A pulsating Coca-Cola League 2 match at Edgeley Park on Saturday afternoon saw the Imps edge a five-goal thriller thanks to goals from Martin Gritton, Simon Yeo and Lee Frecklington.

After a goalless first period, which saw City come close when Gareth McAuley had a goalbound header hacked off the line by Mark Robinson, the game really came to life after the break.

City got their noses in front in the 62nd minute when debutant Martin Gritton fired home from close range after a Simon Yeo free-kick was blocked on the line by Rob Clare but within 60 seconds the hosts were back on level terms with Keith Briggs rifling in from a narrow angle.

Five minutes later, Yeo produced a clinical finish from the edge of the box after escaping the offside trap to register his 50th first team goal for the Imps and, after coming on as a 66th minute substitute for Franny Green, first year pro Lee Frecklington edged City further in front when he followed up his initial shot which bounced back off the post.

Stockport rallied though and made it 3-2 through tall striker Liam Dickinson before the same player had a goal ruled out for offside whilst the closing seconds saw Marvin Robinson hit the post whilst Steve Robinson dragged a low shot wide of an empty net after he had charged down a clearance from Spencer.

The missed chances ultimately didn't matter though with the Imps ending up edging an full-blooded Football League encounter against a Stockport side who are scrapping for their lives at the wrong end of the table.

Martin Gritton wheels away after putting the Imps in front

report by John Vickers at Edgeley Park:

There were two changes in the Imps' starting line-up for this Coca-Cola League 2 game against Stockport County at Edgeley Park with Stockport-born Simon Yeo back from suspension and new signing Martin Gritton in for his City debut after joining the club from Grimsby Town earlier in the week.

Ollie Ryan and Marvin Robinson were the men to make way with the former not involved in the squad and the latter being named amongst the substitutes, as was Lee Beevers after a number of weeks out due to injury.

Thirty minutes before kick-off, ELO's "Mr Blue Sky" blasted from the PA system but the sky in Stockport was anything but blue as grey clouds meant for an overcast afternoon as the Imps looked to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.

The hosts, meanwhile, were looking to make it six games without defeat as they look to drag themselves away from the dreaded drop zone so an intruiging afternoon lay ahead.

Stockport got the game underway and started quickly with Adam Le Fondre looking to twist and turn his way past Colin Cryan in the opening few seconds but the Imps' Irish defender was able stick out a leg and clear the early danger. On the opposite flank, Jeff Hughes showed good strength to force a foul out of County debutant Liam Dickinson.

Things calmed down a bit after a frenetic opening, although a deep cross from Matthew Hamshaw saw Adam Griffin head narrowly wide in the fifth minute. City responded with Franny Green forcing the first corner of the game, which came to nothing.

Stockport levelled the corner count shortly afterwards which was punched clear by Alan Marriott and when the ball was pumped back into the danger area Marriott spilled the ball under pressure from Dickinson with referee Robert Lewis deeming his challenge was fair. Gareth McAuley hooked the loose ball clear to safety.

A good break forwad from Green then ended up with Simon Yeo dragging an effort wide whilst Scott Kerr saw a hooked effort held by Hatters' 'keeper James Spencer under his crossbar.

The Imps attacked again with Green blazing a volley well over after he latched on to a decent lay-off from Jamie McCombe, who was up field for a free-kick, and it was all Lincoln as the clock ticket into the 15th minute.

A tactical switch by Keith Alexander saw Green move across to the left and a ball from him into the danger area bounced a foot away from the foot of Simon Yeo who was looking to sneak past Ashley Williams.

In the 19th minute, a foul on Yeo gave City a chance from a free-kick 25 yards from goal with Steve Robinson's deep centre being palmed away somewhat hurriedly by Spencer in the Stockport goal.

Green was back on the right as he latched onto a good ball from Jeff Hughes but his low centre took a big deflection which took the pace off it and any hope of a goal in the 25th minute went begging.

There almost was a goal in the following minute as Stockport broke forward but a great double save by an Mariott from Matthew Hamshaw ensured that the Imps' sheet remained clean.

A highly questionable decision by referee Lewis shortly afterwards saw the hosts gain a free-kick on the edge of the box. McCombe's well-timed challenge on Dickinson, which saw him emerge with the ball stuck to his boot was deemed unfair by the rookie official. Hamshaw drilled the subsequent free-kick against McCombe before the ball went away to safety so justice was served.

City responded with Green having two efforts blocked in quick succession - the second appearing to strike the arm of a home defender in the 32nd minute whilst at the other end Le Fondre latched on to a Dickinson flick before hooking the ball inches wide.

Five minutes before the break, referee Lewis was forced to have words with City skipper Jamie McCombe after the defender felled Le Fondre close to the byline. County wasted the opportunity though but City's hopes of an immediate response were dashed when Yeo took the ball straight out of play under the challenge of Keith Briggs.

Good pressure from Green saw him force Clare to clear the ball behind for a corner and when Steve Robinson floated the ball into the box, it was met by the head of Gareth McAuley who then saw his downward effort get hacked off the line by Mark Robinson.

Just one minute of added time was indicated by the Fourth Official and that passed without incident, ensuring that the half ended as it started - goalless.

HT: STOCKPORT 0 IMPS 0

With neither side making any changes during the break, it was a case of 'as you were' as the Imps got the second period underway. There was, however, a change in formation for City to 5-2-3 with Colin Cryan moving inside alongside Gareth McAuley and Jamie McCombe and Nat Brown dropping back to right wing back.

City started the second half brightly and came within inches of breaking the deadlock just a couple of minutes after the restart. It came when Steve Robinson gained posession in midfield, advanced down the left and got in a decent centre. The ball was then met by the head of Franny Green who then saw his effort hit the crossbar before going out for a goal kick.

County made a change in the 50th minute with Damien Allen making way for Danny Boshell in midfield and this broke up was generally a scrappy 10-minute period with neither side able to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Matthew Hamshaw saw a low drive well held by Marriott whilst at the other end some hesitation by goalkeeper James Spencer saw him send a clearance straight into the back of team mate Ashley Williams but Martin Gritton was unable to get the ball when it ran free.

With Lee Frecklington stripped and ready for action on the sidelines, a surging run forward from Nat Brown saw him out pace the County defence before squaring the ball to Simon Yeo, who was flattened by Mark Robinson a foot outside the box.

The free-kick gave the Imps a decent chance and it was a chance they duly took. Yeo drilled the ball low towards goal and with Spencer beaten between the sticks, defender Rob Clare stopped the ball on the line only for debutant MARTIN GRITTON to blast the ball into the roof of the net from a couple of yards out.

Frecklington subsequenty sat down but it wasn't long before he was up again with City's celebrations being curtailed as Stockport netted a quick equaliser. The goal came after Steve Robinson was pulled up for hand ball and when the free-kick was played into the box, KEITH BRIGGS blasted an unstoppable shot into the top corner, bringing the home fans to life.

City looked for a quick reply with McCombe heading a Scott Kerr free-kick straight at Spencer whilst a great volley by Kerr warmed the hands of the Hatters' number one again.

Frecklington eventually entered the fray in the 66th minute with the first year professional replacing Franny Green to sure up the midfield. Just under four minutes later, the Imps edged themselves back in front for a second time and they did so in clinical fashion.

Some dominant midfield play by Steve Robinson saw him gain possesion and they put a great ball forward for SIMON YEO to run on to. Yeo timed his run to perfection and, after bringing the ball under control with his chest, bore down on goal before drilling a blistering right-footed drive past the outstretched arm of James Spencer from the edge of the box.

Not only was it Yeo's fourth in as many games but it was his 50th competitive strike for the Club - you could say that it was scripted that he would reach that milestone against his home town team.

Scott Kerr picked up a yellow card in the 75th minute following a mistimed challenge on Liam Dickinson and a couple of minutes later, Jude Stirling replaced Jeff Hughes, who had taken a knock a minute earlier.

Stirling's first contribution was to hurl a long throw into the box with the ball ending up landing at the feet of Yeo who sliced his effort over the bar.

Another Stirling throw shortly afterwards though, saw City go one better. Stirling picked out Gritton with a pin-point delivery and he headed the ball into the path of LEE FRECKLINGTON who, after seeing his initial shot take a deflection before spinning against the upright, was on hand to plant a cool finish in to register his first Football League goal.

The clock showed 79 minutes when Frecklington found the back of the net but withing four minutes the hosts pulled one back when a Stockport corner fell kindly to LIAM DICKINSON who drilled through a crowd of legs to make it 3-2.

Before play restarted, Marvin Robinson came on for Martin Gritton and when the game did get underway again, it was high-tempo stuff with County pushing the Imps back and had the referee's assistant raised his flag for offside then Clare's drive, which was flicked home by Dickinson would have brought things level again.

City were throwing bodies in front of the ball and defending with all their might, although good hold up play and run forward from Yeo saw him force a corner as the clock ticked towards the final minute.

When that final minute passed, the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four additional minutes were to be played and in the first of these a foul throw by Briggs ate up a few more vitals seconds for the Imps.

That throw gave Stirling to get the ball up the other end of the pitch and it eventually saw Yeo go through on goal but the striker went for power instead of rolling the ball across to Mavin Robinson and his effort went over.

Steve Robinson picked up a booking after delaying the taking of a throw-in and when City broke forward again as County pushed men forward in numbers, Yeo played in Robinson who could only look on as his low shot past Spencer came back off the right hand post.

Shortly afterwards, it was Steve Robinson's turn to break through the offside trap and, after charged down the clearance from Spencer, was faced with a virtually open goal but, instead of running the ball home, he went for the target with the ball trickling inches wide.

This proved to be the final touch in what turned out to a be a pulsating second half but it was a half that saw the Imps emerge with the points to make it just one defeat from their last 13 games.

FT: STOCKPORT 2 IMPS 3

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
Alan MARRIOTT
Colin CRYAN
Jeff HUGHES
Gareth McAULEY
Jamie McCOMBE
Scott KERR
Steve ROBINSON
Nat BROWN
Francis GREEN
Martin GRITTON
Simon YEO

Subs:
Lee FRECKLINGTON (for GREEN 66)
Jude STIRLING (for HUGHES 77)
Marvin ROBINSON (for GRITTON 83)
Gary BIRCH
Lee BEEVERS

Goals: GRITTON (62), YEO (69), FRECKLINGTON (79)

Bookings: KERR (75), S ROBINSON (90+)

STOCKPORT COUNTY
James SPENCER
Keith BRIGGS
Mark ROBINSON
Rob CLARE
Ashley WILLIAMS
Mickael WOLSKI
Damien ALLEN
Matthew HAMSHAW
Adam GRIFFIN
Liam DICKINSON
Adam LE FONDRE

Subs:
Danny BOSHELL (for ALLEN 50)
Michael MALCOLM (for GRIFFIN 62)
Liam FOSTER (for WOLSKI 81)
Christopher HOWARTH
Michael SYMES

Goals: BRIGGS (63), DICKINSON (83)

Referee: Robert Lewis (Shropshire)
Assistants: Paul Kettlewell & Nigel Murphy
Fourth Official: Carl Dunn

Attendance: 4,506 (488 City supporters)