Liam Bellamy's second-half strike earned Ebbsfleet a draw at Lincoln.

The home side took the lead when midfielder Nicky Nicolau found the bottom corner with a right-footed strike from the edge of the area.

The Fleet levelled with Bellamy finding the top corner with a curling effort on his return from suspension.

John Nutter came close to finding the Imps a late winner but his curling free-kick was tipped around the post by keeper Preston Edwards.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Lincoln City manager David Holdsworth told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:

"You have to take your chances. At half time we should have been out of sight, we got into some lovely positions in the first half and didn't take the chances and we've ended up drawing a game we should have won.

"I was pleased for Nicky, we've been encouraging him to shoot but when we do get the opportunities we've got to take them and I can be critical of our forwards because we had a number of chances to put the game out of sight.

"We really should be making more of those opportunities and being a little more clinical and that's what's cost us. I thought we played some good football at times and we were nearly there, that's why it's frustrating."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Lincoln City

  • 01 Farman
  • 03 Nutter
  • 05 Boyce
  • 15 Gray
  • 19 Hutchison
  • 04 Mills (Robson - 66' )
  • 08 Power
  • 12 Sheridan
  • 16 Nicolau (Robinson - 71' )
  • 10 Taylor
  • 34 Larkin (Oliver - 71' )

Substitutes

  • 27 Turner
  • 02 Robson
  • 18 Bore
  • 14 Oliver
  • 39 Robinson

Ebbsfleet United

  • 01 Edwards
  • 02 Stone
  • 05 Walsh
  • 06 Lorraine
  • 14 Howe
  • 04 Ada
  • 11 Phipp
  • 15 Barrett (Bellamy - 57' )
  • 18 Azeez
  • 07 Marum (Elder - 57' )
  • 10 Ashikodi (Greenhalgh - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Menz
  • 03 Blake
  • 16 Bellamy
  • 17 Greenhalgh
  • 09 Elder
Ref: Whiteley
Att: 1,682

Match Stats

Shots

11 10

On target

4 6

Corners

5 9

Fouls

6 6

Live Text Commentary

93:19 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +1:10 Substitution

Substitution Ben Greenhalgh on for Moses Ashikodi.

90:00 +0:19

Moses Ashikodi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Daniel Gray. Paul Farman takes the direct free kick.

89:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Robson on Moses Ashikodi. Preston Edwards takes the free kick.

87:46

Outswinging corner taken by Tom Phipp, Graham Hutchison makes a clearance.

86:26

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Taylor from the left by-line.

85:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Howe on Jamie Taylor. The free kick is swung in left-footed by John Nutter, save by Preston Edwards.

84:26

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp played to the near post, clearance made by Paul Robson.

83:19

Daniel Gray takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand post.

82:08

Unfair challenge on Andrew Boyce by Nathan Elder results in a free kick. Paul Farman restarts play with the free kick.

80:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Sheridan by Tom Phipp. Alan Power crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

77:34

Curled left-footed shot by Lanre Azeez. Save by Paul Farman.

76:17

Liam Bellamy takes a shot. Save by Paul Farman.

75:32

Jamie Taylor produces a cross, Vadaine Oliver takes a shot.

73:47

Inswinging corner taken by Tom Phipp from the left by-line, Paul Lorraine takes a shot. Paul Farman makes a save.

72:23

The offside flag is raised against Nathan Elder. Free kick taken by Paul Farman.

70:52 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Nicolau leaves the field to be replaced by Conner Robinson.

70:52 Substitution

Substitution Vadaine Oliver joins the action as a substitute, replacing Colin Larkin.

67:07

Corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Nathan Elder misses to the right of the goal.

65:41 Substitution

Substitution Gary Mills leaves the field to be replaced by Paul Robson.

61:26

Assist on the goal came from Lanre Azeez.

61:26 Goal scored

Goal - Liam Bellamy - Lincoln 1 - 1 Ebbsfleet Liam Bellamy grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Lincoln City 1-1 Ebbsfleet United.

60:33

Corner taken by Nicky Nicolau from the right by-line, clearance by Paul Lorraine.

58:00

The ball is crossed by John Nutter, Paul Lorraine manages to make a clearance.

55:50 Substitution

Substitution Liam Enver-Marum leaves the field to be replaced by Nathan Elder.

55:50 Substitution

Substitution Liam Bellamy comes on in place of Neil Barrett.

55:50

Tom Phipp produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

51:24

The ball is delivered by Nicky Nicolau.

50:14

Shot from deep inside the area by Colin Larkin goes over the bar.

46:05

Lanre Azeez is caught offside. Paul Farman takes the free kick.

45:37

Jamie Taylor takes a shot. Save by Preston Edwards.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:18 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

44:41

The assistant referee signals for offside against Moses Ashikodi. Direct free kick taken by Paul Farman.

44:12

Effort from deep inside the area by Jamie Taylor misses to the left of the target.

43:23

Shot from outside the area by Phil Walsh misses to the left of the target.

43:00

Tom Phipp takes the inswinging corner, Graham Hutchison makes a clearance.

42:34

Corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp to the near post, clearance by Daniel Gray.

40:26

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Nicky Nicolau from the right by-line.

37:34

Andrew Boyce concedes a free kick for a foul on Lanre Azeez. Tom Phipp crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, save by Preston Edwards.

36:53

Effort on goal by Colin Larkin from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

35:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Nicolau on Craig Stone. Craig Stone takes the free kick.

34:09

Lanre Azeez fouled by Nicky Nicolau, the ref awards a free kick. Neil Barrett takes the direct free kick.

31:04

Corner from the right by-line taken by Nicky Nicolau, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Stone by Andrew Boyce. Direct free kick taken by Preston Edwards.

29:59

Corner taken by Tom Phipp from the left by-line, save by Paul Farman.

29:24

The ball is delivered by Daniel Gray, Patrick Ada manages to make a clearance.

28:48

A cross is delivered by Jake Sheridan, clearance made by Craig Stone.

27:44

The ball is swung over by Craig Stone, clearance made by Andrew Boyce.

26:37

Graham Hutchison challenges Neil Barrett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Liam Enver-Marum produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

25:58

Colin Larkin takes a shot. Save made by Preston Edwards.

24:22

Lanre Azeez sends in a cross, clearance by Graham Hutchison.

22:07

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Nicky Nicolau from the left by-line.

21:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Taylor by Paul Lorraine. Nicky Nicolau crosses the ball in from the free kick, Phil Walsh manages to make a clearance.

20:24

Craig Stone produces a cross, Header from close in by Phil Walsh misses to the right of the target.

19:43

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tom Phipp.

17:39

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp from the right by-line, Paul Farman makes a save.

17:18

Neil Barrett takes a shot. Save by Paul Farman.

14:41

Foul by Patrick Ada on Colin Larkin, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from John Nutter, Patrick Ada makes a clearance.

14:10

The referee blows for offside against Lanre Azeez. Paul Farman takes the free kick.

12:30

Shot by Alan Power from outside the box goes high over the target. Jamie Taylor is ruled offside. Preston Edwards takes the free kick.

9:26

Jake Sheridan handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Preston Edwards takes the direct free kick.

6:31

Long range effort from Jamie Taylor misses to the left of the target.

2:43 Goal scored

Goal - Nicky Nicolau - Lincoln 1 - 0 Ebbsfleet Nicky Nicolau grabs a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 1-0 Ebbsfleet United.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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