The Sky Sports cameras certainly selected the right Coca-Cola League 2 game to cover on Monday evening as a thrilling encounter between MK Dons and the Imps finished all square at 2-2.

In a match played in extemely blustery and, later in the game, very wet conditions, City found themselves a goal down as early as the fifth minute when Izale McLeod netted after getting the better of Nat Brown.

McLeod then missed from the spot after Paul Morgan had handled but in the second half the Imps took the game to the hosts and deservedly drew level when Jamie Forrester showed the Dons' striker how it was done, hammering home a penalty after a Ryan Amoo shot had struck the arm of Dean Lewington.

In the 84th minute of the game, substitute Spencer Weir-Daley put the Imps in front courtesy of his first touch of the game but that wasn't the end of it as it really got going in stoppage time.

Two minutes into the four added minutes McLeod went down under Morgan's challenge as he went through on goal - a second penalty to the Dons and a red card to Morgan being the outcome.

This time, Aaron Wilbraham took the responsibility from 12 yards only to blaze the ball against the top of the bar but within 30 seconds Gareth Edds drove home from 12 yards to bring a thrilling end to a conclusion.

Spencer Weir-Daley puts the Imps in front

Match report by John Vickers at the National Hockey Stadium:

This Coca-Cola League 2 game went ahead after a pre-match pitch inspection was passed by referee Russell Booth, with the third-placed Imps up against the second-placed Dons - the two highest scorers in the Football League meeting in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

City Head Coach John Schofield made two changes to the side that started at Macclesfield on New Year's Day with Paul Mayo replacing the departed Shane Nicholson whilst Adie Moses made way for Lee Frecklington in midfield; Frecklington recovering from the bout of 'flu that kept him out of the game at Moss Rose.

There was a familiar face in the MK Dons' squad with ex-Imp Jude Stirling named amongst the substitutes; Stirling joining the Dons earlier in the day on loan from Peterborough United.

The wind was strong and the middle third of the pitch looked heavy under foot as the teams emerged from the tunnel. It would have been nice and easy to watch the game from the comfort of a pub or a living room but those who travelled to the National Hockey Stadium cheering on the Imps were in full voice as proceedings got underway.

The hosts kicked off attacking The Cowshed end of the ground - City, meanwhile, started the game playing into a strong head wind which was noticeable early on when an Alan Marriott goal kick landed only midway inside the Imps' half.

The game opened rather quietly but things certainly changed in the fifth minute when the home side attacked for the first time - and they did so by producing the end product.

After Paul Mayo was bustled off the ball by Keith Andrews - referee Booth having a close look at things before allowing play to carry on - the ball ran free to Paul Mitchell who played the ball over the top after spotting the run of IZALE McLEOD. The tall striker did the rest, calmly lofting the ball over an exposed Alan Marriott from 12 yards after escaping the clutches of Nat Brown.

The game was in its 11th minute before Mr Booth gave the Imps a free-kick; this coming after some decent build-up play ended with Jeff Hughes being bundled over 25 yards from goal. As Hughes drilled the ball dgoalwards, the Nottinghamshire official - obviously keen to enjoy his night on the box - blew up for an infringement in the wall. A free-kick to the home side being the result.

At the other end, skipper Andrews tested Marriott with a low drive from 30 yards whilst a harsh decision against Nat Brown gave the home side a chance from a free-kick in a dangerous position. Lloyd Dyer tried his luck with Marriott tipping the ball behind for the first corner of the game which the Imps' custodian comfortably claimed.

City replied with a Ryan Amoo snap-shot being held at the second attempt by Lee Harper in the 17th minute whilst a direct counter-attack saw Dyer test Marriott again from an angle.

Midway through the opening period, Mark Stallard was inches away from connecting with a teasing cross from Lee Beevers as City looked to get back on level terms. They had a scare at the other end though when a centre from the left clipped a couple of City players before hitting the woodwork and going out for a corner.

The Imps couldn't quite get into their rhythm as the half-hour approached. A combination of the strong wind and even stronger Dons' pressing and harrassing giving them no time on the ball at all.

The hosts won their third and fourth corners of the game on that half-hour mark but when the latter was cleared by City, Forrester's through-ball to the advancing Paul Mayo was cut out by Drissa Diallo - Mayo clear through on goal had he received possession.

Two more Dons corners quickly followed and when the second was pumped back in, McLeod fired well wide. The Dons were certainly using the breeze to their advantage, pumping ball after ball down the middle in a bid to grab a second.

The game was 34 minutes old when the home side were gifted a chance to double their lead when referee Booth spotted a hand ball from Paul Morgan as a Jon-Paul McGovern cross came in - penalty to MK Dons being the result. City and Morgan escaped, however, when McLeod blasted the spot kick closer to the corner flag rather than the net.

A push from Beevers on Dyer as the pair went for another ball down the middle, gave the Dons a chance from another set-piece shortly after the restart only for Dyer to drill straight at the wall.

Lee Frecklington then picked up a 42nd minute yellow card for a foul in a similar position as Mr Booth pointed towards The Cowshed yet again. Play quickly switched to the other end though with Beevers flicking a Kerr free-kick a foot over the bar.

Three minutes of added time was then indicated by the Fourth Official and in the first of these, Mr Booth had words with Jamie Forrester and Sean O'Hanlon following a tussle off the ball.

In the second, City won their first corner of the evening; Morgan subsequently meeting Frecklington's centre only for his effort to bounce a foot wide of the right hand upright.

HT: MK DONS 1 IMPS 0

Both sides emerged unchanged for the second half with the Imps now having the strong wind at their backs as they looked to get themselves back into the game.

City were quickly on the attack with Lee Frecklington going down under a Dean Lewington challenge close to the goal line. Referee Booth was on the spot though and calmly pointed for a goal kick before Lewington spouted off in the direction of Frecklington.

A sweeping move forward by the Imps six minutes after the break saw them carve the home defence open.

The move started from the back with Alan Marriott brilliantly picking out Jamie Forrester on the left. Forrester then laid the ball back to Jeff Hughes who showed good vision to pick out Ryan Amoo at the back post.

Amoo struck the ball first time with the ball crashing into the arm of Lewington. Penalty to City! JAMIE FORRESTER then showed Izale McLeod how to do it by blasting the ball straight down the middle for his 15th of the season.

City then forced the first corner of the second half which was subsequently headed over by an unmarked Scott Kerr at the back stick.

The game was certainly opening up as both sides, despite their contrasting approach to the game, looking sharp on the attack.

Another corner came City's way on the hour mark but Frecklington's near post delivery was hammered out for a throw-in. Good defending at the other end by Paul Morgan, meanwhile, saw him deny McLeod.

Before the resultant corner could be taken, Clive Platt replaced Paul Mitchell up front for the hosts. When it was taken, Drissa Diallo headed well wide.

Sweeping rain was now falling on proceedings - and the travelling City fans in the open stand on the side of the ground - as Platt went in late on Morgan and when the free-kick was quickly taken, a Mayo centre was cleared behind for corner number four to the Imps.

The inclement weather, which was getting worse by the minute, didn't deter some of the faithful from discarding their shirts to go topless in the rain.

A great piece of defending by Mayo then kept City in the game with the Lincoln-born left-back blocking a net-bound shot from Andrews off the line after the Dons' skipper had cut inside before beating Marriott from just inside the box.

City's appeals for a 74th minute corner were waved away a Scott Kerr shot flew a foot wide whilst a couple of minutes later Lloyd Dyer made way for Gary Smith for the home side.

Paul Morgan then made amends for a weak back header to Marriott by pulling off a superb saving challenge on McLeod who found himself one-on-one with the Imps' goalkeeper. Shortly afterwards, Stallard and Lewington were spoken to by the referee following an incident close to the touchline as Lee Beevers prepared to take a throw-in.

Aaron Wilbraham then flashed an effort wide as the hosts pressed again before ex-Imp Jude Stirling came on for Jon-Paul McGovern for his MK Dons debut. Stirling's first touch settin up Gareth Edds who drove over.

A double change for the Imps then saw Adie Moses and Spencer Weir-Daley replace Scott Kerr and Jamie Forrester in like-for-like replacements in midfield and up front.

This change proved to be inspirational as WEIR-DALEY's first touch saw the MK Dons' net bulge for a second time as the clock showed 84 minutes played.

The Nottingham Forest loanee was in the right place at the right time and his excellent awareness paid immediate dividends when, after Lee Frecklington nodded a ball on, he was first to react before slotting the ball underneath the body of the advancing Harper.

The challenges were starting to fly in from the hosts now with Mr Booth having words with Stirling after he went in late on Jeff Hughes. Andrews then sliced a shot well wide from 25 yards.

Fourth Official Fred Graham then indicated that a minimum of four additional minutes were to be added. Midway through those additional minutes, the Dons were handed a chance to draw level when a ball over the top saw McLeod and Morgan tangle for possession.

McLeod went down in an almighty heap as he shaped to shoot and although it looked as though he had made a complete hash of things, Mr Booth was on the spot to point to the spot.

City skipper Morgan, sent off by Mr Booth at Chester early on last season after man-handling the official, saw red again but that wasn't the last of the drama as when Aaron Wilbraham stepped up he blasted the ball against the top of the crossbar before it flew high into the night sky.

That wasn't it though as, less than 30 seconds later, the home side snatched a leveller.

The goal came after a loose ball fell to the feet of GARETH EDDS who subsequently blasted an unstoppable drive past the outstretched arms of Marriott to bring the roof - or what little there was of it - off the National Hockey Stadium.

FT: MK DONS 2 IMPS 2

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Lee BEEVERS
5 Paul MORGAN
23 Nat BROWN
3 Paul MAYO
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
14 Ryan AMOO
24 Jeff HUGHES
22 Jamie FORRESTER
9 Mark STALLARD

subs
4 Adie MOSES (for KERR 83)
34 Spencer WEIR-DALEY (for FORRESTER 83)
6 Richard KELL
15 Martin GRITTON
13 Simon RAYNER

GOALS: FORRESTER (51 pen), WEIR-DALEY (84)

BOOKING: FRECKLINGTON (42)

SENDING OFF: MORGAN (90+2)

MILTON KEYNES DONS
25 Lee HARPER
3 Dean LEWINGTON
4 Drissa DIALLO
6 Sean O'HANLON
7 Jon-Paul McGOVERN
8 Paul MITCHELL
10 Izale McLEOD
13 Keith ANDREWS
15 Gareth EDDS
20 Aaron WILBRAHAM
23 Lloyd DYER

subs
9 Clive PLATT (for MITCHELL 62)
14 Gary SMITH (for DYER 76)
12 Jude STIRLING (for McGOVERN 81)
19 Scott TAYLOR
31 Adolfo BAINES

GOALS: McLEOD (5), EDDS (90+3)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire)
ASSISTANTS: David Bushell & Steve Rubery
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Fred Graham

ATTENDANCE: 7,140 (304 City supporters)