City were once again handed a lesson in finishing by Chesterfield on Friday night, with the Spireites defeating the Imps 4-1 at Saltergate.

After Alan Marriott had superbly denied Jack Lester on a couple of occasions in the opening period, the Spireites edged themselves in front in the 38th minute when a long throw saw the ball land at the feet of midfielder Lloyd Kerry who fired home from 10 yards.

Seven minutes after the restart City, who saw Lenny John-Lewis forced off through injury in the ninth minute, were two down when Lester twisted and turned his way into space before curling into the bottom corner.

City's response was immediate though with a Louis Dodds centre being met at the far post by substitute Ben Wright but within the space of 90 seconds the Spireites regained their two-goal advantage when skipper Peter Leven was played in by Lester's back-heel before firing home.

Kerry added a fourth in the 81st minute after substitute Jamie Ward had broke down the middle before skipping past both Beevers and Marriott before squaring for his team mate.

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
6 Nat BROWN
5 Lee BEEVERS
27 Daniel HONE
2 Paul GREEN
11 Scott KERR
23 Shane CLARKE
19 Louis DODDS
29 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
8 Jamie FORRESTER
17 Dany N'GUESSAN

subs
15 Ben WRIGHT (for JOHN-LEWIS 9)
20 Owain WARLOW (for FORRESTER 74)
4 Adie MOSES
16 Alex MORFAW
13 Ayden DUFFY

GOAL: WRIGHT (57)

CHESTERFIELD
1 Barry ROCHE
5 Phil PICKEN
26 Peter HARTLEY
2 Janos KOVACS
15 Aaron DOWNES
4 Jamie LOWRY
24 Lloyd KERRY
16 Jamie WINTER
19 Peter LEVEN
25 David DOWSON
14 Jack LESTER

subs
7 Jamie WARD (for DOWSON 67)
10 Steve FLETCHER (for LESTER 67)
23 Kevin COOPER (for LEVEN 87)
8 Derek NIVEN
18 Alan O'HARE

GOALS: KERRY (38 & 81), LESTER (52), LEVEN (59)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)
ASSISTANTS: Paul Barnes & Darren Bond
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Paul Graham

ATTENDANCE: 4,353 (685 City supporters)