City got back to winning ways on Boxing Day with a hard-earned 2-1 success over Chesterfield seeing them earn a vital three points.

Cian Hughton headed the Imps in front in the 25th minute when ghosted in at the far post to meet a Delroy Facey cross and it was Facey who added a second four minutes later; the Notts County loanee looping home a great header from just inside the box.

The Imps continued to look threatening during the course of the first half whilst after the break the visitors came more into the game and with seven minutes on the clock substitute Scott Boden pulled one back.

Less than two minutes later, Drew Talbot went to ground under Adam Watts' challenge but much to the relief of the home contingent in the festive crowd, Jack Lester blazed well over from the spot.

City were more than deserving of the three-point haul which gives them some breathing space over both Grimsby Town and Darlington whose respective games were frozen off.

Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:

City Manager Chris Sutton made a number of changes for this Boxing Day clash against Chesterfield at Sincil Bank Stadium.

Paul Green made a welcome return to the starting line-up following his long-term absence through injury whilst Joe Heath started his first League match since August. They began the game in the full-back positions whilst Stefan Oakes started in midfield alongside skipper Scott Kerr and Chris Herd. Brian Gilmour started in a role just behind lone striker Delroy Facey.

After a week of sub-zero temperatures, the sun was shining as referee Steve Rushton led the two teams out of the tunnel and it was the Spireites who were quick to press forward; Green being quickly called into action, holding off Wade Small whose appeals for a penalty as he went to ground fell on deaf ears.

In the seventh minute Chesterfield forced the first corner of the game which ended up seeing Kieran Djilali take the ball out for a goal-kick after his flag-kick was cleared back to him and as City broke forward, the overlapping Green was penalised for a foul on ex-Imp Kevin Austin after the former's cross appeared to strike the latter on the arm.

Play switched to the other end with Rob Burch going to ground under Small's challenge whilst City's next attack saw Cian Hughton have a shot deflected for a corner. This flag-kick saw Hughton drill goalwards again only for David Perkins to get in a block.

City remained on the offensive with Stefan Oakes testing Mark Crossley with a 25-yard free-kick whilst on the quarter-hour mark Chris Herd fizzed a long range effort a foot wide of the post. Crossley was then kept on his toes to claim a shot on the turn from Brian Gilmour.

A number of stoppages then brought about a stop-start few minutes but when play was allowed to continue, City made the most of it with Cian Hughton heading home his first goal for the Club.

Some neat build-up play brought about his 25th minute effort and when the ball found Facey on the right, he played in a delightful cross with the outside of his boot and there ghosting in at the far post was Hughton who directed his header across Crossley and into the bottom corner of the net.

Four minutes later it was Facey's turn to break his City duck as when Oakes floated in a ball into the area, the Notts County loanee rose well and looped a superb header over the stranded Crossley from fully 15 yards out.

Chesterfield's response saw Jack Lester go to ground under Nathan Baker's challenge; the City defender picking up a caution after referee Rushton awarded the visitors a free-kick a few yards outside the area. The set-piece resulted in a corner to the men in blue which Baker headed to safety whilst another corner saw Rob Page head well over.

At the other end Hughton was flagged offside after a great move down the City right ended with Green crossing towards the near post whilst just before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of two minutes were to be added, Lester hit the crossbar with an instinctive header from eight yards out.

This proved to be the last action of what was a more than enjoyable opening 45 minutes for the home supporters with City fuly deserving of their two-goal advantage.

HT: IMPS 2 CHESTERFIELD 0

Both sides made a switch during the break with Drew Talbot replacing Kevin Austin for the visitors and Moses Swaibu for Nathan Baker for the Imps.

Swaibu was quickly in the action, clearing off the line after a deep Chesterfield corner found Small at the back post whilst at the other end Facey curled an effort inches wide of the left-hand upright after he turned Page on the edge of the area.

A second Chesterfield City switch in the 58th minute saw Scott Boden replace Wade Small up front but it was his fellow substitute Talbot who had the game's next attempt at goal when his header from a corner forced Burch to save at the second attempt.

An injury to Djilaji brought about a break in play after Herd had a shot charged down by Page and when play restarted Heath was booked for a tough 67th minute challenge on Talbot, who received treatment before returning holding his shoulder.

Green then got in a great block to deny Lester whilst a sixth Chesterfield corner was headed wide by Page who was well marshalled by Swaibu at the back post. At the other end Facey broke free of the offside trap only to see his final ball to Gilmour blocked before Hughton's follow-up effort hit Ian Breckin.

City responded with Herd seeing his cross to Facey headed out for a corner by Pagel Oakes delivery from the quadrant also seeing the visiting centre-back nod behind. After this 73rd minute corner was cleared, Mark Allott was replaced by Derek Niven for the Spireites.

Niven's first taste of the action was to upend Swaibu earning himself a yellow card for his troubles but it was his fellow substitute Scott Boden who gave his side a glimmer of hope with seven minutes remaining as, after a ball was played into the area, he managed to get it under control and duly planted a firm drive past Burch.

City's response saw them force a corner which was halted due to pushing and after Crossley lumped the ball forward, Talbot went to ground as he challenged with a couple of Imps' defenders. Referee Rushton took his time before making a decision but when he did he pointed to the spot before booking Adam Watts.

Jack Lester took responsibility from 12 yards but he promptly hit his penalty towards the back of the Stacey West Stand rather than the back of the net. With the ball amongst the celebrating City fans behind the goal, Rob Burch was cautioned for delaying the taking of the resultant goal-kick.

Thirty seconds before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of four minutes were to be added Shane Clarke came on for Brian Gilmour and any nerves amongst the City supporters were quelled once Niven had drilled a 25 yard effort wide of the target. Referee Rushton brought things to a close seconds later.

FT: IMPS 2 CHESTERFIELD 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
22 Adam WATTS
33 Nathan BAKER
16 Joe HEATH
7 Stefan OAKES
11 Scott KERR
35 Brian GILMOUR
25 Cian HUGHTON
34 Chris HERD
36 Delroy FACEY

subs
5 Moses SWAIBU (for BAKER h/t)
19 Shane CLARKE (for GILMOUR 90)
10 Chris FAGAN
14 Lenell JOHN--LEWIS
15 Jamie CLARKE
31 Michael GORDON
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE

GOALS: HUGHTON (25), FACEY (29)

BOOKINGS: BAKER (33), HEATH (67), WATTS (87), BURCH (88)

CHESTERFIELD
23 Mark CROSSLEY
28 Mark LITTLE
16 Ian BRECKIN
5 Rob PAGE
6 Kevin AUSTIN
30 Kieran DJILALI
7 Mark ALLOTT
27 David PERKINS
31 Ian MORRIS
26 Wade SMALL
14 Jack LESTER

subs
25 Drew TALBOT (for AUSTIN h/t)
19 Scott BODEN (for SMALL 58)
8 Derek NIVEN (for ALLOTT 74)
9 Martin GRITTON
15 Aaron DOWNES
20 Dan GRAY
1 Tommy LEE

GOAL: BODEN (83)

BOOKING: NIVEN (80)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Steve Rushton
ASSISTANTS: Martin Dexter & Darren England
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Martin Coy

ATTENDANCE: 4,604 (1,183 visiting supporters)