There were no changes for either side at the break, and Boro fashioned the first opportunity of the second half after 47 minutes. Brittain slipped Lankshear in behind, but Wickens stood up well to make the save.
Three minutes later, Darikwa fouled Castledine around 30 yards from goal. Boro initially tried to play on, but the referee brought play back for the free kick, allowing Whittaker to curl a fine effort towards goal which flew just over the bar.
City responded with a chance of their own after 52 minutes. Jefferies was played in down the right and hung a cross towards Hamer, whose header flashed over.
It was becoming an increasingly open contest. Borges found space on the edge of the area a minute later, but his effort was blocked and ultimately cleared without too much difficulty.
McGrandles then produced one of the more composed moments of the afternoon, casually nutmegging Whittaker before dribbling his way out of his own area. Whittaker raced back in pursuit and ended up conceding a free kick.
By the hour mark the game felt relentless, with barely any pause for breath from throws, corners or restarts. City made their first changes after 59 minutes, Street replacing Draper and Olaofe coming on for Jefferies.
Three minutes later, Boro were level in unfortunate circumstances for City. A cross from the right was initially cleared, but Castledine’s follow-up effort fell kindly for Lankshear, who was on hand to poke home from close range.
Boro made three changes immediately afterwards, with Kante, Borges and Castledine replaced by McGree, Peart-Harris and Arfsten.
The hosts began to apply more pressure as they searched for a second. Whittaker tested Wickens from range after 68 minutes, but the City goalkeeper was equal to the effort.
A Boro corner followed moments later, with their players once again gesturing to the home crowd for more support, something they had done three or four times during the game.
City made another change after 70 minutes, Hackett replacing House, while Boro introduced Sarmiento in place of Joseph.
Sarmiento quickly became involved, cutting in from the left three minutes later and curling an effort towards goal, although it was comfortable for Wickens.
The pressure was beginning to build. Whittaker met another cross after 75 minutes but headed wide when he should perhaps have done better, with Boro increasingly looking the more likely side to find the next goal.
Whittaker then appeared to have broken through after 79 minutes, only for Elerewe to cover comfortably and snuff out the danger. The financial difference between the sides was stark, with Whittaker alone costing around £6 million, almost seven times as much as City’s entire starting XI.
City thought they had retaken the lead after 83 minutes. Clever work from McGrandles created the opening for Olaofe, who found the net, but the flag was raised for offside. It looked extremely tight, although the officials got the decision right.
Olaofe threatened again two minutes later as City broke quickly and he carried the ball down the right. With little support arriving, he was forced into a difficult effort which lacked power and was comfortably dealt with.
Boro continued to pile balls into the City area, with cross after cross arriving from wide positions. The Imps defended resolutely, blocking and clearing repeatedly as the pressure intensified.
They were given an enormous let-off after 87 minutes. Lankshear struck the inside of the post and crossbar, with the ball bouncing down into the area before Peart-Harris somehow scooped the follow-up over. Olaofe went into the book two minutes later for a late lunge, a fair decision from the referee.
Then came the heartbreak. In the 90th minute, McGree got down the right and beat his man before delivering across goal, where Lankshear was waiting to stab home from close range and turn a brave City performance into defeat.
There was still time for current club record signing Andrei Coubis to make his debut, but it didn’t affect the game, and City lost in the league for the first time since November 22nd.
Comments Welcome!