City slipped to their third successive defeat on Saturday afternoon with Chesterfield emerging 2-1 victors at Saltergate.
The home side took the lead in the 19th minute when winger Dominic Green cut in from the right before fizzing in a 25-yard left-footed drive and within five minutes of the restart Barry Conlon headed home a second.
City's heads didn't drop, however, and deservedly got themselves back into the game in the 65th minute when Moses Swaibu netting an excellent first goal in Imps' colours. The centre-back, up for a free-kick, found himself picking up the pieces after home 'keeper Tommy Lee dropped a cross under pressure from Facey and promptly chipped the ball into the top corner of the net from 20 yards out.
It was all City after this but despite their efforts they couldn't force a way past Lee for a second time; a stoppage-time appeal for a penalty after debutant Steven Lennon's cross appeared to hit a home defender on the arm but the appeals fell on deaf ears.
Match report by John Vickers at Saltergate:
With Adam Watts (hamstring) and Nathan Baker (ankle) both ruled out through injury, Danny Hone and Moses Swaibu formed the central defensive partnership for this Coca-Cola League 2 encounter against Chesterfield at Saltergate.
A third change to the side that started at Hereford in midweek saw Chris Herd shake off his groin injury to replace Stefan Oakes in midfield whilst a fourth saw Shane Clarke come in for Clark Keltie. A fifth and final change came up front with Delroy Facey replacing Lenell John-Lewis.
Oakes, John-Lewis and Keltie all found themselves on the bench where they were joined by Paul Connor, Steven Lennon, goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite and assistant manager Ian Pearce.
Chesterfield, who were without the injured Jack Lester, had two ex-Imps in their squad with Martin Gritton starting and Kevin Austin amongst the substitutes.
Chilly conditions greeted the two teams as they were led out of the tunnel by referee David Webb and after a minute's applause in memory of the former Spireite Jimmy Smallwood who sadly passed away at the age of 84, play got underway.
The hosts were the first to press with Adam Rundle forcing a corner off Hone in the second minute and when the ball was half scrambled clear, Rundle saw his follow-up effort fly well wide of the target.
In the fifth minute an aerial challenge between Hone and Barry Conlon saw the City man hit the floor somewhat heavily but the former City scholar was okay to continue once he got back to his feet.
City's first real break forward saw Scott Kerr release Herd but the Australian was unable to keep his cross in play whilst shortly afterwards some neat build-up play saw the ball reach Paul Green on the opposite flank but his centre was claimed by home keeper Tommy Lee.
A deflected Herd drive led to City's first corner of the game in the 12th minute although Derek Niven's challenge looked to be worthy of a free-kick rather than a flag-kick. When the flag-kick was taken by Brian Gilmour, Moses Swaibu headed wide though.
Hone was in the wars again a minute later as he felt the force of a stray Gritton arm and required treatment from physio Michael Wait as a result. He returned with blood streaming from a facial injury.
In the 19th minute the hosts took the lead with a fine strike from Dominic Green. The winger was played in by Niven and after cutting inside from the right he let fly from 25 yards with his unstoppable effort curling past Butch before nestling in the corner of the net.
Shortly after the restart a cynical challenge on Herd by Rob Page as the City man brought the ball forward from defence somehow saw the Chesterfield defender emerge with nothing more than a ticking off by referee Webb.
Mr Webb did bring his book out, however, in the 31st minute when Herd's lunge on Niven was deemed worthy of a yellow card. When play restarted Niven fired in a volley which ended up closer to the corner flag than the goal.
Some patient City build-up play five minutes later ended with Gilmour forcing Lee to make a save low to his left whilst at the other end Conlon used his experience to draw Swaibu into a foul 30 yards out. Green, however, curled well wide from the dead ball situation.
Four minutes before the break a wayward back pass from Page gifted City a corner but the Imps failed to make the most of the opportunity as Hughton's ball in was easily cleared. At the other end Gritton headed a Green cross a foot wide.
The Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of two minutes were to be added and these passed without further incident so as the players went in for their half-time breather, Green's 19th minute effort was the difference between the two teams.
HT: CHESTERFIELD 1 IMPS 0
Neither side made any changes ahead of the start of the second period so it was as you were as the Imps restarted proceedings.
With a minute of the restart Shane Clarke won a free-kick on the left and when Hughton swung the ball into the mix, Lee punched clear under pressure from Herd but referee Webb once again penalised the City man and play restarted with a free-kick to the home side.
At the other end Hone was forced to head a Rundle cross behind for a corner but although City defended the ball in, they couldn't clear their lines and when the ball was pumped in again Conlon rose well to meet the ball and he planted a firm header into the net with Swaibu unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.
City looked for a quick response with Herd testing Lee with a low drive from range but it wasn't long before Chesterfield were on the attack again and when Green got round Anderson his lay off saw Conlon blaze over from 10 yards.
Rob Burch was called into action in the 55th minute as he did well to block a Green drive which took a nasty bobble before crashing into his chest and a minute later, Lenell John-Lewis came on for Chris Herd as manager Chris Sutton switched things around.
A mistimed challenge on Alan Goodall by Hughton earned the City man a 62nd minute caution and before the resultant free-kick could be taken recent signing Steven Lennon came on for the Republic of Ireland U21 international.
Three minutes later City pulled on back with Moses Swaibu netting an excellent first goal in Imps' colours. The centre-back, up for a free-kick, found himself picking up the pieces after home 'keeper Lee dropped the ball under pressure from Facey and promptly chipped the ball into the top corner of the net from 20 yards out.
Swaibu was called into action at the other end shortly after the restart as he blocked a Brown effort but City pressed forward again with Lennon having a shot charged down by Aaron Downes as he looked to make an instant impact on his Football League debut.
A home change in the 70th minute saw Scott Boden replace ex-Imp Martin Gritton up front but the action remained in the City attacking third as Page conceded a corner under pressure from John-Lewis but a goal-kick was the only outcome as the ball came in, although the final touch appeared to be off a blue shirted player.
The Spireites' defence were certainly starting to look shaky under pressure as the Imps continued to push for a leveller but the ball continued to bounce in the home side's favour as the final 10 minutes approached. In a last ditch bid to salvage something from the game Paul Connor was brought on for Delroy Facey.
With eight minutes remaining former Grimsby Town man Danny Boshell replaced Dominic Green for the home side and his first touch saw him drag Gilmour to the deck 25 yards from goal earning himself a caution in the process. Gilmour took the kick himself but a scampering Lee gathered at the second attempt.
It was all City as the game wore on with the home defence forced to clear their lines on a number of occasions before Lennon was felled 30 seconds from the end of normal time. Anderson took the free-kick but Lee emerged with the ball in his gloves after a clutch of players went up to meet the ball
Another free-kick came City's way 30 seconds into four minutes of added time whilst two minutes later Kerr was booked for a foul and Ian Brecking replaced Conlon for the home side; the substitution eating up some valuable seconds for the Spireites.
The last action came just five minutes over the 90 when a ball into the area from Lennon appeared to strike a Chesterfield man on the arm but, with the City bench up on their feet, referee Webb and his assistant ignored their protests. When the ball was pumped forward, the official blew for time.
FT: CHESTERFIELD 2 IMPS 1
MATCH FACTS
LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
5 Moses SWAIBU
6 Danny HONE
38 Joe ANDERSON
11 Scott KERR
19 Shane CLARKE
34 Chris HERD
25 Cian HUGHTON
35 Brian GILMOUR
36 Delroy FACEY
subs
14 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS (for HERD 56)
16 Steven LENNON (for HUGHTON 63)
9 Paul CONNOR (for FACEY 80)
7 Stefan OAKES
13 Ian PEARCE
23 Clark KELTIE
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE
GOAL: SWAIBU (65)
BOOKINGS: HERD (31), HUGHTON (62), KERR (90+3)
CHESTERFIELD
1 Tommy LEE
20 Dan GRAY
5 Rob PAGE
15 Aaron DOWNES
12 Alan GOODALL
34 Dominic GREEN
8 Derek NIVEN
7 Mark ALLOTT
24 Adam RUNDLE
13 Barry CONLON
9 Martin GRITTON
subs
19 Scott BODEN (for GRITTON 70)
10 Danny BOSHELL (for GREEN 82)
16 Ian BRECKIN (for CONLON 90+4)
6 Kevin AUSTIN
26 Wade SMALL
33 Craig CLAY
23 Mark CROSSLEY
GOALS: GREEN (19), CONLON (50)
BOOKING: BOSHELL (83)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: David Webb
ASSISTANTS: Mark Brown & Paul Graham
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Stephen Martin
ATTENDANCE: 3,573 (395 City supporters)
