City’s Carabao Cup journey came to an end after a tightly-contested affair against reigning Conference League champions West Ham United.
Ahead of kick-off both sides joined together for a minute’s applause to remember former Imps manager Colin Murphy who sadly passed away earlier this month.
City had the first shot of the game in the sixth minute as Konstantinos Mavropano’s defensive header dropped to Paudie O’Connor who sent a powerful volley over the crossbar.
West Ham were presented with an opportunity to go ahead after Sean Roughan slipped on the left, leaving Maxwell Cornet to start an attack which finished with Said Benrahma’s shot being smothered by Lukas Jensen.
City continued to battle and got away shots away midway inside the first half as Lasse Sorensen laid the ball infield for Reeco Hackett to strike goalwards before Ethan Erhahon’s long-range effort was deflected wide.
The Imps thought they had taken the lead in the 27th minute as Adelakun’s long throw from the right went all the way through to Ali Smith at the back post whose mis-hit shot was tapped home by Alex Mitchell who was flagged offside.
Mohammed Kudus caused issues for the Imps as the game approached the midway stage when his inswinging corner had to be tipped over the crossbar before his rifled near post effort was parried wide by Jensen who had to be alert.
Mark Kennedy’s side created a huge chance for themselves a few minutes before the break as Ali Smith’s floating cross found Hackett in the centre whose free header from six-yards out was saved by a strong hand from Lukas Fabianski.
The Irons then had a chance of their own a minute later as Danny Ings did well to get past Mitchell to open up a shooting opportunity for himself in the box before rolling his effort just wide.
City started the second half positively as Sorensen burst away down the right before coming infield to lash a 20-yard shot just over the crossbar and into the packed out Stacey West Stand.
The hosts continued to hold their own against the reigning Conference League champions and troubled the visitors’ once more as Adelakun’s dangerous cross was headed behind before Hamilton’s strike from distance went high and wide.
Despite the battling spirit shown from City, it was West Ham who scored the opener in the 70th minute as Said Benrahma’s corner into the middle was bundled in by Tomas Soucek.
David Moyes’ men rattled the woodwork with 15 minutes of normal time remaining when Ben Johnson’s long-range drive fizzed across the wet surface and bounced off the outside of the post.
Dylan Duffy almost brought his side level in the 84th minute after he found space to send a driven effort from range which stung the palms of Fabianski.
Jensen was then called into action up the other end as Kudus reacted first to a poor defensive header to strike a volley at goal which was beaten away by the Dane - leaving the Irons to settle for a 1-0 victory.
Imps: Lukas Jensen, Lasse Sorensen, Alex Mitchell, Sean Roughan, Paudie O’Connor ©, Jack Burroughs, Ethan Erhahon, Ethan Hamilton, Reeco Hackett (Dylan Duffy 77’), Ali Smith (Ted Bishop 77’), Hakeeb Adelakun (Jovon Makama 77’). Subs (not used): Jordan Wright, Jaden Brown, Adam Jackson, TJ Eyoma.
West Ham: Lukasz Fabianski, Ben Johnson, Pablo Fornals (Edson Alvarez 66’), Mohammed Kudus, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Maxwell Cornet (Divin Mubama 66’), Danny Ings, Angelo Ogbonna ©, Said Benrahma, Thilo Kehrer, Tomas Soucek. Subs (not used): Joseph Anang, Vladimir Coufal, Nayef Aguerd, Conor Coventry, Kaelan Casey, Callum Marshall, Daniel Chesters.
Goals: Soucek (70’).
Referee: Josh Smith.
Attendance: 10,168 (1,836 away).