A superb goal from Louis Dodds midway through the second half was enough to secure a maximum haul for Peter Jackson at Sincil Bank on Saturday afternoon.
Dodds curled home a peach from 25 yards in the 66th minute following an excellent cross-field pass from the impressive Lenny John-Lewis and this proved sufficient to earn the points for City, who were fully deserving of the three points.
The game could - and probably should - have finished 2-0 but Jamie Forrester blazed over when Wycombe 'keeper Frank Fielding palmed a Dany N'Guessan effort into his path but in the end Dodds' effort proved to be enough.
The three points was the perfect tonic for manager Peter Jackson as he prepares for his cancer treatment next week.
Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:
Ben Wright for the suspended Mark Stallard was the only change for this Coca-Colae League 2 encounter - Peter Jackson's last in charge before he starts his treatment for throat cancer - against play-off chasing Wycombe Wanderers at Sincil Bank Stadium.
It was a blustery afternoon as Jackson was presented with February's Coca-Cola Manager of the Month award prior to kick-off and once he took his place in the dug out the game got underway with City attacking the IMPS Stand in the opening period.
The Imps started brightly with a Jamie Forrester cross ending with Lenny John-Lewis having an effort blocked before Louis Dodds was denied by visiting 'keeper Frank Fielding. A clever pass from Paul Green then set Forrester free but, after he saw his shot palmed up in the air by Fielding, Ben Wright could only divert his header from the rebound over the bar.
It was certainly an enterprising start by City Shane Clarke forcing Fielding into another save in the ninth minute after perseverance from John-Lewis saw him barge his way forward before laying the ball into the path of his midfield colleague
In the 16th minute, an obstruction on Green by Craig Woodman gave the Imps a chance from a set-piece but Tommy Doherty cleared Green's delivery with ease at the near post. At the other end Green was forced on the defensive to concede the game's first corner from which Lee Beevers headed clear before David McCracken volleyed over the Stacey West Stand and into Sausthorpe Street.
Beevers was then in the wars when frustration from Leon Knight saw the Wycombe striker go in very late on the City defender as he cleared the ball. Referee Neil Swarbrick dished out a yellow card after his assistant flagged for the free-kick. Beevers looked to be in some discomfort as he hobbled off with Knight somewhat fortunate to stay on the field - especially when you look at the decision which saw Ollie Ryan see red at Wycombe earlier in the season.
A second corner followed for the visitors just past the midway point in the opening half whilst at the other end John-Lewis fizzed a right-footed shot over the bar from Forrester's through ball.
Danny Hone was then in the wars after going to ground following an aerial challenge with Scott McGleish but referee Swarbrick spotted nothing untoward whilst, with the wind at their backs, Wycombe won their third corner 10 minutes before the break but good defending by Hone saw him clear the danger.
Another Wycombe corner followed and the incident that led to the flag-kick ended up with Scott Kerr requiring attention from Michael Wait. The City skipper looked a bit groggy as he got back to his feet and with him off the field, corner taker Russell Martin volleyed just wide after the corner was played back to him on the right.
City replied by going on the attack and after Dodds released Wright on the left, the later was inches away from giving the Imps the lead when his low left-footed shot went across Fielding but also the wrong side of the upright.
Just before three minute of added time was indicated by the Fourth Official, a Green free-kick was headed behind by Holt for City's first corner but Dodds' delivery was hacked clear by the Chairboys' defence. The added minutes passed without incident so it was all-square as the sides went in for their half-time breather.
HT: IMPS 0 WYCOMBE 0
Both sides emerged unchanged for the start of the second half and it was a scrappy opening following the restart with the stong, blustery wind making things difficult for both sides to impose themselves on proceedings.
The first half-chance of the second half came nine minutes in when Matt Bloomfield drilled well over from a narrowing angle for the visitors but it wasn't until the hour mark when City came to life; John-Lewis forcing a corner following good work down the right. Any hopes of an opening goal went though as Beevers headed Dodds' delivery over the bar.
Dany N'Guessan replaced Ben Wright up front a minute later and he was straight in the action when he came close to connecting with a dangerous Green centre. At the other end the experienced Neil Lennon curled over after the Chairboys broke down their left.
City's response to this scare was immediate and, not for the first time this season, it was a goal of pure quality from LOUIS DODDS that broke the deadlock. Dodds' ninth of the season came after a neat piece of skill from John-Lewis saw him create space for himself before he played the ball out to Dodds on the opposite side. The Leicester loanee did the rest as, after he took a touch to get the ball under control, he curled a superb 25-yard effort past Fielding who was left clutching thin air as the ball crashed into the back of the net.
The game had suddenly sprung to life now with Kerr having a centre headed behind by Leon Johnson whilst at the other end an excellent tackle from Hone saw him nip the ball off Johnson's feet after the centre-back was up for a set-piece.
A sweeping City move down their right ended up with N'Guessan forcing a fine save from Fielding. The big Frenchman then twisted past a couple of players before seeing his ball into the box nipped off Forrester's feet by McCracken.
City's won corners number five and six as the game entered its final 15 minutes but the Wycombe defence withstood the pressure. Martin Bullock replaced Neil Lennon in the 77th minute for the visitors.
Wycombe had Fielding to thank shortly afterwards as he kept out a bullet from John-Lewis and as Kerr played the corner back in after it landed to him on the far post, his centre went behind for another flag-kick. This one was headed wide by John-Lewis.
Good play from John-Lewis and N'Guessan then led to Forrester coming close but his sliding effort looped into Fielding's gloves. At the other end Marriott claimed a low Bullock effort with ease for his first real save of note.
A push from Hone on Knight was harshluy adjudged to have been worthy of a foul by referee Swarbrick but justice was done as Martin curled well over. With frive minutes on the clock John Sutton replaced Craig Woodman for Wanderers.
Jamie Forrester wasted a golden opportunity to wrap things up a couple of minutes later when he fired over from close range with the goal at his mercy. John-Lewis and N'Guessan were the architects again and after the former played in the latter, Fielding saved from his low effort. The ball ran free to Forrester but, with Fielding not even in the picture, Forrester promptly found the Stacey West Stand rather than the back of the net.
Three minutes of added time was then indicated by the Fourth Official and when Doherty played a poor ball in, Alan Marriott had chance to eat some seconds up before playing the ball up field. Good play from N'Guessan saw him hold the ball up before he won a throw-in.
After Marriott claimed a deep free-kick from his counterpart Fielding, referee Swarbrick took a final blow on his whistle with City back on the winning track thanks to Dodds' excellent 66th minute goal.
FT: IMPS 1 WYCOMBE 0
MATCH FACTS
LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Paul GREEN
5 Lee BEEVERS
27 Daniel HONE
30 Lee RIDLEY
11 Scott KERR
23 Shane CLARKE
19 Louis DODDS
29 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
8 Jamie FORRESTER
15 Ben WRIGHT
subs
17 Dany N'GUESSAN (for WRIGHT 61)
6 Nat BROWN
16 Alex MORFAW
18 Ollie RYAN
13 Ayden DUFFY
GOAL: DODDS (66)
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
34 Frank FIELDING
4 Russell MARTIN
7 David McCRACKEN
20 Leon JOHNSON
18 Craig WOODMAN
10 Matt BLOOMFIELD
44 Neil LENNON
35 Tommy DOHERTY
15 Gary HOLT
9 Leon KNIGHT
17 Scott McGLEISH
subs
11 Martin BULLOCK (for LENNON 77)
16 John SUTTON (for WOODMAN 85)
6 Mike WILLIAMSON
31 Andre BOUCAUD
19 Jamie YOUNG
BOOKING: KNIGHT (20)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
ASSISTANTS: Glenn Hambling & Mark Lawson
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Wayne Porter
ATTENDANCE: 4,002 (333 visiting supporters)
