report by Jonny Hall at Sincil Bank:

Imps boss Keith Alexander made several enforced changes for tonight's clash with Stockport County. With skipper Paul Morgan, defender Lee Beevers and goalkeeper Alan Marriott suspended after their red cards at Torquay United, a new-look Lincoln side took to the field to face County.

Canadian goalkeeper Simon Rayner filled Marriott's boots to make his City debut and only his second Football League appearance. Rayner was protected by a back four of (from left to right) Paul Mayo, Colin Cryan, Gareth McAuley and Matt Bloomer. Former Swindon Town man Steve Robinson made his debut after recovering from a foot injury, joining Scott Kerr and Dean Keates in midfield. Gary Birch, Marvin Robinson and Derek Asamoah combined up front.

Teenage defender Luke Foster joined strikers Omari Coleman, Maheta Molango and Oliver Ryan, plus defender Peter Folkes on the substitutes bench.

Stockport got the game underway with City attacking the IMPS Stand, but it was Lincoln who launched the first attack straight from the off with the nippy Derek Asamoah bursting down the right but being stopped in his tracks by Clare's challenge.

The Imps started lively and had County on the back foot in the opening minutes. A clever pass by Scott Kerr with the outside of his boot released Matt Bloomer down the right, he whipped in a cross to the back post and Dean Keates flung himself in the air but missed his header by a matter of inches.

County won the game's first corner on eight minutes after Imps 'keeper Simon Rayner sensibly tipped Bramble's looping half-hit effort over the upright, and Greenwood's corner was headed away by Gareth McAuley.

City had the next attempt on goal when the neat-and-tidy Scott Kerr beat his man and crossed for Marvin Robinson. The striker took a touch, turned and fired a 16-yard strike over the crossbar which untroubled County 'keeper Ikeme.

On 14 minutes, Lincoln had the ball in the back of the net but the 'goal' was ruled out by referee Neil Swarbick to the dismay of the home supporters. Dean Keates swung a cross into the box from the right, and Gary Birch climbed high to steer a powerful glancing header past Ikeme and into the top corner. But referee Swarbick penalised Birch for a push on Clare as he went up for the header. 

Putting the ball in the back of the net boosted City as they continued to move forward. They won a free-kick in the 16th minute and, with Dean Keates and Scott Kerr stood over it, Kerr curled a delightful effort around the wall and 'keeper Ikeme acrobatically palmed it onto the post as the ball looked destined for the top corner. Keates' corner was headed over by Paul Mayo.

Imps goalkeeper Simon Rayner saw his first action when he safely held Vaughan's dangerous 25-yard free kick in the 19th minute. Then, at the other end, a good attacking move between Dean Keates, Gary Birch and Marvin Robinson saw City win a corner from which Gareth McAuley's header was blocked out. On 22 minutes, Steve Robinson tried his luck with a long-range drive which flew over Ikeme's upright.

City continued to enjoy the better of proceedings as the 30-minute mark ticked past. Imps striker Derek Asamoah opened his box of tricks on 32 minutes as he showed brilliant skill to cause the visitors some problems and entertain the Tuesday night crowd.

Stockport created their best opening of the match so far in the 36th minute when Hamshaw was allowed to launch an attack at the City defence, but his run came to an end thanks to Gareth McAuley's solid tackle. A County corner two minutes later was claimed confidently in the air by 'keeper Simon Rayner.

County won their fifth corner as a minute of added time was given by the fourth official which City cleared to safety, before the half-time whistle blew.

HT: IMPS 0 STOCKPORT 0

City kicked off the second half attacking the Stacey West end of the ground. And the home side went in search of an early breakthrough as Dean Keates hit a long-range effort well wide of the target. At the other end, Chris Williams fired a strike from distance high over Simon Rayner's upright.

Lincoln came close to breaking the deadlock in the 50th minute after they won a corner. A fine tackle by the determined Dean Keates saw him win possession before playing it left to Derek Asamoah who ran at the visiting defence. The nippy striker found Scott Kerr on the edge of the box and his sweetly-struck low drive was palmed wide.

Kerr whipped the corner in and there was Gareth McAuley at the back post. He tried to bundle the ball over the line with an outstretched boot but his effort was kept out by Vaughan on the line - the ball cannoning between man and post.

But City persisted, and striker Derek Asamoah's relentless running found the home side the opening goal in the 52nd minute. Asamoah darted forward, picked out GARY BIRCH with a quick, low pin-point pass, and Birch advanced into the box, rounded his man and took his time before drilling the ball home into the bottom corner. Birch wheeled away to celebrate his 6th goal of the season.

Lincoln kept the pressure on the visitors by winning two corners in quick succession as the game entered its final half-an-hour. The lively Asamoah was involved again when he showed good persistence to win the ball down the right and fire in a cross from the by-line which forced Briggs to head behind with Marvin Robinson coming in for a header. County cleared City's corner.

On 67 minutes, a wicked inswinging free kick by Dean Keates found the head of Gary Birch but the striker's glancing header was held well by 'keeper Ikeme. Stockport hit back by winning a corner three minutes later after strong work by Bramble but 'keeper Simon Rayner claimed the ball well.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Imps boss Keith Alexander made his first change of the match when he replaced midfielder Steve Robinson with defender Luke Foster. Robinson, out of match practice after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury, put in an encouraging display alongside Scott Kerr and Dean Keates in City's engine room. Stockport made a substitution themselves two minutes later as Ludovic Dje replaced Tesfaye Bramble in attack.

Lincoln extended their lead in the 77th minute to edge closer to three League Two points as GARY BIRCH grabbed his second of the game and seventh of the campaign. And Birch owed his thanks to fellow striker Derek Asamoah who was instrumental in the goal. Asamoah skipped down the right, his twists and turns took him past Robinson, he slid a square-ball left to Birch and he confidently despatched the ball into the back of the net.

The Imps were buzzing with confidence now and looked comfortable with their 2-0 lead. Substitute Luke Foster, showing his versatility by slotting into midfield alongside Scott Kerr and Dean Keates, tried a speculative volley from all of 35 yards which skidded low across the surface and fizzed inches wide of the post.

There was a substitution from either side in the 82nd minute as Lincoln replaced Marvin Robinson with Maheta Molango and Stockport introduced Adam Le Fondre for Michael Malcolm. The impressive Derek Asamoah - who produced one of those dazzling displays that City fans want from the striker - received a standing ovation as he was replaced by teenage striker Ollie Ryan with two minutes to go.

Three minutes of added time were given as Scott Kerr saw a shot from inside the County area blocked by a defender. City won three successive corners as they looked to eat up the remaining minutes, from which Maheta Molango saw a close-range effort creep wide.

FT: IMPS 2 STOCKPORT 0

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LINCOLN CITY
Simon RAYNER
Colin CRYAN
Matthew BLOOMER
Gareth McAULEY
Paul MAYO
Scott KERR
Steve ROBINSON
Dean KEATES
Derek ASAMOAH
Gary BIRCH
Marvin ROBINSON

Subs:
Luke FOSTER (for S ROBINSON 73)
Maheta MOLANGO (for M ROBINSON 82)
Oliver RYAN (for ASAMOAH 88)
Peter FOLKES
Omari COLEMAN

Goals: BIRCH (52 & 77)

STOCKPORT COUNTY
Carl IKEME
Rob CLARE
Tony VAUGHAN
Keith BRIGGS
Mark ROBINSON
Ross GREENWOOD
Ashley WILLIAMS
Matthew HAMSHAW
Chris WILLIAMS
Tes BRAMBLE
Michael MALCOLM

Subs:
Adam LE FONDRE (for MALCOLM 82)
Ludovic DJE (for BRAMBLE 75)
Michael RAYNES
Dean CROWE
James SPENCER

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Assistants: Paul Danson & Mark Hutchinson
Fourth Official: Carl Bassindale

Attendance: 3,508 (219 visiting supporters)