City kicked the game off but it was the hosts who created the first chance when Joachim crossed for former Doncaster Rovers man, Tim Ryan. The defender could only head wide of the target, but it wasn't an ideal start for the Imps who were under fire again when Tommy Wright fired straight into Marriott's arms.

N'Guessan wasted a good chance to cross when he selfishly tried to lob Stockdale from an angle, he failed miserably. He did play a decent role in the Imps' first real chance when he linked with Forrester and Croft to tee up Frecklington. The youngster had the goal at his mercy but fired a very weak shot towards the goal.

Within a minute and Darlo should have taken the lead, thankfully the bar kept out Abbott's chip from the edge of the box. Alan White almost converted Amoo's cross into his own net from Amoo's cross. Hand was booked for a foul on Purdie. Dodds shot over from close range.

Then came the defining moment in the game when a ball seemed to be knocked out of play by a Darlington attacker, but they won the throw. From that throw in Marriott punched the ball out poorly and it fell to Abbott, the Polish striker fired into the empty net to give Darlington a deserved lead.

After that the floodgates seemed to open as Darlington pushed forward and had many chances to extend the lead, and the Imps were lucky to go in at the break just 1-0 down.

A 1-0 deficit didn't last long though as a Brown clearance less than a minute into the second half fell straight to Ravenhill, the midfielder struck the ball first time and it entered the net. Darlington failed to create any chances soon after and it was the Imps who tried to pull one back quickly, with Torpey claiming a penalty following his header appearing to strike a hand, nothing was given though.

The half moved slowly with the next incident coming in the 67th minute when Tim Ryan was booked for pulling back Forrester. Brown volleyed wide the resulting free kick. Warlow came on for the ineffective Forrester. The youngster almost paid off straight away when he set up a chance for Dodds. Frecklington then wasted a great chance for City, shooting just Imps wide from long range.

Stallard came on for Croft for City before Keltie replaced Cummings for Darlo. Marriott produced a fine save from Purdie that was the final incident of the game as the Imps lost 2-0.

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