For the second time this season Exeter City and Lincoln played out a 0-0 draw, with the Grecians having a late goal controversially disallowed.
In the protests that followed Gary Caldwell was sent off after questioning several of the referee's decisions throughout the afternoon.
It was Lincoln who had the better chances throughout the 90 minutes, but resolute defending and the solid presence of Joe Whitworth in goal denied any opportunity for the Imps to break through, as City made it six unbeaten.
Gary Caldwell made two changes from the team that drew 1-1 with Rotherham United last week. Recovering from his illness, Ben Purrington returned to the XI in place of Pat Jones, while Caleb Watts was brought in for Joel Colwill, who was unavailable due to playing for Wales U21. Kevin McDonald returned to the matchday squad for the first time in two months on the bench, while Ryan Woods dropped out.
First half
Starting on the right side of defence, Ed Turns earned the afternoon’s first caution from the referee for the match’s first foul just four minutes in. The Grecians dealt with the resulting whipped free-kick sent in by the Imps though.
Lincoln dominated early possession, delivering several dangerous crosses, while City looked to counter. A slick move between Turns, Caleb Watts, and Jack McMillan created space on the right, but the resulting cross was cut out - an early sign of the Grecians growing into the match.
The home side responded with two corners minutes apart around the quarter-hour mark, the second of which only narrowly headed over the crossbar by Paudie O'Connor.
Another nice combination down the right created a good opportunity for Josh Magennis in the 30th minute, as McMillan’s looped pass along the wing found Demetri Mitchell in space. However, his low ball into the middle was just out of the Northern Irishman’s reach with the goal gaping.
Frustration towards the referee crept into City’s play as the half wore on, with Whitworth booked for time-wasting and Magennis for dissent, while the away supporters voiced their displeasure at several decisions.
The best chance of the half came right at the end - and it fell to the hosts. A long throw from Roughan was initially flicked away but soon recycled by an Imps player. Reeco Hackett then chipped the ball back into the box, finding an unmarked Tom Bayliss, whose header rattled the crossbar, ensuring the game remained goalless at the break.
Second half
The home side had the first real chance after the interval as Roughan’s dangerous ball flashed across the face of goal, narrowly missing both sets of players before skimming wide of the post in the 54th minute.
City struggled to gain a foothold, with Whitworth soon forced into a fantastic diving save to deny Jovon Makama’s half-volley, before James Collins fired wide at the back post.
Looking to regain territory, Caldwell adjusted his tactics, switching to two up top by introducing Sonny Cox for Watts, but Lincoln remained on the front foot. With 12 minutes to play, an incredible diving block from Turns denied Roughan once again. City then broke upfield from the resulting corner, where Jones saw his low shot comfortably held by the keeper.
As the game ticked into added time, City won a throw-in high on the left. Magennis weaved past two defenders before firing a drilled cross into the box, which rebounded out to Trevitt. His shot was blocked, but the ball fell to McMillan, who turned and fired past the keeper - only for the referee to disallow the goal for handball, despite little to no appeals from the Lincoln players.
In the protests that followed, Gary Caldwell was sent off, but City continued to push. The final action of the match saw Turns head over from a corner, as, for the second time this season, the two sides played out a goalless draw.
A fourth clean sheet in five and an unbeaten run now stretching to six games, the Grecians turn their focus to a sold-out SJP next Saturday, where they face Wrexham.
Lincoln City: Wickens, Darikwa, Hackett (House, 85'), Bayliss (Clucas, 76'), McGrandles, O'Connor, Jefferies (Ring, 65'), Hamer, Roughan, Collins, Makama.
Substitutes not used: Jeacock, Jackson, Hamilton, Okoro.
Yellow cards: Hackett 50', Collins 81'
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge, Purrington, Francis, Trevitt, Watts (Cox, 65'), Mitchell (Jones, 76'), Magennis (C).
Substitutes not used: Aitchison, Cole, Harper, K. McDonald, Yogane.
Goals:
Yellow cards: Turns 4', Whitworth 34', Magennis 37', Hartridge 89'
Attendance: 8971 (230 away)