It's four wins out of four for City on the road this season as a first half goal from Lee Frecklington secured a maximum haul over Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow on Saturday afternoon.

Frecklington, who celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday, gave City the lead just before the half-hour mark when he drilled home from the edge of the box after being set up by Jamie Forrester and it was a first half in which the Imps were made to scrap and battle to gain any sort of possession.

City's luck was also with them with Ben Davies crashing a penaty against the crossbar after a questionable decision from debutant official Mark Haywood had given the hosts a chance of a leveller a minute before the break after deeming that Alan Marriott had upended Davies as he broke into the box.

The second half saw City put in a solid team showing, particulary in defence and, in addition to preserving their unbeaten start to the season, the performance saw them record their first clean sheet of the season - the small matter of a new Club record - six successive away wins in regular Football League action - was also written into the history books.

Shrewsbury's Ben Davies sees his penalty crash against the City bar

match report by John Vickers at Gay Meadow:

After missing the 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley due to the fact he was on international duty with the Northern Ireland U21 squad, Jeff Hughes returned to the Imps' starting line up for this Coca-Cola League 2 encounter with Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow.

Hughes replaced Martin Gritton, who netted his second of the season against Accrington with Head Coach John Schofield opting to go with a 4-4-2 formation against the Shrews. Gritton was back on the bench where he was joined by Simon Rayner, Colin Cryan, Ollie Ryan and Ryan Amoo, who was available for selection again after serving a one-match ban.

As seems to be the norm when City are the visitors to Shrewsbury, bright sunshine greeted the two sets of teams as they made their way out on to the pitch.

Rookie ref Mark Haywood, officiating at his first Football League fixture, got proceedings underway with the Imps, looking to extend their unbeaten start to their 2006/07 League 2 campaign, getting proceedings underway.

The game was only a couple of minutes' old when the home side forced the first corner the game - fortunately for the Imps though it came to nothing apart from a goal kick on the opposite side.

City looked for a quick response with ex-Shrew Mark Stallard almost picking out Jamie Forrester with a looping centre whilst a knock to Town skipper Sagi Burton forced a stoppage in play on the seven minute mark with the former Peterborough man down for a good 60 seconds before being able to return to the fray.

The Imps then forced their first corner of the afternoon following a quick break forward but when Jeff Hughes swung the ball in Lee Beevers was penalised for a push on Town 'keeper Ryan Esson.

Good fending by Beevers at the other end denied midfielder Stewart Drummond a shot on goal after he was picked out by ex-City man Derek Asamoah. Alan Marriott was then forced to save a Ben Herd header as the Shrews attacked again - it was, however, a save for the cameras more than necessity though!

It was an enterprising start by the home side with the Imps needing to be on their guard as they looked to stamp their authority on the game.

On the quarter-hour mark, a foul on Hughes by Burton gave the Imps a chance from a set-piece in an attacking position - Kerr's subsequent near post delivery forcing Esson to tip the ball behind for a corner.

Five minutes later and the home crowd were incensed when referee Haywood gave their side a corner rather than a free-kick against Adie Moses, who seemed to trip Asamoah as he sprinted forward. The Yorkshire-based official was on the spot as he indicated the flag-kick with Moses forced to receive treatment after the challenge left him in some pain.

Shrewsbury weren't giving the Imps the chance to play their slick passing game that had become their trademark since the start of the season and a deep centre from Burton which was knocked a foot wide by the onrushing Ben Davies almost led to the opening goal in the 25th minute.

At the other end, Stallard came close when he flicked a Scott Kerr free-kick inches wide with this set-piece being one of a number awarded by referee Haywood who was having a busy afternoon on his League bow.

There wasn't a set-piece in sight though in the 29th minute when Lee Frecklington, who celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday, drilled the Imps in front.

The goal stemmed from the first real move of note from City who had been stifled in the middle third until the net bulged. Some great one-touch play from City created the opportunity but credit - as it did on three occasions last weekend against Accrington Stanley - goes to Jamie Forrester.

Forrester, after receiving the ball 30 yards from goal, held it up well before spotting the run forward from Frecklington - the midfielder did the rest, fizzing an unstoppable drive into the bottom right corner of Esson's net.

Shrewsbury responded by winning their third and fourth corners of the afternoon whilst Asamoah blazed well over after being set up by Davies. Referee Haywood then had words with Andy Cooke after the striker left his foot in on City captain Paul Morgan.

Another Shrewsbury free-kick ended up with Asamoah going down in a heap in the area but referee Haywood was having none of it with a goal-kick the only decision given. Whilst that was the right decision, the one that the debutant official gave a minute before the break wasn't.

The incident came after City lost possession in midfield with Asamoah latching on to the ball before threading it through to ex-Chester colleague Ben Davies. The midfielder advanced forward, forcing Alan Marriott to come off his line with the City 'keeper doing well to tip the ball away from the Town man as he looked to go round him.

Referee Haywood didn't point for a corner on this occasion though and to the disbelief of the travelling contingent he indicated that Marriott had upended Davies - penalty to Shrewsbury.

Davies, with two spot kick successes to his name so far this season, was entrusted with the spot kick but justice was well and truly done when he saw his right footed drive crash back off the crossbar before it was nodded behind for a corner.

On the stroke of half-time - and 90 seconds over the minimum two minutes' additional play - Andy Cooke had a great chance to level but his header, after a long throw had bounced into his path, went well over from six yards.

HT: SHREWSBURY 0 IMPS 1

Dave Edwards came on for Sagi Burton at the break for the hosts whilst City remained unchanged as the second half got underway with the Imps now attacking the end behind which stood the majority of their travelling supporters.

There was a change of ball three minutes into the second period after the original one was cleared over the stand and into the River Severn following a City break down the left - the replacement was sliced wide by Eaden shortly afterwards.

At the other end Stewart Drummond headed wide after a cross came into the danger area whilst Andy Cooke found the same advertising board with a shot on the turn nine minutes after the restart.

City replied by winning a corner on their right but it ended up with Frecklington volleying over after Stallard knocked the ball into its path - this came after home goalkeeper Ryan Esson had completely misjudged a long throw from Paul Mayo - no City man was on hand as the ball bounced into the box though.

At the opposite end Mayo did well to divert a low centre from Asamoah over his own bar for Shrewsbury's sixth corner of the game and this suddenly brought the home crowd to life as the men in yellow and blue went in search of a leveller.

City looked to silence them with Forrester driving a centre just behind strike partner Stallard whilst the Imps' fans themselves were in good voice, enjoying the Salopian sunshine in the process.

With 15 minutes on the clock Mark Stallard had a great chance to double City's advantage when he was picked out by Jamie Forrester's cross from the left but the big striker sent his first time header over when perhaps he had time to bring the ball under control before firing goalwards.

Jeff Hughes then won a corner which was subsequently headed on to the roof of the net by Beevers and a couple of minutes later Ollie Ryan replaced Jamie Forrester for City and Chris Humphrey came on for Ben Herd for the Shrews.

A low shot from Stallard then saw him test Esson whilst Town's response saw Asamoah draw a foul out of Moses. The resultant free-kick was palmed clear by Marriott, who commanded his box well at the set-piece.

Another Stallard effort was held by Esson following a quick City counter-attack which saw Kerr set the Imps' striker free down the left before he cut in onto his right. Athe other end Frecklington was ruled to have felled Cooke 30 yards from goal. Davies hammered the free-kick straight at the Lincoln wall though.

Marriott then saved at the feet of Asamoah as a long 88th minute throw caused problems in the Imps' box whilst City's response saw Hughes win a throw-in to eat up some valuable seconds. More were eaten up as Mayo waited to take the throw with Ryan Amoo replacing Nicky Eaden.

A minimum of three additional minutes were to be added at the end of the 90 and just in the second of these Asamoah won a corner on the home right. Kelvin Langmead nodded Davies' centre well over though for a much-needed goal kick.

Amoo's first touch saw him drill the ball over following good hold up play by fellow substutute Ryan and then Stallard lumped the ball out for a goal kick from the half-way line.

After an additional minutes' play referee Haywood brought an end to the game with City preserving their 100% away record since the start of the campaign. The performance also saw them record their first clean sheet of the season whilst the small matter of a new Club record - six successive away wins in regular Football League acon - was also notched up.

Overall it was another terrific day on the road for the Imps.

FT: SHREWSBURY 0 IMPS 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Lee BEEVERS
4 Adie MOSES
5 Paul MORGAN
3 Paul MAYO
12 Nicky EADEN
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
24 Jeff HUGHES
9 Mark STALLARD
22 Jamie FORRESTER

subs
18 Ollie RYAN (for FORRESTER 78)
14 Ryan AMOO (for EADEN 89)
15 Martin GRITTON
17 Colin CRYAN
13 Simon RAYNER

GOAL: FRECKLINGTON (29)

SHREWSBURY TOWN
1 Ryan ESSON
2 Danny HALL
3 Neil ASHTON
4 Stewart DRUMMOND
6 Neil SORVEL
8 Kelvin LANGMEAD
9 Andy COOKE
10 Derek ASAMOAH
12 Ben HERD
14 Ben DAVIES
28 Sagi BURTON

subs
19 Dave EDWARDS (for BURTON h/t)
22 Chris HUMPHREY (for HERD 78)
7 Glynn HURST
17 Steve HOGG
21 Chris MACKENZIE

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Mark Haywood (Yorkshire)
ASSISTANTS: Paul Graham & David Unsworth
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Steven Cummins

ATTENDANCE: 4,083 (472 City supporters)