Goals from Jovon Makama and Freddie Draper secured a hard-earned three points for Michael Skubala’s side in a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient.
City started brightly with Jovon Makama showing great strength to hold the ball up and find Darikwa on the right. His cross was angled towards Jeffries at the back post, but an Orient touch took the ball away from the winger four minutes in.
Some nice football from Orient saw Ollie O’Neill break down the left, before Tom Hamer met him to concede a corner.
After a quarter of an hour, a quick free kick from the edge of the box saw Orient’s Dan Agyei in space in the Imps penalty area. His strike was blocked by a sliding Darikwa, before looping over goalkeeper George Wickens and just wide of the far post.
From the resulting corner Orient captain Omar Beckles saw his header at the back post fly high and wide of the mark, as the visitors looked to assert themselves on the tie.
Midfielder Ethan Erhahon was cautioned by referee Ross Joyce on 19 minutes, after bringing down Agyei just over halfway.
Makama had another effort blocked just before the half an hour mark, after doing well on his solo run from inside the Orient half, as the game was starved of clear-cut chances.
The City forward caused more havoc for the Orient backline, as Jack Simpson felt he had no other option but to drag down Makama, as he was baring down on goal. Referee Joyce brandished a yellow card for the Orient man.
Afte 35 minutes, Jamie Donley had a whipping left-footed effort from the edge of the box take a slight deflection to leave George Wickens flat-footed, watching the ball hit the side netting and out for a corner.
From the resulting set piece, a ball played back to Tom James saw the defender have time and space to unleash a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar, from more than 25 yards out.
Tendayi Darikwa pounced on goalkeeper Hemming’s hesitation to get to the ball first and pull a cross back into a dangerous area. Unfortunately for the Imps there wasn’t a red shirt to tuck the ball home.
Donley’s attempted cross found the roof of Wickens’ net on 44 minutes, as the first half petered out as a goalless encounter.
City started the second half in the perfect way, as Jovon Makama found the net for the second year in a row at home to Orient, to give the Imps the lead. Darikwa clipped a ball out to the right to find Hamer, whose header across goal was tucked home by the striker.
Dom Ball was the next man to see his name taken by the officials after a heavy challenge on City captain Paudie O’Connor on halfway.
Freddie Draper had an acrobatic effort from the edge of the penalty area bounce wide on 53 minutes, as Michael Skubala’s side looked to double their advantage quickly.
It was Makama who was making all the headlines at the start of the second period. The striker picked up the ball inside his own half before going on a lung-busting run through the middle of the O’s defence. His effort at the end of it was poked just wide of Hemming’s net.
Sean Roughan and Dom Jeffries were cautioned with 25 minutes to play, as the Imps looked to keep the pressure on their opponents.
Goalkeeper Wickens had little action in the second half but had to be alert to a low corner that he did well to hold onto in a crowded area on 68 minutes.
City doubled their lead with 13 minutes to play, as substitute Erik Ring drove through the O’s midfield before finding Freddie Draper on the right. The forward allowed the ball to come across his body, before firing home into the bottom left corner.
The visitors pulled one back through Agyei on 81 minutes, after his right footed effort found the back of the net from inside the penalty area to set up a tense finish at the LNER Stadium.
Midfielder Ethan Hamilton returned to the side after his long-term injury and came on to replace goal scorer Draper as the Imps looked to see out the contest.
Six minutes of added time was played with Michael Skubala’s side doing enough to hold onto the three points.
City: Wickens, Darikwa, O’Connor, Hamer, Roughan, Erhahon, McGrandles, Jeffries (Ring 72’), Bayliss (Moylan 60’), Draper (Hamilton 82’), Makama (Cadamateri 60’).
Goals: Makama (47’), Draper (77’)
Unused Subs: Pardington, Monstma, McKiernan,
Orient: Hemming, James, Beckles, Simpson (Cooper 54’), Currie, Ball (Oberio 72’), O’Neill Jaiyesimi 72’), Clare (Brown 46’), Agyei, Donley (Pratley 81’), Kelman
Goals: Ageyi (81’)
Unused subs: Phillips, Perkins,
Attendance: 9,511 (524 visitors)