Bright sunshine greeted the two teams as they were led out of the tunnel by referee Wayne Barratt and after Hyde got the game underway, it was the Imps who were the first to press but Alan Power overhit a cross from the right.
It was an evenly matched opening quarter of an hour as both teams took their time to settle into proceedings and City were gifted the game's first corner in the 18th minute when 'keeper Nick Liverdedge was unable to keep a poor back header in play but when Hyde dealt with Sean Newton's delivery, a quick counter-attack ended with Josh Brizzell having a low effort saved by Paul Farman.
A swift attack down the City right in the 22nd minute saw Ben Tomlinson his his cross hacked away for a throw-in but Power was pulled up for hand ball when Tom Miller's delivery went into the mix.
A scrappy game continued into its second quarter with appeals for a back-pass after a Tomlinson centre was cleared off Todd Jordan's toes being laughed off by the officials, much to the annoyance of boss Gary Simpson on the sidelines.
On the half-hour mark a dipping Boyce header from a Miller cross was tipped over by Liversedge with Power's delivery somehow evading everyone in a packed box. At the other end a Liam Tomsett shot from disance was easily held by Farman.
Martin Devaney then fizzed a low shot inches past the post before a clash of heads between Alex Brown and Todd Jordan saw the City man require treatment from physio Kev Oxby. Jordan was down for a good couple of minutes before he was helped to the touchline and back into the action.
A third City corner came when a Newton cross was diverted behind and although this was cleared, it wasn't long before the Imps were pressing forward again with a fizzing Newton cross just evading both Wright and Tomlinson as City started to turn the screw as the break approached.
Farman easily stooped to claim a long-range Tom Collins free-kick as the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of two minutes were to be added on. These passed without further incident.
Both teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half and City were quickly out of the traps with Tomlinson winning a corner 60 seconds in. The striker was then in the right place at the right time as he beat Liversedge to Newton's inswinging flag-kick before heading home his fifth of the season.
The first change of the game saw Emmanuel Dieseruvwe replace Adam Blakeman for the visitors 11 minutes after the restart before Wright won a corner on the City left as he looked to square for Power. Boyce headed the resultant corner a foot over.
Nolan was then denied by Liversedge after the Imps kept the ball in the attacking third and as Hyde responded a deflected Collins shot led to a corner on their right. This was taken by Devaney and headed well wide by Will Haining.
Hyde's next attack came after Tomlinson gave possession cheaply but he was reprieved when Liam Tomsett saw his low effort clip the outside of the post and out for a goal-kick. Ex-Imp Louis Almond then replaced Collins.
A City corner ended up with Newton spreading play well to Tomlinson who was unlucky to see the ball run away from him as he looked to cut in from the right.
Another knock to Jordan brought about a break in play as the clock showed 16 minutes remaining and he left injured to be replaced by Bohan Dixon. A minute later Luke Foster came on for Mo Fofana.
Hyde then forced two corners in quick succession but the Imps defended well and whe the second was cleared, Tomlinson took the ball to the other end before winning a corner for City.
Again, the Imps came up with the goods from the flag-kick with Power's deep delivery being met at the far post by substitute Dixon who leaped high before powering in a header for his first goal in City colours.
Shortly after the restart an injury to Almond brought about a break in play and when play resumed, Farman palmed away two efforts as Hyde looked to get back into the game.
Jake Sheridan replaced Nick Wright with five minutes on the clock whilst David Poole for Martin Devaney was Hyde's final switch.
Two City corners followed as the Imps pressed for a third and it duly arrived when Dixon met another Power delivery before heading in from close range. Hyde's protests that there was a foul in the area when the ball came in fell on deaf ears with referee Barratt having strong words with Haining before play restarted.
A minimum of four added minutes was indicated by the Fourth Official and towards the end of this extra play, a late challenge on Sheridan earned Tomsett a yellow card. Sheridan joined him for retaliation before the referee brought things to a close.