An 87th minute header from Dagenham & Redbridge substitute Paul Benson condemned the Imps to a narrow defeat in what was an entertaining affair in London on Saturday.

The game was an end-to-end encounter featuring two contrasting styles of football but City found veteran home 'keeper Tony Roberts in inspired form.

The experienced Roberts denied Mark Stallard in the first half when he tipped his goal bound header over the bar whilst in the second period he palmed a Dany N'Guessan shot inches past the post before coming off his line to block a Lee Frecklington effort after the midfielder broke through the middle.

In the end it was second half substitute Paul Benson who broke the deadlock with the striker, who had earlier clipped the outside of the post with a low shot, heading in a Sam Sloma free-kick three minutes from time.

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
14 Ryan AMOO
5 Lee BEEVERS
4 Adie MOSES
6 Nat BROWN
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
26 Jamie HAND
19 Louis DODDS
17 Dany N'GUESSAN
8 Jamie FORRESTER
9 Mark STALLARD

subs
18 Ollie RYAN (for DODDS 77)
10 Steve TORPEY (for FORRESTER 88)
20 Owain WARLOW (for N'GUESSAN 88)
3 Gary CROFT
11 Scott KERR

BOOKINGS: HAND (39), DODDS (55), AMOO (90+5)

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
1 Tony ROBERTS
2 Magnus OKUONGHAE
3 Sam SLOMA
7 Sam SAUNDERS
8 Glen SOUTHAM
11 Dave RAINFORD
12 Scott GRIFFITHS
15 Anwar UDDIN
18 Ben STREVENS
19 Danny FOSTER
23 Chris MOORE

subs
14 Paul BENSON (for MOORE 66)
16 Jamie TAYLOR (for STREVENS 82)
6 Shane HUKE (for SLOMA 90+1)
22 Marlon PATTERSON
30 Ed THOMPSON

GOAL: BENSON (87)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
ASSISTANTS: John Hayto & Tony Mason
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rob Whitton

ATTENDANCE: 2,060 (468 City supporters)