Leyton Orient 3, Lincoln City 2
Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala felt his side deserved at least a point after a battling performance at in-form Leyton Orient.
City fought back from 2-0 down to level the match at the Gaughan Group Stadium, but were undone by a stoppage-time winner from Orient’s Charlie Kelman.
With two goals ruled out for offside, Skubala and the nearly 800 travelling fans could take pride in the display despite the disappointment of the scoreline.
“The players are all gutted in the changing room because they did enough to get something out of it - no one is happy with the result and that is the brutality of football, but there is loads for us to be pleased about from the game.
“The lads gave everything and in the second half we really went after them. We were on it, winning set pieces and creating chances.”
Skubala was pleased with the resilience his side showed, something praised by home boss Richie Wellens after the match, even when everything seemed to be going against them in the match.
He said: “We’re gutted and I’m not sure we’d done enough to have come away with a win, but we definitely felt we deserved a point.
“I was really pleased with a lot of the way we played, I’m just disappointed for the lads as they didn’t get what they deserved.
“The lads kept pushing and but for one big moment at the end we’d have come away with a good point. We could have dealt with some things better but they’re a good team who are pushing, and things drop for you when you’re on a run like they are.”
The Imps had trailed thanks to two Sonny Perkins strikes after a frustrating first half when Paudie O’Connor and Ben House both thought they had score only to see the assistant’s flag go up.
The fightback was started by Lewis Montsma just before the interval following up decisively after an O’Connor shot was weakly dealt with by Orient keeper Josh Keeley. James Collins, who had come on in place of Freddie Draper, completed the comeback again after O'Connor had Keeley scrambling and the veteran striker’s instincts turned the ball home.
City looked set to claim at least a point but were undone in time added on at the end of the match when Charlie Kelman snatched a winner for the hosts who showed why they are the form team in the division.
Sam Clucas was handed his first Imps start since returning to the club in January - 5,617 days after his last appearance for City. The 34-year-old midfielder had previously only featured in one Johnstone's Paint Trophy game against Darlington on September 1 2009.