Chris Turner had an injury crisis ahead of this one. Both key midfielder's Mickael Wolski and Danny Boshell (who limped off during Saturday's game) were missing. Ashley Williams and Keith Briggs played in the central area..

Harpal Singh's injury problems continued and Chris Williams came in for him. Jermaine Easter, who is now just a week away from fitness was again replaced by the impressive Michael Malcolm.

Luckily for County an absurd final few minutes for Lincoln at Torquay meant that talented keeper; Alan Marriott, and defenders Paul Morgan and Lee Beevers sat this one out through suspension.

There were a couple of familiar faces in the Red Imps line-up with Marvin Robinson and former trialist Gareth McAuley looking to avenge their less than successful times in Cheshire.

Abject finishing was the story of the first half as both sides failed to convert many of the opportunities created in this entertaining game. County probably had cool customer Carl Ikeme to thank for many of Lincoln's chances.

Matthew Hamshaw who played in a central midfield spot was busy all evening and was the orchestrator of many of County's opportunities. It may give Turner a few selection headaches, which of course is never a bad thing.

In the first five minutes it was all Lincoln as County struggled to get the ball in their half of the pitch. Indeed it was the home side that had the first opportunity of the game when Tony Vaughan fouled former County man Robinson on the edge of the area. Dean Keates took the resulting free kick from the left channel, which was luckily cleared by Keith Briggs.

Matt Hamshaw created the first opportunity for the away side. At first it looked as if he was crossing for Tes Bramble but in the end he went alone and launched a 25 yard shot from the edge of the area that went just wide.

Lincoln had a goal disallowed in the 15th minute when a cross from Matthew Bloomer was converted by Gary Birch, but luckily for County it was ruled out by the referee after he spotted a push on Carl Ikeme by Derek Asamoah.

In a sustained few minutes of Imps pressure Scott Kerr was the next player to go close when his right-footed shot from 18 yards glanced just wide.

At the other end a deflected shot by Matthew Hamshaw from 25 yards went just left of the post. A few minutes later Hamshaw was again the instigator when his inswinging corner to the far post, was headed by Ashley Williams from the right side of the six-yard box that glanced just wide.

After weathering the early storm Chris Turner would have been pleased to take his team in on level terms at half time.

Tes Bramble had what was to be the best chance of the game up until the 53rd minute when he hooked onto a Keith Briggs cross and from just 14 yards out shot just over the cross bar.

At the other end Lincoln came close seconds later when Derek Asamoah pounced on rare mistake from Matthew Hamshaw and the talented talisman fed Scott Kerr whose right-footed shot from 20 yards was parried by Carl Ikeme for a corner kick.

Lincoln looked as if they had scored the resulting corner but for heroics from Mark Robinson who managed to trap the ball with his left hip. It was a spectacular block by the popular left back and one he will be talking about for years to come.

Seconds later the City finally breached the deadlock when the impressive Birch scored his 6th goal of the season. His left-footed shot from the edge of the area deceived the County keeper and sent the home side into rapturous applause.

It could have been worse for County seconds later when Kerr swung a corner into the near post and only a last minute clearance by Tony Vaughan saved the blushes.

Matthew Hamshaw produced a wonderful chance to get the scores level on the 63rd minute when he struck a 25 yard rasper that glanced wide and had the Lincoln keeper worried.

The game was wrapped up moments later when Birch grabbed the second of the game. A cross by Derek Asamoah was met by the in-form striker who scored with his right foot into the bottom right of the goal from inside the area. Tony Vaughan, perhaps, should have done better in stopping the cross coming in although Birch was completely unmarked in the box.

Lincoln started playing some good football and when Luke Foster's shot from the edge glanced just wide the magnificent County faithful feared the worse.

As County registered just their third defeat of the season there were some positives to take from this affair. Hamshaw looked back to his best in the middle of the park and Robinson continued to look solid at left back.

Nothing besides a pint of lager and some good friends would ease the pain though...let's hope for better at Wrexham...

County: (4-4-2) Carl Ikeme, Rob Clare, Keith Briggs, Tony Vaughan, Ashley Williams, Matt Hamshaw, Mark Robinson, Ross Greenwood, Chris Williams, Tes Bramble (Ludovic Dje, 75) Michael Malcolm (Adam Le Fondre 80)

Subs: James Spencer, Michael Raynes, Dean Crowe.

Lincoln: (5-3-2) Simon Rayner, Colin Cryan, Matthew Bloomer, Gareth McAuley, Paul Mayo, Scott Kerr, Steve Robinson (Luke Foster 74), Dean Keates, Derek Asamoah (Oliver Ryan 88), Gary Birch, Marvin Robinson (Maheta Molango 80)

Subs: Peter Folkes, Omari Coleman.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick