From www.redimps.co.uk

A SECOND half goal from Barnsley substitute Daniel Bogdanovic was enough to knock a spirited City side out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle at Sincil Bank Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Imps were more than a match for their Championship opponents throughout what was an entertaining affair with both goalkeepers called upon during the course of the match.

An end-to-end opening half saw the impressive Rene Howe force Luke Steele into a decent save from a powerful 25-yard volley whilst at the other end Rob Burch kept City in the game, saving well from Adam Hammill.

After the break and Steele kept out Jamie Clarke on a couple of occasions whilst Burch had to be at his best to deny Hammill again but in the end it was a rare slip from Janos Kovacs which led to the winner; the big Hungarian being punished for a moment's hesitation with Maltese international Bogdanovic firing past Burch four minutes after coming on as a 68th minute substitute.

Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:

Joe Heath failed a fitness test after taking a knock during Saturday's 1-0 win over Barnet whilst Rene Howe was favoured to Chris Fagan up front for this Carling Cup first round tie against Barnsley at Sincil Bank Stadium. Heath's absence saw Shane Clarke come into midfield with Aaron Brown set to drop to left-back. Nathan Adams returned to the squad on the bench.

City kicked off and started the match attacking the Stacey West Stand from the first whistle and were the first to press, winning a succession of throw-ins down the right in the opening couple of minutes but the visiting defence stood firm and held their line well.

The Imps continued to put the Barnsley defence under pressure with Rene Howe getting in the game's first shot on target, firing at Luke Steele from just outside the box after he was played in by a clever flick on from strike partner Paul Connor. A push on Connor from Stephen Foster then gave the Imps a chance to take a quick free-kick but the final ball in from Connor close to the touchline was claimed by Steele.

Barnsley's first attack came in the 12th minute when former Cheltenham Town front man Kayode Odejayi saw his goalbound volley deflected behind by Moses Swaibu for the first corner of the evening. Adam Hammill's subsequent delivery was cleared back to the former Liverpool winger who saw his shot clip Stefan Oakes before going behind for another flag-kick. Two more Barnsley corners quickly followed before Luke Potter fired well over.

At the other end a deep cross from Aaron Brown flew inches over the head of the onrushing Jamie Clarke whilst in the 18th minute an excellent 25-yard volley from Howe which was superbly tipped behind by Steele at full stretch. Brown's delivery from the quadrant was nodded behind by Connor, whose appeals for a deflection fell on deaf ears.

An entertaining, and evenly-matched, opening quarter of the game continued with both sides looking sharp on the break; good persistence and pressure from Howe seeing him create another half-chance which he volleyed a foot over the bar from the edge of the box.

Barnsley's response saw Jamal Campbell-Ryce run at Swaibu but the City man got their first to clear for a corner which was duly nodded behind by Connor for a corner which was claimed by Rob Burch.

Howe was starting to cause the Barnsley defence all sorts of problems and on a couple of occasions they hurriedly cleared their lines as the Peterborough loanee muscled his way into the attacking third of the field.

Barnsley's response saw Burch save well from Jon Macken and the lively Hammill whilst at the other end a speculative volley from Oakes flew into the Stacey West Stand rather than the back of the net.

Some brave defending from visiting skipper Foster denied Howe the opening goal in the 34th minute; the former getting in a great block to deny the latter after Jamie Clarke and Connor had linked up well to create the chance for the City striker. Such was the force of Howe's effort that Foster required attention before returning to the fray.

At the other end a missed clearance by Hughton gave Hammill a good chance from eight yards out but Burch was there to block superbly with his legs whilst City's response saw Rob Kozluk make a hash of an Oakes cross; an unproductive corner to the Imps being the outcome.

Campbell-Ryce was lucky to escape a caution five minutes before the break following a lunge at Connor whilst Odejaye headed over a Hammill centre when he perhaps should have done better having ghosted into the area to meet the cross.

Shortly before the Fourth Official indicated that just the one minute was to be added on Jamie Clarke outstripped Kozluc but the resultant corner which came about when Clarke's ball in was cleared came to nothing for the final action of an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

HT: IMPS 0 BARNSLEY 0

Neither side made any changes during the half-time interval and within the opening 30 seconds referee Andy Haines had words with Potter who left an arm in on Connor. A couple of minutes later Jacob Butterfield let fly from 30 yards but Burch, at full length, palmed it behind for a corner.

City dealt with the flag-kick and duly pressed themselves with Howe seeing his curling effort sliced over his own crossbar by Bobby Hassell but Brown's set-piece delivery was hacked out for a throw-in by the visiting defence.

Seven minutes after the restart Jamie Clarke tested Steele at his near post following good build-up play between the front two of Howe and Connor whilst Barnsley's response saw Burch claim a low cross under pressure from Macken.

Burch was called into action again five minutes later when he tipped a shot from Hassell behind but City again stood firm as Hammill sent in the resultant corner. As the Imps broke forward Foster saw yellow after dragging Howe to the deck.

A sweeping City move in the 64th minute saw them go from back to front at pace but Steele got his angles right to deny Jamie Clarke after he was played in by Howe. Four minutes later Daniel Bogdanovic replaced Jon Macken up front for the Tykes.

After a questionable offside decision denied Howe a run on goal, a fine double save from Burch saw him deny Bogdanovic but the Maltese international gave the City 'keeper no chance shortly afterwards as, following some hesitation from Kovacs, he was presented with a glorious opportunity to grab the opening goal and his did just that by planting a firm drive into the roof of the net.

City looked for a quick response with Jamie Clarke again forcing Steele into a fine save to his left whilst appeals for hand ball against a Barnsley defender as Shane Clarke broke through the middle were waved away, and after the corner which was given was cleared, Burch produced another couple of impressive saves to deny Campbell-Ryce and Hammill.

A change for the Imps in the 78th minute saw Chris Fagan come on for Stefan Oakes; the Irishman slotting into a role just behind Connor and Howe but despite continuing to push forward in numbers, that killer final touch continued to elude the Imps as the game ticked towards its final five minutes of normal play.

A Brown free-kick which landed on the roof of the net ensured Steele's goal remained in tact before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of three minutes were to be added on.

Midway through the added stages good defending from Foster saw him hold off Connor and allow the ball to run through to Steele and this proved the last action of an entertaining, yet ultimately fruitless match for the Imps and their supporters.