Dover Athletic suffered a first defeat in 14 games in Vanarama Conference after slipping to a 1-0 reverse at Lincoln City on Saturday.

Whites began the day looking for a win which could have taken them into the top five but ended it in 12th position after a first defeat in eight away games in all competitions.

It was the first taste of defeat for Chris Kinnear’s side, other than their FA Cup exit to Premier League Crystal Palace and a Kent Senior Cup tie, since mid-October.

They almost extended their run in dramatic circumstances too, with wave after wave of pressure in the closing minutes yielding a host of corners from which big Sean Raggett and Connor Essam rattled the bar.

Raggett, Nick Deverdics and Tom Murphy all went close to a breakthrough in the early stages for the visitors, though Deverdics did need to head off his own line at the other end.

Delano Sam-Yorke saw a shot held by keeper Andy Rafferty, who was heavily involved in the game’s decisive moment shortly after the break.

The only goal came when Ben Tomlinson struck 90 seconds after half-time pouncing from close range after Rafferty dropped a cross.

At the other end Barry Cogan drew a diving save from Paul Farman in the Imps goal, with Farman also denying Richard Orlu, while Imps threatened on the break with Tyrone Sterling having to clear one effort off the line with Rafferty beaten.

James Poole, who rejoined the club on loan from Bury until the end of the season on Friday, was introduced from the bench nine minutes from time but was not able to find a breakthrough despite the frantic finale which saw Essam and Raggett hit the woodwork in the final five minutes.

Dover will seek to bounce back at home to Grimsby on Tuesday (7.45pm).