The Valiants are forced to share the points this afternoon in Lincolnshire.
The Valiants started the brighter but it was the Imps who had the first big chance of the big of the afternoon on 12 minutes. A low driven ball from the left played into Ali Smith in the area but his effort had too much on it as the ball sailed over the bar.
Alfie Devine answered back on 25 minutes following an Ethan Chislett free kick. The ball fell to Devine at the back of the area who had time to pick his spot but the midfielder’s strike was just too high to trouble Lukas Jensen in goal.
Eight minutes later it was Uche Ikpeazu’s turn to have a try at goal. Beautiful work from Devine on the left as he nipped past a couple of Lincoln defenders and played the ball in to the feet of our number 12 but his effort was well saved by Jensen before the ball was cleared.
But on 34 minutes we found that goal through Ben Garrity. Great play from Tom Sang and Chislett down the right who beat their markers as the latter drilled a ball into the area. Our number eight found the bottom corner with a first time finish to give the Valiants a deserved lead.
The hosts had one last opportunity before half time which saw Dylan Duffy test Ripley from range but the Vale stopper parried it away comfortably.
Just two minutes into the second half we were reduced to ten men. After an incredibly soft first yellow card was awarded to Ollie Arblaster for jumping, the Sheffield United loanee was given his marching orders for a late sliding challenge in the middle of the park.
It was now 10 versus 11 as Lincoln tried to find a leveller. Lasse Sorensen tried his luck from outside the area following on from a set piece but his shot flew over Ripley’s bar.
But Lincoln’s man advantage only lasted six minutes as the Imps’ skipper saw red on 63 minutes for an off the ball altercation with Ikpeazu.
The Valiants created a big chance shortly after both sides were reduced to ten men. Ikpeazu was simply too strong for the host’s defence as he muscled his marker off him. He drilled the ball into Devine on the edge of the box but his effort was too high.
On 68 minutes Ikpeazu was making himself a nuisance in the Lincoln penalty area as he saw a header well saved by Jensen who denied the Valiants a two goal lead.
The Valiants were denied the three points in stoppage time after substitute Mide Shodipo latched onto a low cross in the area and tapped the ball home for a later, late equaliser.
Lincoln City | Lukas Jensen, Lasse Sorensen, TJ Eyoma, Paudie O’Connor, Adam Jackson, Jack Burroughs (56’ Danny Mandroiu), Ethan Erhahon (89’ Mide Shodipo), Ethan Hamilton, Ali Smith (67’ Jack Vale), Hakeeb Adelakun (78’ Javon Makama), Dylan Duffy
Unused Subs | Jordan Wright, Sean Roughan, Alex Mitchell
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Lewis Cass, Tom Sang, Ben Garrity (83’ Tom Conlon), Ethan Chislett (71’ Gavin Massey), Alfie Devine, Uche Ikpeazu (71’ Ryan Loft), Funso Ojo, Ollie Arblaster, James Plant, Jesse Debrah
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutweiler, Rhys Walters, Ben Lomax, Josh Thomas