A Dany N'Guessan double saw the Imps get back to winning ways against promotion-chasing Hereford United in an enthralling League 2 encounter at Sincil Bank on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

After a relatively quiet opening to the game, things really hotted up around the half-hour mark when City skipper Scott Kerr was shown a straight red by referee David Foster for showing his studs in a challenge with Clint Easton.

Less than a minute later Dany N'Guessan drilled the Imps in front with a clinical finish after the big Frenchman had sprinted forward before firing across Wayne Brown and with Jamie Forrester sacrificed to allow Martin Pembleton to come into midfield, City definitely knew they were in for a game.

They managed to stand firm until the 62nd minute when Gary Hooper slotted past Alan Marriott and with Ben Wright playing a lone role up front, City were regularly forced on to the back foot.

With Marriott keeping the Bulls at bay with a string of fine saves, he was rewarded as, with five minutes on the clock, Wright was bundled over in the box by Easton. Up stepped N'Guessan from 12 yards to send Brown the wrong way.

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Paul GREEN
6 Nat BROWN
27 Daniel HONE
30 Lee RIDLEY
11 Scott KERR
23 Shane CLARKE
17 Dany N'GUESSAN
29 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
8 Jamie FORRESTER
15 Ben WRIGHT
 
subs
25 Martin PEMBLETON (for FORRESTER 32)
4 Adie MOSES (for RIDLEY 76)
9 Mark STALLARD
19 Louis DODDS
13 Ayden DUFFY

GOALS: N'GUESSAN (31, 85 pen)

BOOKING: HONE (34)

SENDING OFF: KERR (30)

HEREFORD UNITED
1 Wayne BROWN
2 Trent McCLENAHAN
5 John McCOMBE
28 Dean BECKWITH
4 Richard ROSE
23 Simon JOHNSON
8 Ben SMITH
20 Toumani DIAGOURAGA
11 Clint EASTON
29 Gary HOOPER
22 Theo ROBINSON
 
subs
9 Steve GUINAN (for JOHNSON 75)
10 Kris TAYLOR
15 Sam GWYNNE
18 Lee COLLINS
33 Ryan ESSON

GOAL: HOOPER (62)

BOOKINGS: SMITH (65), EASTON (84)

REFEREE: David Foster (Tyne & Wear)
ASSISTANTS: Michael Naylor & Mark Sutton
FOURTH OFFICIAL: David Coote

ATTENDANCE: 3,614 (381 visiting supporters)