GOALS from Vadaine Oliver and Aidan Connolly gave York City a 2-1 first-leg advantage in their FA Trophy semi-final clash with Lincoln.

The National League leaders had dominated the first half at Bootham Crescent, taking a lead into the interval courtesy of Lee Angol’s 14th-minute penalty.

But City, kicking towards the David Longhurst Stand, were a different proposition in the second period and made sure the tie is well poised going into Saturday’s second leg at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln had earlier set a quick tempo that the Minstermen, missing ill duo Asa Hall and Dan Parslow, struggled to match.

After 49 seconds, Joe Ward tried his luck with a low 25-yard drive that Kyle Letheren gathered at the second attempt and the City keeper also dealt with Adam Marriott’s attempt from a similar distance.

But the Imps forged in front when Angol burst into the home box and Hamza Bencherif, after slipping over, grabbed out with his arm to rugby tackle the on-loan Peterborough striker and concede a penalty.

Angol went on to sidefoot the spot kick calmly to Letheren’s left.

The visitors continued to press with Josh Ginnelly curling a free kick into the Longhurst and Sam Habergham’s 30-yard half volley whistling just over.

City’s first effort of the night saw Jon Parkin fail to make clean contact on an ambitious 30-yard hooked attempt over his shoulder in the 32nd-minute and the ball bounced gently to keeper Ross Etheridge. But Lincoln might have doubled their advantage just before the break when Jamie McCombe – brother of former Minsterman John – glanced a near-post header inches too high from Billy Knott’s right-wing corner.

City boss Gary Mills introduced Connolly at half-time for makeshift midfielder Scott Fenwick and the hosts started the second period with greater purpose and, after Bradley Wood had lifted over an early diagonal effort, Oliver levelled the scores on 53 minutes.

The spring-heeled striker leapt high after Amari Morgan-Smith had lofted in a left-wing cross and his back header, from close to the penalty spot, dropped into Etheridge’s bottom-left corner.

After Alex Whittle made way for Adriano Moke due to a hamstring problem, the latter made his presence felt immediately, driving to the edge of the penalty box, before his 69th-minute scuffed shot deflected off Connolly and deceived Etheridge to spin into the back of the net.

Connolly also drove wide of the near post from a narrow angle, before the visitors surged forward in search of a first-leg equaliser.

An Angol header on 81 minutes from Sam Habergham’s left-wing cross was a comfortable height for Letheren, who had to be more alert to parry away a fierce, 15-yard Ward drive.

The City keeper also did well to push over a dipping header from Luke Waterfall with the subsequent decision to award a goal kick the subject of widespread hilarity.

A header by substitute Matt Rhead was then somehow scrambled to safety by City and the powerhouse forward went to see a weak volley saved by Letheren.

But City might have added a third on the break in the fifth minute of stoppage time when the tireless Oliver chased Sean Newton’s pass through the right channel and pulled the ball back for Parkin, whose mishit shot rolled back to Etheridge.