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Trickery from Lawrie Dudfield set up Ian Ashbee for a long-range shot which was saved by Alan Marriott, while the Lincoln 'keeper denied Jamie Forrester seconds before half time.
City continued to press for a goal in the second half but resiliant defending from Lincoln kept things at 0-0 until the 64th minute, when referee Mr Clattenburg awarded the Imps a penalty after Damien Delaney brought down Mark Bailey. Stuart Bimson despatched the penalty into the top corner, leaving Alan Fettis with no chance.
Jamie Forrester had two more chances while substitute Clayton Donaldson glanced a header over. Three half-hearted appeals for handball inside the box were rejected by Clattenburg, and Lincoln held out for 3 points.
City line-up (4-4-2): Fettis; Joseph, Whittle, Anderson, Delaney (Donaldson 80); Dudfield, Ashbee, Keates, Williams (Elliott 65); Webb, Forrester.
Un-used subs: Musselwhite, Regan, Appleby.