Second half goals from Mark Stallard and Jamie Forrester, plus a first half penalty save from Alan Marriott saw City clinch fifth place in Coca-Cola League 2 following a nailbiting afternoon against Chester at Sincil Bank on Saturday afternoon.

Marriott kept the Imps in the game in the opening period when he saved chris Holroyd's spot-kick, which was awarded after Scott Kerr had upended the Chester front man.

The second half belonged to the Imps though and they deservedly took the lead when Forrester set up Stallard for his 16th of the season.

After ex-Imp Simon Yeo, on as a late substitute for Chester, had a goal ruled out for offside, City wrapped things up when Forrester netted from the spot. The penalty coming after a Jeff Hughes corner struck a visiting hand.

The win confirms a fifth place finish for the Imps and a Play-Off Semi-Final against Bristol Rovers. The other semi pits MK Dons against Shrewsbury Town.

Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:

Nat Brown and Lee Frecklington replaced Paul Mayo and Junior Mendes as the Imps prepared to take on Chester City at Sincil Bank in their final Coca-Cola League 2 game of the regular season.

Mayo and Mendes both dropped to the bench where they were joined by Ryan Amoo, Owain Warlow and 'keeper Simon Rayner, recalled in the week from his loan spell at Torquay United.

The game was just 15 seconds old when the Imps, attacking the IMPS Stand, won the first corner of the game, but they faile to make the most of this early opportunity with Jeff Hughes' delivery to the near post being cleared by the visiting defence.

A minute later Mark Stallard fired wide after being set up by Hughes down the left whilst early indications showed that Lee Beevers was operating at left-back with Paul Green wide on the right.

The following stages were a pretty scrappy affair with both sides struggling to keep possession for any decent period of time. This was interrupted in the 18th minute when some neat build-up play by the Imps ended with Beevers seeing his goalbound drive blocked on the edge of the box.

A couple of minutes later Chester broke forward for the first time and after Chris Holroyd burst into the box he went down under Scott Kerr's challenge. Referee Friend was on the spot - and pointed to the spot.

Holroyd picked himself to take the kick himself but he fired straight at Alan Marriott though with the Imps' number one gathering the ball at the second attempt having initially palmed it into the air, much to the relief of the City fans who were quick to get to their feet in celebration.

Seconds later Paul Green was taken out on the edge of the Chester box by Sean Hessey - the Chester man picking up a yellow card for his troubles - and when the free-kick was taken Hughes blazed the free-kick well over.

Mark Stallard then fired straight at Chester 'keeper John Danby whilst a great entre from Beevers forced ex-Imp Kevin Sandwith to nod behind for a corner.

Another corner followed which was headed wide by Green whilst Chester's response saw them win their first flag-kick - Green heading clear on this occasion. The visitors continued to press, however, winning another corner on the opposite side with Sandwith's effort sailing well behind for a goal-kick.

City's response saw Nat Brown volley over the bar after he had trotted up for a throw-in whilst one minute of added time came and went without incident.

HT: IMPS 0 CHESTER 0

Neither side made any changes at the break with the first shot of the second half seeing Alan Marriott claim Jamie Hand's 25-yard drive with ease. Chris Holroyd then blasted over from just inside the box.

At the other end a looping centre from Paul Green was nodded behind for a corner and after Lee Frecklington had played the ball in Nat Brown sent his header wide of the target.

Good pressure from Frecklington forced another corner but before it could be taken referee Friend had words with Hessey and Green. When it was taken, by Frecklington, Brown flicked the ball off team mate Stallard's head.

A foul on Stallard by Dean Bennett then earned the Chester man a yellow card as the clock ticked past the hour mark whilst a couple of minutes later the Imps edged themselves in front.

The opening goal came after Jamie Forrester had latched on a slip in the visitng defence before breaking forward. Unselfish play from the City striker saw him draw his man to him before playing it into the path of MARK STALLARD who composed himself before blasting in his 16th of the season.

The goal clearly settled a few nerves, especially as the goals were flying in elsewhere in League 2 as the season climax fast approached.

In the 72nd minute Simon Yeo came on for Chris Holroyd for Chester; the former City man receiving a mixed reaction as he entered the fray.

Yeo's first touch saw him win a corner but after the ball was half-cleared by City the offside flag brought Chester's attack to a halt.

Good work between Green and Hughes then saw City win a corner in the 78th minute but good handling from Danby saw him claim Frecklington's delivery with ease.

After Yeo swung and missed at one end, City broke forward to win their eighth corner of the afternoon but again Danby commanded his box well to gather the ball as it came in.

Both sides made a change with six minutes on the clock with Glenn Cronin coming on for Dean Bennett for the visitors and Junior Mendes replacing Paul Green for the Imps.

Chester thought they had levelled matters shortly afterwards when Yeo prodded home after a Hessey drive landed at his feet via Marriott's gloves and before the free-kick could be taken Ryan Amoo came on for Lee Frecklington.

Three minutes were on the clock at the time of this change and 90 seconds later good work from Mendes saw him force a corner after he got the wrong side of Sandwith.

When Hughes whipped the ball in, it crashed into a Chester hand - penalty to City in the final minute. Jamie Forrester stepped up to the spot and neatly slotted the ball past Danby's outstretched arms for his 18th of the campaign.

This proved to be the final action of the afternoon with the victory securing a fifth place finish for the Imps.

FT: IMPS 2 CHESTER 0

TEAM SHEET

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
12 Nicky EADEN
5 Paul MORGAN
23 Nat BROWN
6 Paul GREEN
11 Scott KERR
2 Lee BEEVERS
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
24 Jeff HUGHES
9 Mark STALLARD
22 Jamie FORRESTER

subs
10 Junior MENDES (for GREEN 84)
14 Ryan AMOO (for FRECKLINGTON 87)
3 Paul MAYO
20 Owain WARLOW
13 Simon RAYNER

GOALS: STALLARD (64), FORRESTER (90 pen)

CHESTER CITY
12 John DANBY
26 James VAUGHAN
3 Kevin SANDWITH
21 avid ARTELL
19 Paul LINWOOD
6 Sean HESSEY
7 Jamie HAND
16 Dean BENNETT
32 Paul RUTHERFORD
34 Lee STEELE
27 Chris HOLROYD

subs
8 Simon YEO (for HOLROYD 72)
11 Glenn CRONIN (for BENNETT 84)
5 Phil BOLLAND
14 Alex MEECHAN
37 Kevin ROBERTS

BOOKINGS: HESSEY (22), BENNETT (62)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
ASSISTANTS: Alan Parker & Paul Thompson
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Craig Evans

ATTENDANCE: 5,267 (152 visiting supporters)