Jack Burroughs and Jack Vale scored their first goals for the Imps as City progressed in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy following a 2-0 victory over Notts County.
City started well, forcing their visitors into several mistakes in possession with Aidan Stone coming to the rescue for the Magpies as Ethan Erhahon slipped Jovon Makama in behind.
The Imps led after six minutes when Jack Burroughs showed a turn of pace to win possession high up the pitch before slotting the ball past Stone at his near post.
Jack Vale then came close to his first goal in a City shirt as he exchanged passes with Jaden Brown, but he fired just over from 15 yards.
Notts started to grow into the game and almost equalised when Adam Jackson was forced into a goal-line clearance after Aaron Nemane stormed in to meet a cross at the back post.
After the break Tobi Adebayo-Rowling profited from Oliver Tipton’s looping cross to the back post, but he headed his effort into the side netting.
Dylan Duffy broke away in the 53rd minute and did well to send a low ball across the face of goal, but it proved to be just out of reach of the incoming City players.
In the 67th minute Duffy slid in to win possession, setting Jack Vale away on the counter-attack.
The forward battled his way into the box before cutting inside his marker and firing a low shot past Stone to extend City’s lead.
The Imps pushed for a third to make sure of the result, with Hakeeb Adelkaun going close late on, but two goals proved enough to secure their spot in the round of 32.
Imps: Jordan Wright, Jack Burroughs, TJ Eyoma, Paudie O’Connor, Adam Jackson, Jaden Brown (Lasse Sorensen 76’), Ethan Erhahon (Ethan Hamilton 46’), Ali Smith, Jovon Makama, Dylan Duffy (Olamide Shodipo 72’), Jack Vale (Hakeeb Adelakun 68’).
Goals: Burroughs (6’), Vale (67’)
Notts County: Aidan Stone, Kyle Cameron (Dan Gosling 62’), Connell Rawlinson, Jim O’Brien (Richard Brindley 62’), Sam Austin (Madou Cisse 77’), Macaulay Langstaff (Junior Morias 77’), Aaron Nemane, Will Randall (Charlie Gill 77’), Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Lucian Mahovo, Oliver Tipton.
Attendance: 1,781
Referee: Aaron Jackson.