City were narrowly defeated at the LNER Stadium by league leaders Wycombe Wanderers despite a brace from wing-back Tendayi Darikwa.
Michael Skubala made three changes to the side that earned a point on the road at Exeter City, with Dylan Duffy making his first Imps start since August, replacing Dom Jefferies. The other two changes saw Ethan Erhahon and Jovon Makama start, in place of Ethan Hamilton and Bailey Cadamarteri.
City’s Jack Moylan had the first chance of the game, after Conor McGrandles intercepted a clearance from Wycombe goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli. The Irishman’s effort from inside the penalty area was scuffed wide on two minutes.
George Wickens was called into action for the first time after seven minutes, with Dan Harvie’s strike from outside the box causing the City No.1 to parry the ball away at full stretch.
On 14 minutes, defender Tendayi Darikwa bagged his second City goal to give the Imps the lead. Excellent work from Ben House on the right-wing allowed for the forward to cross to Darikwa, and he made no mistake with his first-time finish.
City captain Paudie O’Connor was first to have his name taken by referee Seb Stockbridge, for a late tackle on the Wycombe right, as the contest heated up.
Richard Kone had a header at the back post palmed away by Wickens from the resulting free-kick as the visitors looked to reply quickly.
Michael Skubala’s side kept their foot on the gas with a wave of pressure keeping the Chairboys in their own half. Moylan and McGrandles had efforts blocked from the edge of the box, with Paudie O’Connor’s header being held by Ravizzoli.
The visitors equalised against the run of play on 35 minutes, when Cameron Humphrey’s deep left-footed cross found Richard Kone at the back post. The Wycombe man had time to take the ball down on his chest and poke the ball home from close range.
Goalscorer for the Imps Darikwa was next to be cautioned five minutes before the break for a foul in the Wycombe penalty area as the game became a stop-start affair with many fouls.
The Chairboys got themselves in front two minutes before the break with nice work on the left eventually finding Dan Harvie. His pull-back found Fred Onyedimna who could hardly miss as he tapped home from inside the six-yard box.
City started the second half brightly and looked to level the game early on. The returning Dylan Duffy came close on 53 minutes with a thunderous strike from more than 20 yards which cannoned off the crossbar.
Whilst Chairboys keeper Ravizzoli was helpless against the Irishman’s effort, he kept his side’s advantage less than a minute later, keeping Ben House’s close-range header out with his feet, after a deep cross from the City right.
The visitors were given the opportunity to extend their lead from the penalty spot after Duffy bundled over Onyedimna with 25 minutes to play. However, Chairboys captain Luke Leahy was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, as City goalkeeper George Wickens was equal to the effort to save.
Duffy was brought off as part of Michael Skubala’s first change, being replaced by Erik Ring.
Wanderers got their third of the afternoon on 72 minutes when Garath McCleary’s high cross from the right found the head of defender Joe Low, who made who nodded home to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.
Wickens was cautioned on 76 minutes for bringing down substitute McCleary following a Wycombe counter-attack. The resulting free-kick was struck over the bar from Aaron Morley.
Darikwa got his second of the game with three minutes of original time left. A corner fell kindly for the defender who smashes home into the top right corner.
City continued to put the pressure on through added time, but the visitors managed to see out the game to take the points back to Buckinghamshire.
Attendance: 8,558 (484 visitors)
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Monstma, O’Connor, Roughan, Duffy (Ring 67’), Erhahon, McGrandles (Hamilton 78’), Moylan (McKiernan 86’), House (Street 86’), Makama (Cadamateri 78’).
Unused subs: Pardington, Jefferies,
Goals: Darikwa (14’, 87’)
Chairboys: Ravizzoli, Harvie, Taylor, Low, Pattenden, Morley, Leahy, Humphreys (McCleary 66’), Onyedinma (Grimmer 90+1’), Udoh (Wheeler 90+1’), Kone
Unused Subs: George, Grimmer, Wheeler, Butcher, Hanlan, Lubala
Goals: Kone (35’), Onyedimna (43’), Low (72’)
