Two goals in the last 10 minutes condemned the Hatters to defeat at Lincoln.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute when Adam Reach’s free-kick came back off the crossbar.
But the Town’s reprieve did not last long as on 12 minutes the Imps took the lead. The Hatters lost the ball upfield and the hosts countered. Freddie Draper fed Ben House and the home midfielder finished well from 12 yards past Josh Keeley.
Keeley then needed to be alert four minutes later as the hosts sensed a second but the Town stopper then produced a stunning one-handed save to keep out Draper’s rasping drive on 19 minutes.
It was all the Imps as the Hatters struggled to land a blow at the other end and Keeley needed to field an acrobatic effort from Draper on 26 minutes as the hosts continued to push for a second.
But as half-time approached, the Town began to find their feet. Their first chance of the afternoon fell to Nahki Wells who volleyed wide on 35 minutes.
Millenic Alli’s shot was blocked three minutes later before Jordan Clark saw a long-range drive tipped over by home goalkeeper George Wickens.
On 40 minutes a deep George Saville corner was almost forced over the line but the Town went in at the break a goal behind.
At the start of the second period, Matt Bloomfield introduced Joe Gbodé for Jerry Yates and the Town restarted on the front-foot with Gbodé shooting wide on 48 minutes.
But Lincoln soon regained the ascendancy. House powered a header over at the back post on 54 minutes before Rob Street saw a shot blocked by brave defending from Kal Naismith.
Shortly after the hour James Collins – a man who scored 72 goals in 183 games in Town colours – saw a dangerous cross cleared by Naismith and on 73 minutes the striker saw a decent hit blocked by Saville.
Two minutes later the Hatters had a huge let-off when another former Town man came close to doubling the Lincoln lead. The ball dropped at the feet of Sonny Bradley in the six-yard box but with the ball on his right foot, the centre-half shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
At the time it would prove crucial as, two minutes after that miss, the Hatters were level on 77 minutes. A short free-kick routine saw Saville square to Alli. The winger threaded a pass through to Clark into the area and the Town midfielder snuck a cute finish with the outside of his boot past Wickens.
All of a sudden you felt the momentum was with the Town but no sooner were they level, Lincoln regained the lead. Wickens’ goal-kick was flicked into the path of Justin Obikwu and the home striker sped clear of the Hatters defence to finish confidently beyond Keeley.
Lasse Nordås replaced Wells with two minutes left on the clock as the Town chased a late leveller but it was the hosts who had the final word bang on 90 minutes when House made sure of the points for the Imps when finishing well with a low shot from the edge of the box.
A disappointing day on the road.
We’re back at home next week with Doncaster the visitors.
We’ll see you then.
Town: Keeley, Lonwijk, Alli, Naismith (sub Bramall 65), Mengi (sub Morris 60), Andersen, Saville, Clark, Nelson (sub Nelson 65), Yates (sub Gbodé 46), Wells (sub Nordås 88).
Subs not used: Shea, Fanne.
Attendance 9,255, including 1,433 in a sell-out away end.
