Report by Jonny Hall at Sincil Bank:

The Imps' Welsh Under 21 international defender Lee Beevers, top goalscorer Gary Birch and midfield general Nat Brown all shook off slight knocks sustained in the 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers to start tonight's match against Wrexham.

Key defender Gareth McAuley, who is seeking to find his full fitness after a calf injury, was named as a substitute. He joined strikers Francis Green, Oliver Ryan, Maheta Molango and Marvin Robinson on the bench.

Wrexham, who travelled to Sincil Bank searching for their first away win of the season, sat ninth in League Two before tonight's match following two successive home wins against Barnet and Cheltenham.

With just three League Two fixtures being played tonight, it gave City's neighbouring clubs the chance to watch the Imps and Wrexham in action. Boston United boss Steve Evans - summarising for BBC Radio Lincolnshire - and Grimsby boss Russell Slade were both watching in the stands.

City got the game underway attacking the IMPS Stand and went on the attack within seconds. Gary Birch burst down the right before pulling the ball back square into the box, and Nat Brown's 15-yard shot was blocked out by Warhurst. A minute later, Wrexham won the game's first corner and 'keeper Alan Marriott claimed it comfortably.

The Imps began confidently, and a neat move between Paul Mayo and Gary Birch on the left saw Birch chip a great ball towards Dean Keates on the edge of the box, who was brought down as he looked to pull the trigger. Nat Brown's powerful free-kick struck the wall.

The home side attacked again on six minutes as they went in search of an early breakthrough. Gary Birch beat his man on the right before crossing hard and low. The ball flew across goal and Paul Mayo came flying in with his boot, but Bennett made a timely challenge to divert it away.

In the ninth minute, Scott Kerr saw a sweetly-struck volley from 16-yards dip over the top of the Wrexham crossbar. Wrexham hit back by winning a corner on 11 minutes but Gary Birch was there to clear his lines. It was an end-to-end opening quarter of an hour as both sides played with confidence.

City kept pressing forward and carved open the Wrexham defence in the 22nd minute. Paul Mayo skipped inside on the left and played a neat ball to Gary Birch in the box. His shot from a narrow angle was blocked, before Dean Keates' strike off the rebound from the edge of the box was deflected wide for a corner. Holt headed the corner clear.

The home side were enjoying the better of proceedings now, and came close to taking the lead on 24 minutes. Nat Brown released Gary Birch down the right. The powerful striker held off his man, cut inside and switched the ball onto his left foot. But his fine strike - heading for the top corner - was deflected over by Bennett's boot. Dean Keates' corner was met by Paul Mayo at the back post but his header was well held by 'keeper Ingham.

The next 10 minutes saw both sides cancel each other out and goalmouth action was at a premium. Wrexham looked well-organised and enjoyed their passing game, and at times City were struggling to get hold of the ball. A searching ball forward by Lee Beevers was chased by Derek Asamoah but 'keeper Ingham raced off his line and out of his 18-yard box to head the ball to safety.

City forced a corner in the 42nd minute after good work by Derek Asamoah, but Wrexham soaked up the pressure. Wrexham boss Denis Smith made a substitution with two minutes of the first-half remaining as Andy Holt hobbled off to be replaced by Paul Linwood. There was one minute of added time allocated, but still time for City to try open the scoring as Derek Asamoah's long-range drive forced Ingham to make a good save.

HT: LINCOLN CITY 0 WREXHAM 0

Wrexham kicked off the second half with City now attacking the Stacey West end. And it was the Imps who launched the first attack as Lee Beevers latched onto Colin Cryan's cross from the right, broke into the box and hit a stinging drive which was palmed wide by Ingham.

City won three corners in quick succession as they put pressure on the visitors from the word go. The second corner from Dean Keates was hacked off the line by Williams as Jamie McCombe won a near-post flick on, before the third corner ended with Derek Asamoah firing a long-range shot over the upright.

The Imps had a great chance to open the scoring on 56 minutes when Wrexham fell asleep at the back. Derek Asamoah's pass picked out Paul Mayo in a strikers' position with a clear path to goal and Gary Birch to his right. Mayo hesitated and took too long to get his shot in at goal to allow Lawrence to make a last-ditch tackle.

City won two corners - and their seventh and eighth of the match - in quick succession as they kept plugging away. And in the 62nd minute they got their reward. Scott Kerr curled in a delightful inswinger which caused the visitors all sorts of problems. A goalmouth scramble ensued and NAT BROWN managed to bundle his way in to force the ball over the line to grab his third goal of the season and make it 1-0.

A long throw-in from Paul Mayo on 65 minutes forced Smith to head the ball behind for a Lincoln corner. The ball came out to Lee Beevers on the edge of the box and he laid the ball wide left to Scott Kerr who whipped in a teasing cross-cum-shot which 'keeper Ingham had to tip over from right underneath his crossbar. The goalkeeper received treatment having injured himself in his efforts to divert the ball over the bar.

On 68 minutes a foul by Warhurst on Derek Asamoah won City a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the Wrexham box. Dean Keates, Nat Brown and Paul Mayo all stood over it, but it was Keates who hit it, curling a well-struck effort just a whisker over the crossbar as goalkeeper Ingham looked well and truly beaten.

There was a moment of controversy in the 74th minute when Derek Asamoah was brought down by Paul Warhurst as the Lincoln striker raced towards goal. Asamoah darted forward had Warhurst and one or two Wrexham defenders between him and a free run at goal. Asamoah skipped past Warhurst who brought the striker down. The Wrexham man was booked. Dragons' boss Denis Smith was fuming on the touchline as he thought Asamoah had dived.

Following the incident, Imps boss Keith Alexander decided it might be a good time to replace Asamoah's tired legs with the fresh legs of Francis Green, with 15 minutes to go. Green was instantly involved, bursting past his marker on the right and winning a corner for City. Dean Keates' corner was headed clear by Warhurst.

City's defence remained untroubled as the game entered its final 10 minutes and it was City who had Wrexham on the back foot. Paul Mayo - head-down - charged down the left with a fine surging run which had Smith back peddling. Mayo chipped the ball square where Gary Birch came in, but his controlled volley from 14 yards out flew over the upright.

In a bid to 'shut up shop' and protect their 1-0 lead, Lincoln replaced a striker with a defender as three minutes of normal time remained. Gary Birch - who worked tirelessly in the Imps attack, always holding the ball up well - made way for defender Gareth McAuley. But City still attacked and could have made it two to kill off the visitors.

Francis Green caused problems with his pace down the right and he spotted the run of Paul Mayo down the left. Green chipped the ball across, and Mayo tried to hit it on the volley as Bennett closed him down, only to see his attempt fly well off target. But Lincoln were persistent and did find that second goal to guarantee three points.

With 90 minutes on the clock, City moved forward using Francis Green's electric pace as an outlet on the right. Green broke free yet again and darted towards goal, one-on-one with defender Warhurst. He beat his man, and unselfishly laid the ball square to the incoming DEAN KEATES who made no mistake, side-footing the ball powerfully past 'keeper Ingham.

It was the perfect finish for Lincoln, who celebrated their second win of the 2005/06 League 2 campaign.

FT: LINCOLN CITY 2 WREXHAM 0

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
Alan MARRIOTT
Lee BEEVERS
Paul MAYO
Jamie McCOMBE
Paul MORGAN
Colin CRYAN
Scott KERR
Dean KEATES
Nat BROWN
Gary BIRCH
Derek ASAMOAH

Subs:
Francis GREEN (for ASAMOAH 76)
Gareth McAULEY (for BIRCH 87)
Oliver RYAN
Maheta MOLANGO
Marvin ROBINSON