The Imps went down 2-1 to MK Dons in this FA Cup First Round Replay with a brace from striker Clive Platt curtailing City's Cup dreams for the 2005/06 campaign.

The Dons opened the scoring in the 14th minute when former Rochdale striker Platt got the wrong side of the Imps' offside trap before lifting the ball over Alan Marriott from 18 yards but it took City just 10 minutes to draw level - Paul Mayo netting from the spot after Marvin Robinson had been dragged to the floor by Craig Morgan.

The home side's second - and ultimately decisive goal - came when an inswinging centre from Trent McClanahan clipped the outstretched boot of Platt before looping over a stranded Alan Marriott. It was cruel luck on City who had enjoyed the better of things until then.

Chances for both sides were few and far between in the second period, with both sides forced to shoot from range in a bid to extend the scoring. A late cross-cum-shot from substitute Maheta Molango which forced home 'keeper Matt Baker to tip the ball over the bar was the closest either team came.

Paul Mayo drills home from the spot to make it 1-1

report by John Vickers at The National Hockey Stadium:

After almost two months out of the side due to a stress fracture of a second metatarsal in his left foot, centre-back Jamie McCombe returned to the City starting line-up for this FA Cup First Round Replay against Milton Keynes Dons at The National Hockey Stadium.

McCombe replaced Gareth McAuley who was absent due to the fact he was on international duty with Northern Ireland. With McCombe back in the starting line-up, Matthew Bloomer returned to the bench.

It was a brisk mid-November evening as the teams - who drew 1-1 at Sincil Bank in the first encounter - made their way out on to the pitch as the sides looked to book a Second Round berth away to League 1 high-flyers Southend United.

Despite there being only one change to the line-up, there was a switch around in formation to 5-2-3 with Lee Beevers swapping to the right to allow McCombe to partner skipper Paul Morgan and Colin Cryan in defence. Paul Mayo was in the left wing-back role.

Referee Michael Jones, who officiated at the match between the two sides at Sincil Bank, sending off Imps' midfielder Dean Keates in the process, got the game underway with City looking as resplendant as ever in their black and red 'away' strip.

The Imps started brightly and less than 90 seconds were on the clock when a great cross from Beevers - after a Mayo free-kick was poorly dealt with by the home defence - gave Gary Birch a sight of goal but Dons' 'keeper Matt Baker was alert to the situation and blocked his effort at close range with the loose ball failing to run to a City player.

The hosts responded by forcing the first corner of the game in the fifth minute but An Marriott commanded his box well and easily claimed the resultant centre. Another flag-kick to the Dons followed five minutes later - this one was dealt with thanks to a towering header from McCombe.

At the other end, the offside flag was doing nothing to aid the Imps chances of breaching the home defence, as the clock ticked towards the quarter hour mark. Just before that though, the Dons took the lead - with the goal having a suspicion of offside about it.

The opening strike came when a long ball forward from the right from Trent McClenahan landed at the feet of toweing striker CLIVE PLATT. The former Rochdale front-man looked to have strayed into an offside position as he brought the ball under control before lifting it over the advancing Alan Marriott but the flag stayed down and the goal was allowed to stand.

Despite all their pressure and chasing, the Imps couldn't seem to gain possession over the following five or so minutes, but this changed when a quickly-taken free-kick saw Derek Asamoah force Lincoln's first corner which came with 21 minutes on the clock.

Baker punched Kerr's centre away but shortly afterwards, another corner came City's way and after this one was dangerously whipped in by Kerr, the ball was played back in by Beevers from the opposite flank. It was a great centre and one which saw Marvin Robinson go down under Craig Morgan's challenge as he tried to get onto the ball. Referee Jones was on the spot and had no hesitation in awarding City their first penalty of the season.

Up stepped PAUL MAYO to drill the ball into the bottom left corner with the ball crashing into the back of the net before Baker had time to react. It was Mayo's first goal since his return to Sincil Bank in the summer. It was just what City needed, with the home side leading for just 10 minutes.

City boss Keith Alexander was on his feet when a blatant trip on Asamoah by McClenahan went unpunished after the Lincoln man had got past the Australian defender and he was up again when Jamie McCombe was yellow carded for a 33rd minute push on Platt. The pair then clashed again as they awaited a City throw-in with Platt being spoken to as McCombe held his face following the incident.

Dean Lewington drilled a speculative long-range effort well over the City bar as the home side looked to get their noses back in front whilst at the other end a Scott Kerr cross-cum-shot failed to trouble Matt Baker between the Dons' sticks.

Play quickly moved to the opposite end though where the hosts made it 2-1 with a goal out of nothing. The Dons' broke down the left with an inswinging centre from the impressive McClenahan looping off the outstretched leg of CLIVE PLATT who went for the ball with Colin Cryan and with Alan Marriott left helpless, the ball spooned over his head before bouncing over the line.

The goal came three minutes before an additional two were indicated by the Fourth Official and was a big blow, just as City had got themselves back into the game following Platt's earlier effort.

City's best chance at getting back on level terms during those extra minutes came when Scott Kerr drilled in a 25-yard effort which was saved low to his right by Baker.

HT: MK DONS 2 IMPS 1

With no changes at the break it was a case of as you were for the start of the second period and it took both teams some time to get themselves going after their half-time breather.

In fact it was a pretty uneventful opening 10 minutes to the second period, halted only by a booking for Lee Beevers for a late challenge on Nicky Rizzo. The caution was Beevers' fifth of the season so he faces a one-match ban, which will rule him out of the Imps' trip to Northampton Town in Coca-Cola League 2 on Saturday 26 November.

The Imps had a let off in the 57th minute when Izale McLeod failed to control a centre on the edge of the Imps area. The tall forward found good space for himself but poor control allowed Paul Morgan to clear the danger.

A great turn by Paul Mayo on the left in the 59th minute forced Wade Small into a rash challenge. Out came the yellow card and from the subsequent free-kick, whipped in by Scott Kerr, Gary Birch could only direct his flick header wide of the upright. From the lofty position in the press box it looked to be a good chance - was it one that City were going to regret?

It turned out to be Birch's final contribution to the evening, as he was replaced by Franny Green in the 63rd minute of the game. Shortly after this switch, an offside flag denied Marvin Robinson a sight of goal.

Home skipper Paul Mitchell then joined the ever-increasing list of names in Mr Jones's notebook for a late challenge on Nat Brown and just as the game entered its final quarter a deflected Derek Asamoah shot saw City win their first corner of the second half. Kerr's dangerous centre saw Baker scramble the ball clear with a Mayo thunderbolt then flying just wide from 30 yards.

A long free-kick forward by Alan Marriott picked out Jamie McCombe who saw his back-header well saved by Baker whilst an attempted lob less than a minute later by Beevers forced the home 'keeper to make another save to his right.

Shortly after a long range effort from Gareth Edds flew over the bar before being brilliantly held by Associate Director Mark Broughton, sat watching from the uncovered stand behind the goal, Maheta Molango was introduced into the action with Marvin Robinson making way for the Swiss-born forward. Seventy-three minutes were on the clock at the time of the change min personnel.

Two minutes later, home boss Danny Wilson made his first change with Leon Crooks coming on for Nicky Rizzo but time was quickly running out if the Imps were to net a second leveller.

After a brief stoppage to allow Trent McClanahan to receive treatment to his head after colliding with Molango, a shot on the turn by McCombe - up field for a throw-in - saw Baker scramble low to his left before gathering the ball. McClanahan returned complete with a bandage wrapped around his forehead.

McCombe found himself pushed forward on a permanent basis as, with just 10 minutes remaining, Imps' chief Keith Alexander decided to go for broke and the ball seemed to be constantly in the Dons' half throughout the following five minutes with the home defence happy to hurriedly clear their lines whenever City pressed.

After Nick McKoy was brought on for Gareth Edds on 85 minutes for the home side, a break down the right by Molango saw his deep centre drift goalwards before brilliantly tipped over the bar by Baker. City couldn't find a way past the keeper from the subsequent corner though.

When the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of three minutes were to added it caused a few groans to echo around the drafty stadium. A booking to Izale McLeod for dissent took up the majority of the first of these whilst nothing to report happened in the other two, except for a last-gasp drive wide by home defender Dean Lewington.

FT: MK DONS 2 IMPS 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
Alan MARRIOTT
Colin CRYAN
Lee BEEVERS
Jamie McCOMBE
Paul MORGAN
Scott KERR
Paul MAYO
Nat BROWN
Gary BIRCH
Derek ASAMOAH
Marvin ROBINSON

Subs:
Francis GREEN (for BIRCH 63)
Maheta MOLANGO (for M ROBINSON 73)
Matt BLOOMER
Luke FOSTER
Jeff HUGHES

Goal: MAYO (24 pen)

Bookings: McCOMBE (33), BEEVERS (54)

MK DONS
Matt BAKER
Trent McCLENAHAN
Dean LEWINGTON
Craig MORGAN
Wade SMALL
Paul MITCHELL
Clive PLATT
Izale McLEOD
Gareth EDDS
Nicky RIZZO
Mark RICKETTS

Subs:
Leon CROOKS (for RIZZO 75)
Nick McKOY (for EDDS 85)
David MARTIN
Malvin KAMARA
Serge MAKOFO

Goals: PLATT (14 & 42)

Bookings: SMALL (59), MITCHELL (66), McLEOD (90+)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)
Assistants: William Ramsay & Ian Searle
Fourth Official: Rob Steans

Attendance: 4,029 (484 City supporters)