Lincoln City slipped to their ninth defeat in 11 this evening despite dominating Manchester United Under 21s at Sincil Bank.

The Imps made eight changes to the side that lost 6-0 against Oxford and 2-1 against Blackpool, with Harry Anderson, Cian Bolger and Harry Toffolo keeping their place.

Man United started with Tahith Chong, Dylan Levitt and James Garner, all tipped to have a big future at Old Trafford.

The home side had the best of the opening exchanges and should have been ahead inside two minutes. Jake Hesketh, making his debut on loan from Southampton, fed in Jorge Grant who fired straight at Matej Kovar.

Kovar was called into action on seven minutes, a mistake by James Garner led to Grant having a pop at goal, but again the former Forest man was denied.

The Imps were looking composed on the ball, with the trio of Hesketh, Grant and left back Harry Toffolo combing well. They all combined to provide John Akinde with an effort on ten minutes which the striker struggled to get a decent touch on.

Just before the quarter-hour mark Lincoln should have gone ahead. Jake Hesketh got on the end of Toffolo’s delivery and swept an effort past Kovar, only to be denied by the bar.

After showing the early dominance, United took the lead from their first effort. Chong got away on the left and found Garner, who beat Smith from 15-yards with a smart finish. The goal knocked the wind out of Lincoln’s sails and the game began to break up.

Reece Devine managed to get away from Aaron Lewis on the attacking left, but he couldn’t find a way past Smith. Largie Ramzani was next to have a half chance, capitalising on Max Melbourne’s slip.

The home side seemingly recovered from losing the goal with only a few minutes left of the half. Harry Anderson’s surging run was abruptly stopped, but the loose ball fell to Grant who sliced an effort wide from eight yards out.

Michael Appleton’s side ended the half strongly, Ellis Chapman screwing a shot wide after good play from Akinde and O’Connor, with Harry Anderson’s header hitting the post just before the whistle.

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The second half carried on much the same way as the first. Lincoln looked comfortable in possession and created more chances. They had the ball in the net within three minutes of the restart, John Akinde sweeping home a cross from the left only to be judged offside.

The United defence, with an average age of 17, dealt well with the threats presented to them. Good work down the left by Lincoln saw a cross looped over to Michael O’Connor, but he lashed his effort wide.

Cian Bolger went close with a header, as did Grant with a free kick, Up the other end, Ramzani hit the post from 20-yards in a rare excursion forward.

Hesketh faded as the game went on, but had a tame effort saved just before being replaced by Andrade. It was the former Boreham Wood man who went close next for Lincoln, firing a vicious drive straight at Kovar.

Callum Connolly replaced Michael O’Connor and he was next to try his luck from Jack Payne’s knock down. As the game wore on, chances developed at both ends, Largie Ramzani going one on one with Smith and hitting the post.

James Garner almost made it 2-0 to the visitors with a minute left, his cheeky lob being nudged out for a corner by Smith. It didn’t affect the outcome of the tie though, with United seeing out the final few minutes to earn their second win of the competition.