City exited the Carabao Cup at the first round stage, losing 2-1 at home to Harrogate Town.
Going in level at the break, the away team scored two goals towards the start of the second period. Substitute Jovon Makama pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the closing stages, but the Imps couldn't find the equaliser.
The first chance of the night came the way of Dom Jefferies in the fifth minute, who received the ball outside the area, took a touch and fired wide.
Jack Moylan was next to register an effort two minutes later, taking the ball past his marker, to play the ball to Rob Street, before taking the return ball and seeing a curled effort drift over.
City continued to press and Moylan took a free-kick from the edge of the area that he drilled into the wall. Jefferies tried to fire the rebound goalwards but it was blocked away.
Harrogate's Toby Sims was next to come close, seeing a shot from the right side of the box force Zach Jeacock to push the effort away.
Soon after, James Daly struck an attempt wide of goal for the visitors.
With half an hour on the clock, Street flashed a ball into the near post which Draper met, but his effort took a slight deflection and trickled wide.
James Daly got in down the right for the visitors on 39 minutes, sending a low cross towards Sam Folarin, who couldn't make the right contact to convert.
Then, just before the break, Draper poked an effort over from close range after a scramble in the box, following a Street flick-on.
The Imps made two substitutions at half-time, with Adam Jackson and Tom Bayliss replacing Paudie O'Connor and Ethan Erhahon, but the away side went ahead four minutes into the second period, through Folarin. Ellis Taylor attacked down the left hand side and cut it back for his team-mate to turn the ball in.
City went looking for a leveller and the ball dropped to JJ McKiernan in the box on 51 minutes, but he shot over the crossbar.
Harrogate doubled their lead in the 61st minute when James Daly raced through to finish.
Following another double City change, which saw Dylan Duffy and Ben House come on for Jefferies and McKiernan, in the 70th minute, Matty Daly sent the ball into box but Taylor headed off target.
The Imps made a final attacking alteration as Makama replaced Lewis Montsma, and were awarded a penalty on 85 minutes when House was bundled over in the box by Sims.
Makama stepped up to take, firing a right-footed effort into the bottom right-hand corner to send James Belshaw the wrong way.
In the closing stages, the hosts piled on the pressure and saw a number of efforts blocked by the Harrogate defence as they kept getting the ball into the 18-yard box.
Just as six minutes of added time were indicated, Moylan cut in from the left and fired an effort which Belshaw saved well.
City continued to press forward but couldn't find that levelling goal. The best chance came to House, who connected with a Duffy cross from the left, but his header cleared the crossbar.
Imps: Zach Jeacock, Lewis Montsma (Jovon Makama, 79'), Paudie O'Connor (Adam Jackson, 45'), Tom Hamer, Jay Benn, Dom Jefferies (Ben House, 66'), Ethan Erhahon (Tom Bayliss, 45'), JJ McKieran (Dylan Duffy, 66'), Jack Moylan, Rob Street, Freddie Draper. Subs not used: George Wickens, Tendayi Darikwa, Sean Roughan, Zane Okoro.
Sulphurites: James Belshaw, Zico Asare, Matty Foulds, Warren Burrell, Matty Daly, James Daly, Sam Folarin (Jack Muldoon, 79'), Toby Sims, Anthony O'Connor, Levi Sutton, Ellis Taylor. Subs not used: Mark Oxley, James Moorby, Josh Falkingham, Dean Cornelius, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Josh March, Jack Bray, Oliver Robinson.
Referee: Scott Tallis.
Attendance: 3,507 (111 away).
