IT was a cruel way for York City to lose, but a glance at the shots on goal columns suggests Lincoln perhaps deserved to steal the spoils with their 88th-minute strike.
The Imps had eight efforts on target to the Minstermen's two, and while Alan Marriott was not overworked in the home goal, visiting 'keeper Alan Fettis was made to earn his crust.
However, having already denied Lincoln striker Gavin Gordon a hat-trick, the Irishman could do nothing to prevent the 21-year-old from nicking the winner.
City's defence, on the other hand, probably could have.
They had at least three chances to get the ball out of the danger zone, but after Barry Jones' desperate clearance had landed at Gordon's feet 15 yards out, the striker shot home off the inside of the left post.
To put too much blame on the Minstermen's makeshift back line would be a little unfair, as Matt Hocking was again impressive in the centre, while Colin Alcide did okay in his unaccustomed role.
The protection from midfield was questionable too, but the fact remains it was a patched-up defence and it looked like one. With six defenders ruled out, boss Terry Dolan's hands were tied somewhat, but he was justifiably annoyed at the two goals his men conceded, the first of which came after just two minutes.
City survived when scrambling Richard Peacock's first corner away, but the marking for his next flag kick was even worse and Grant Brown rose to head home.
If City had continued to defend set-pieces so poorly, then the Imps would surely have added to their total.
And although Dolan's men did improve, it took almost half an hour for them to get to grips with their hosts - and by then only Fettis and Lady Luck had prevented a bigger deficit.
It took 41 minutes for the Minstermen to register their first shot on goal, but McNiven made it pay dividends.
Durkan's free-kick saw Alcide climb well to head the ball back across goal, and McNiven stretched to volley the ball into the left corner from seven yards.
Having been boosted going into the break, City looked the more competent side after the restart, although, as has been the norm this season, a plethora of chances never looked on.
Lincoln did not appear as threatening as they had done early in the first half, however Gordon always looked menacing and on 62 minutes was played in by fellow striker Paul Miller.
His shot from 18 yards, however, was superbly saved by Fettis, this time low down to his left.
City weathered a brief second-half storm and a goal at the other end looked possible if not probable.
Substitute Barry Conlon, back in the squad after a virus at the weekend, thought he nabbed one on 81 minutes when challenging Marriott from a Durkan cross.
The ball ended up the net, but referee Phil Dowd blew for a foul.
Even after Lincoln's winner, City had the ball in the home goal through Alex Mathie, but again the official ruled it out. The cheers of the 191 City fans in the crowd were all too brief.
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