Avenue should have completed their

second home win of the season yesterday but failed to turn chances into goals despite constant second-half pressure against Lincoln and had to settle for a point.

Avenue had used 23 players in their first three UniBond Premier Division games and still manager Gary Brook managed to introduce a new face - this time old boy Dean Calcutt.

Calcutt operated on the right and former Bradford City reserve Liam Flynn hugged the left touchline. That left Phil Hadland and Alex Nesovic as the two central strikers.

Calcutt saw plenty of the ball early on and was chopped down by the uncompromising Lincoln defence. Then he weaved past a couple of players before firing wide.

In brilliant sunshine and a swirling wind, the home side looked uncomfortable at the back and Lincoln provided a shock in the 12th minute when they went ahead through centre half Mark Hone. It was a sloppy goal. A corner was swung in and Avenue failed to deal with it, Hone bundling the ball past Craig Parry.

It was Lincoln's first real attack of the game and they nearly went two up thanks to a blunder by central defender Niall O'Brien, who missed the ball allowing Matt Roache a free shot on target. He placed the ball well wide of Parry but also wide of the post.

After more Lincoln corners, Avenue broke quickly with Flynn and Calcutt combining well before Calcutt's final ball found the keeper's hands.

O'Brien was having a bit of a nightmare and was replaced by Paul Ryan after 30 minutes.

Avenue suddenly clicked into gear and Danny Walsh fired in a fine equaliser three minutes later. Avenue, with the wind at their backs and the sunshine in the Lincoln keeper's eyes, piled on the pressure in the second half but found the visitors' defence a tough nut to crack.

Greg Challender left the field with blood pouring from a head would after a clash with Stuart Reddington - an incident which infuriated the home fans.

Damien Dunne replaced him and Brook sent on his last substitute Gareth Naylor for Calcutt in an attempt to grab a winner.

Walsh got closest to winning all three points with a thunderous free-kick which was well saved by Craig Wherry in the Lincoln goal.

Nesovic then wriggled free on the left before firing across a ball which invited a side-foot into the net. Nobody obliged.