the second attempt.
The Imps almost got themselves back into the game just over ten minutes later as Dan Vanderpuye forced Heath Richardson into a strong catch from 18-yards out.
However, former Lincoln United winger Okewoye did find the equaliser with just over twenty minutes remaining as he struck into the top left corner from 30-yards out.
The hosts did almost regain the lead three minutes later as substitute Jack Varley rattled the crossbar, but the assistant referee judged him to be offside after a free kick was crossed in from the right.
Brown then tried to match the efforts of Okewoye when he attempted to catch Taylor off his line with an effort from 40-yards however it went narrowly over after Varley won the ball back.
The hosts did eventually regain the lead with just three minutes left as Ell Dye had a shot well blocked out for a throw-in 18-yards out.
Baker was then bundled to the ground just inside the penalty area from the resultant throw-in which left Elliot Dye to put the spot kick straight down the middle.
That then simply left the Whites to see out the game as the young Imps side couldn’t quite fashion an equaliser.
However, that sees the home side progress to the semi-final of the Lincolnshire FA County Senior Cup for the third year in a row where they will face Boston United.
Before that, they must first return to league action on Saturday when they welcome promotion chasers, Bradford (Park Avenue) to Ashby Avenue.