Tranmere Rovers.......0

Lincoln City................0

Tranmere and Lincoln will have to do it all again on Tuesday night after drawing a blank in the FA Cup Fourth qualifying round at Prenton Park.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher was denied a penalty and then saw another chance saved by Imps ‘keeper Paul Farman late on as Rovers were held on a frustrating afternoon.

Gary Brabin handed home debuts to Taylor-Fletcher and Steve McNulty in a strong looking side.

Lois Maynard sent a long-range effort over the bar after two minutes but the Imps could have taken the lead a minute later when Jack Muldoon glanced a header just wide of Scott Davies’ post.

Taylor-Fletcher tried his luck from the edge of the Dee but Bradley Wood forced it out for a corner.

A misplaced header by Matt Hill let Matt Rhead in on goal but his long-range effort was tame.

Taylor-Fletcher then exchanged passes with Jay Harris before side-footing an effort just wide of the goal before Harris forced Paul Farman to push a 20-yard effort over the bar.

Indecision in the Lincoln defence gifted the ball to James Norwood who fed Taylor-Fletcher but his toe-poke finish went inches wide.

Greg Tempest hit one over from 25 yards as the Imps looked to make an impact in a half largely dominated by the hosts.

The lively Norwood saw a shot deflected wide for a corner and then pulled another effort wide moments later, keeping the pressure on City.

Adam Mekki was forced to leave the field with an injury on the half hour mark, making way for Marlon Jackson.

A well-worked free kick from Lincoln eventually ended with Luke Waterfall floating a header just wide of the post, sending a timely warning to Rovers.

Waterfall headed over again before eventually finding the net three minutes before the break but he was easily flagged offside.

Chris Bush then slammed a free kick millimetres over the bar as the Imps finished the half strongly.

After the break Rhead headed a Terry Hawkridge cross just wide, picking up where City left off before the break.

Hawkridge then glided past Maynard and saw his low cross skip across the six-yard box untouched.

Jackson found Taylor-Fletcher at the other end but he could only glance his header well wide.

Alan Power stuck a free kick over the bar for Lincoln, as Davies remained reasonably untroubled by attempts on his goal.

Tranmere’s best chance arrived in the 69th minute when Taylor-Fletcher found James Norwood in the box, but he could only side foot over from 12 yards out.

Jay Harris then saw his blasted effort from the edge of the box charged down by Waterfall as Rovers pressed for a winner.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and with quarter of an hour to go should have had a penalty when Taylor-Fletcher was pulled down in the box, but referee Wayne Barratt waved play on.

Four minutes from time Taylor-Fletcher weaved his way through the penalty area but his shot was well saved by Farman.

Rovers continued to press but the Imps held firm, ensuring the two teams will have another go at settling this tie on Tuesday night at Sincil Bank.

Tranmere manager Gary Brabin said: "I think the penalty shout we had towards the end was blatant. We've watched it back on the video and some of the Lincoln players put their hands on their heads, so that was disappointing.

"But we had some really good play in and around the box and created some good chances and on another day, they go in.

"We're disappointed we haven't scored and not won the game but another clean sheet is nice. We looked solid but unfortunately we couldn't quite get the win.

"Lincoln are no-nonsense. They're exactly what it says on the tin and they're effective at it, they're really tough opposition and are on a good run of form."

Match Stats:

Tranmere Rovers: 0

Lincoln City: 0

Half time: 0-0

Star man: Steve McNulty (Tranmere Rovers, Centre-back)

Attendance: 3,729

Entertainment: 2/5

Ref rating: Wayne Barratt (6/10)

Tranmere (4-4-2): Davies, Maynard, McNulty, Riley, Hill, Mekki (Jackson, 30), Harris, Jennings, Ridehalgh, Norwood, Taylor-Fletcher.

Subs not used: Turner, Sutton, Holness, Ihiekwe, Margetts, Askew

Lincoln City (4-4-1-1): Farman, Beevers, Waterfall, Howe, Bush (Hearn 56), Muldoon, Wood, Tempest (Sparrow 78), Hawkridge, Power, Rhead.

Subs not used: Grant, Robinson, Evetherington, Simmons, Hodge