Lincoln City Football Club

City were unchanged for a fifth successive game as they took on Macclesfield Town at Moss Rose looking to keep in touch with the play-off chasing pack ahead of the final few weeks of the season.

Martin Coy was the man in charge and it was Macclesfield who got the game underway.

A long Bradley Wood throw led to a City corner in the opening minute but after home stopper Shwan Jalal claimed Greg Tempest's inswinger, the Silkmen attacked and won a corner of their own which was cleared by skipper Alan Power.

In the seventh minute a rasping drive from Tempest was superbly tipped over by Jalal but the corner ended with Power firing goalwards only for his effort to crash against a team mate and out for a goal-kick.

A couple of minutes later Tempest dragged a low effort wide of the target as the Imps continued to press; a rare Town attack ending with Paul Turnbull firing well wide from 25 yards.

Tempest had another half-chance in the 13th minute when he fired wide from the edge of the box following good work by the strike pair of Matt Rhead and Jack Muldoon.

City's pressure eventually paid off in the 16th minute when, after Muldoon was felled midway inside the Town half, Terry Hawkridge floated in a free-kick and there to head home was JAMIE McCOMBE.

Shortly after the restart a looping header from Rhead was claimed under his bar by Jalal and after a quiet few minutes, referee Coy spoke to Wood and Jack Sampson before a Town corner was hacked clear by Beevers.

In the 28th minute City pieced together a great move which ended with Hawkridge denied by a fine Jalal block whilst at the other end Paul Farman pulled off two terrific blocks to preserve the one-goal lead. Farman took a knock in the process but was able to resume duties following treatment.

Goalscorer McCombe flicked a cross out for a corner following a rare spell of Town pressure before Beevers was spoken to following a meaty challenge on Holroyd. Caton then ran out of pitch after he advanced forward at pace, robbing him of the chance to whip in a cross as the half-time whistle approached.

The only action of note during two additional minutes saw Tempest release Caton down the left but his ball into the box was cleared by the Town defence.

HT: MACCLESFIELD 0 IMPS 1

Both teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half so it was as you were as the Imps restarted proceedings.

City were the first to press with a Rhead header from a Caton cross deflected out for a City corner and when the ball found its way back to taker Hawkridge he picked out McCombe who headed inches wide.

Play quickly switched to the other end and in the 50th minute the hosts drew level with a goal out of nothing; Danny Whitehead volleying instinctively past Farman from the edge of the box for the equaliser.

The goal certainly gave Macclesfield a lift with John McCombe slicing wide following a free-kick into the box before a good save from Farman saw him deny Sampson on the hour mark.

City's response saw them piece together a swift attack which ended with a Hawkridge effort being tipped behind by Jalal. At the other end both McCombe and Bush got in timely blocks to keep the scores level.

In the 71st minute George Maris replaced James Caton on the left and six minutes later he was released by Power only for Jalal to keep out his goalbound effort. Robbie McDaid for Jack Muldoon was City's second switch, this coming with 11 minutes on the clock.

Farman then got his angles right to save from Dennis before Danny Rowe came on for Town scorer Danny Whitehead. At the other end McDaid appeared to be held down as he went up for a Hawkridge cross but nothing was given by the officials.

Beevers picked up a booking in the 87th minute, presumably for persistent infringement and in the second of three additional minutes Jalal claimed a deep Hawkridge corner.

The last incident of note saw Matt Sparrow come on for Greg Tempest but time quickly elapsed with City forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

FT: MACCLESFIELD 1 IMPS 1

19 Robbie McDAID (for MULDOON 79)

21 Matt SPARROW (for TEMPEST 90+3)

24 Courtney WILDIN

29 George MARIS (for CATON 71)

13 Aidan GRANT

GOAL: McCOMBE (16)

BOOKING: BEEVERS (87)

11 Danny ROWE (for WHITEHEAD 83)

12 Dan COWAN

25 Reece STYCHE

29 Jimmy PHILLIPS

1 Ritchie BRANAGAN

GOAL: WHITEHEAD (50)

ATTENDANCE: 1,676 (301 City supporters)