City's winning streak was extended to four on Tuesday evening when a great team performance saw them defeat Accrington Stanley 3-0 at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

Mark Stallard set things going in the sixth minute when he converted a Lenell John-Lewis cross at the back post and after defending stoutly for the remainder of the opening period; Shaun Whalley coming closest for Stanley just before the break when he crashed a shot against the bar, the Imps took the game to their hosts after the restart.

City, solid at the back and threatening whilst going forward, doubled their advantage in the 70th minute when substitute Ben Wright converted a Stallard centre with his second touch after he replaced Jamie Forrester. Lee Beevers added a third five minutes later to round off a thorougly professional performance by Peter Jackson's on-song troops.

The one sour note was the sight of Lee Frecklington being carried off after taking a kick from Andrew Procter 10 minutes into the second period.

Match report by John Vickers at the Fraser Eagle Stadium:

Despite making it three wins on the spin against Rochdale on Saturday, manager Peter Jackson made two changes to his starting line-up for this Coca-Cola League 2 encouter at Accrington Stanley.

The changes saw Paul Green, who missed the Dale win through suspension, replace Nat Brown at right-back whilst fit-again Lenny John-Lewis came in for Dany N'Guessan up front. Brown and N'Guessan were both on the bench where they were joined by Ben Wright, Shane Clarke and goalkeeper Ayden Duffy.

Conditions were turning chilly as the teams made their way out on to the undulating playing surface and it was the Imps wh got proceedings underway, winning a free-kick in the opening 15 seconds.

They failed to make the most of this early opportunity and had Alan Marriott to thank on the second minute mark when he commanded his box well to claim the first corner of the game.

At the other end a trip on John-Lewis by Phil Doughty gave City a good chance 30 yards from out but Lee Frecklington fired the free-kick straight at the Stanley wall. City kept up the pressure though and shortly afterwards they grabbed the lead.

The goal, in the sixth minute, came after a throw-in on the right was taken to John-Lewis who skipped past his man before firing the ball into the danger area. The ball took a looping deflection and there at the far post was MARK STALLARD to smash home from close range in front of the travelling faithful.

Stanley looked for a quick response with Paul Mullin wide from an Andy Todd centre whilst a trip on James Harris gave the hosts a chance from a set-piece of their own which Ian Craney drilled straight at Marriott.

Craney then dragged a low effort across the face of the goal as the Imps were forced on the back foot again whilst Danny Hone did well to flick a long Aswad Thomas ball back to Marriott.

The home side forced their second corner in the 14th minute but Louis Dodds cleared from the edge of the box and the danger was averted. City's response saw Freklington and John-Lewis exchange passes before the former laid the ball into the path of Jamie Forrester. The ball just ran away from the in-form Imps' striker though and the home side hacked clear.

On 20 minutes, Stanley's Harris was in trouble wth referee Anthony Taylor after going in hard on Dodds but the home number eight escaped a caution. When the free-kick was played forward by Marriott, Frecklington saw his low drive well claimed by Ian Dunbavin.

It was fast and frenetic stuff as the half went past its midway point with a surging run from Frecklington ending with Dodds lobbing over the bar. At the other end the frequently used offside flag was leading to some annoyance amongst the home spactators.

Green picked out Beevers from a free-kick on the half-hour mark with the latter's goalbound header being claimed by Dunbavin but City had to be on their guard shortly afterwards as a trip from Kerr on Craney gave the hosts a set-piece. Craney curled wide though from 30 yards out.

Great defending from Green saw him nip the ball off Whalley's feet after Marriott palmed clear a dangerous Todd ball into the area. At the other end John-Lewis was inches away from connecting with Kerr ball over the top but Dunbavin was quick off his line and claimed.

A Stanley free-kick into the area ended with a free-kick to City and a gashed head for Stallard. Physio Michael Wait - a busy man of late - was quickly on the scene to inspect the damage. Stallard left the field clutching a large bag of ice to receive further attention on the touchline. Stallard returned, complete with heavy bandage and a replacement shirt, namely Owain Warlow's number 20, as the clock ticked into minute number 42.

A snap shot from Whalley warmed Marriott's hands shortly afterwards whilst more good defending saw the Imps' back-lin repelled Stanley's next foray forward. A minimum of two added minutes was then indicated by the Fourth Official.

Midway through those added minutes, home midfielder Whalley let fly from 25 yards but his powerful drive crashed against the crossbar with Marriott rooted to the spot. This was the last action of the opening period so, thanks to Stallard's early effort, City went in for a breather a goal to the good.

HT:ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 IMPS 1

Neither side made any changes during the interval so it was as you were as Stanley got the second half underway.

The Imps carved out the first chance of the second period when a clever ball from Kerr set Stallard free. The City man took a couple of touches but, with the ball becoming stuck under his feet, his final effort fizzed wide of the left hand upright.

Seconds later a weak clearance from Dunbavin almost gifted Forrester a free shot on goal whilst Stanley's response saw them win a corner which City scrambled clear. The resultant counter-attack saw Green crudely upended by Harris leading to the game's first caution.

As play switched to the other end a great point-blank save from Marriott saw him deny Andy Todd with the Stanley man firing wide when the loose ball ran back into his path.

Another City break forward was crudely halted in the 53rd minute when Frecklington was taken out by Andrew Procter in the centre circle, forcing Michael Wait to enter the field of play for a second time. Referee Taylor kept his cards in his pocket on this occasion but worringly for City, Frecklington looked to be in some discomfort and was carried off by Slick and skipper Scott Kerr. Shane Clarke was immediately brought on as his replacement.

City's first corner arrived in the 58th minute when a surging run from well within his own half by John-Lewis ended with his cross being blocked. Dodds' subsequent ball to the near stick was cleared for a throw-in which also came to nothing.

What looked to be a well-timed challenge from Green on Whalley ended up with the City man being penalised; after the quick-free kick came back off the City wall, Craney blazed well wide.

A second City change, this one tactical, saw Ben Wright replace Jamie Forrester in the 66th minute; the switch seeing John-Lewis move wide right with Wright partnering Stallard up front.

Wright's first touch saw him drag a shot wide of the mark following a long Marriott clearance but his second, in the 70th minute, saw the good old onion bag bulge for a second time; the big striker ghosting in at the back post to convert a brilliant Stallard centre after the defence was opened up by a slide-rule Scott Kerr pass.

Accrington replied by forcing a couple of corners before Stallard was booked for persistent infrigement, according to referee Taylor, with Craney curling the set-piece inches wide.

At the other end Thomas needlessly conceded a corner and the Imps made the centre-back pay as, when the ball was played in from the quadrant by Dodds, it bobbled around before finding its way to LEE BEEVERS who prodded home from close range. Two goals in two visits to Accrington for the defender, who was winning everything in the air at the other end.

With the natives getting restless, the Imps were looking to go for the jugular with a couple more sweeping moves threatening to add to the scoreline. Had John-Lewis not been pulled up for a foul, Stallard would have done just that 10 minutes from time.

Wright was then released by Dodds but Dunbavin came out well to block his goalbound effort whilst Stallard sent a dipping volley wide of the post from 25 yards out.

Nat Brown replaced Mark Stallard with four minutes remaining; the City striker receiving an affectionate peck on the cheek from his manager as he left the field. Shortly after this change, John-Lewis fired wide from range.

A rare Stanley attack saw Marriott save well from a Mullin header whilst at the other end great play fom Brown saw him force a corner with the clock showing 90 minutes played. As this was cleared for a throw-in, the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added.

The only scare during the added minutes came when Craney found himself one-on-one with Marriott but the City 'keeper ensured his sheet remained clean as Mullin headed the loose ball over.

So all that was left was for the travelling faithful to salute their heroes before they prepared for their happy journey home.

FT: ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 IMPS 3

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Paul GREEN
5 Lee BEEVERS
27 Daniel HONE
30 Lee RIDLEY
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
29 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
19 Louis DODDS
8 Jamie FORRESTER
9 Mark STALLARD

subs
23 Shane CLARKE (for FRECKLINGTON 55)
15 Ben WRIGHT (for FORRESTER 66)
6 Nat BROWN (for STALLARD 86)
17 Dany N'GUESSAN
13 Ayden DUFFY

GOALS: STALLARD (6), WRIGHT (70), BEEVERS (75)

BOOKING: STALLARD (73)

ACCRINGTON STANLEY
25 Ian DUNBAVIN
3 Leam RICHARDSON
29 Philip DOUGHTY
31 Aswad THOMAS
12 Philip EDWARDS
27 Andrew TODD
8 James HARRIS
6 Andrew PROCTER
7 Shaun WHALLEY
23 Ian CRANEY
10 Paul MULLIN

subs
21 Sean WEBB
22 Robert GRANT
28 Mark KING
30 David MANNIX
1 Kenny ARTHUR

BOOKING: HARRIS (49)

REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)
ASSISTANTS: Mark Astley & Andrew Scregg
FOURTH OFFICIAL: William Smallwood

ATTENDANCE: 1,281 (209 City supporters)