An incident-packed Coca-Cola League 2 encounter at Meadow Lane on Tuesday evening saw 10-man City slip to a 3-1 defeat against title-chasing Notts County.

The action started in the opening minute when Lee Hughes flicked home a Ben Davies free-kick but with less than four minutes on the clock, Steven Lennon made some most of some hesitation in the County defence to level matters.

In the 11th minute, Craig Westcarr went down under a challenge from Rob Burch when clean through on goal but referee Peter Quinn deemed that no foul was committed but five minutes later the first year official decided that a challenge from Moses Swaibu on Westcarr was worthy of punishment and brandished a red card to the City centre-back, who was laying prone on the pitch following the tackle before being stretchered off with suspected broken ribs.

City held firm until the 65th minute when Graeme Lee powered home a header from a Westcarr cross and the scoring was completed in the closing stages when ex-Imp Delroy Facey rifled home fom the edge of the area.

Whilst the action-packed encounter saw the Magpies fly to the top of the table, City's defeat sees them go into the last four games of the season eight point clear of county rivals Grimsby Town.

Match report by John Vickers at Meadow Lane:

Whilst Cian Hughton was serving the first of a two-match ban, skipper Scott Kerr returned from a similar suspension for this Tuesday evening clash against Coca-Cola League 2 title hopefuls Notts County at Meadow Lane. Hughton's replacement on the right hand side of midfield went to Steven Lennon whilst Kerr came in for Shane Clarke in the middle of the park.

City, still not mathematically safe at the wrong end of the table, were up against a second-placed County side who went into the game on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run and six successive clean sheets which had propelled them to within a couple of points of long-term leaders Rochdale going into the closing stages of the season.

A chilly April night greeted the two teams as they were led out on to a tired-looking - and decidedly damp following a pre-match sprinkling - Meadow Lane playing surface by referee Peter Quinn and it was the Imps who got things underway.

Within 30 seconds of the start a crunching challenge from Paul Green on Ben Davies gave the home side an early free-kick. Davies whipped the ball in himself at pace and with the Imps' defence caught napping, in nipped Lee Hughes to flick a header past a stranded Rob Burch.

City's response was immediate as within three minutes they drew level. The equaliser came when a forward ball over the top from Green saw the home defence wait for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to come out and claim. But, with Schmeichel staying put inside his six-yard box, in nipped Steven Lennon and after the Scot got the ball he neatly beat the Dane at his near post.

It was fast and furious stuff with a succession of free-kicks adding to the atmosphere; one such set-piece seeing Davies curl a right-footed effort just wide of Burch's left-hand upright.

City had a let off in the 11th minute when Craig Westcarr beat Nathan Baker to a forward ball and after he took a touch, he went down under Burch's challenge. But, much to the annoyance of the home crowd, referee Quinn took a look at his assistant but was happy to let play continue. The Imps immediately went on the attack but a poor first touch from Lennon gave Schmeichel the chance to smother the ball.

Mr Quinn was at the centre of things in the 16th minute when a poor first touch from Swaibu saw him challenge Westcarr for the loose ball. Both players ended up on the deck with Swaibu clearly looking the worst but, as home players surrounded the rookie official, putting him under unneccessary pressure, the City centre-back was unbelievably shown a red card.

With Westcarr back to his feet, a stretcher was called for the stricken Swaibu and following three minutes of treatment he was carried from the field. When the free-kick was taken, Chris Herd got in a great saving header and when the Australian hit the floor, Graeme Lee appeared to leave a foot in on the City midfielder, with an almighty scramble ensuing.

Then, when the corner came in, assistant referee Stephen Martin raised his flag and after consultation with his referee, County scorer Hughes was shown a yellow card. Ten-man City then attacked with Davide Somma having a curling effort tipped behind at full stretch by Schmeichel.

City then had Burch to thank as he produced two superb saves to deny Hughes and when play switched to the other end Herd and Sephen Hunt clashed and with the latter left on the floor following what Mr Quinn deemed to be a fair challenge, County centre-back Lee was cautioned for dissent towards the referee.

With Swaibu already off the field, Baker, now partnered in the centre of defence by Green with Lennon dropping to right-back, appeared to be holding his hamstring as the half-hour mark approached, but the Aston Villa loanee opted to continue in a bid to shake off the knock.

The next effort at goal came in the 37th minute when Hughes tested Burch from the edge of the box after the striker outpaced Baker whilst the City stopper did well to claim a low Hunt cross from the left after one of many quickly-taken throw-ins gave the hosts the chance to whip the ball in.

Just before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of five minutes were to be added on Delroy Facey came close to connecting with a Hughes centre and 90 seconds into added time a tug on Lee by Saunders earned the City midfielder a yellow card.

County midfielder Ricky Ravenhill was lucky not to join Saunders in the book when a challenge from behind on Herd left the City man requiring treatment from physio Michael Wait. After six minutes of added time referee Quinn brought an incident-packed opening period to a close.

HT: NOTTS COUNTY 1 IMPS 1

Neither side made any changes during the break so it was as you were as the 11-man County got the game underway again against the 10-man Imps.

Less than two minutes into the second period Herd was left holding his knee following a hard challenge by Hunt and it was a good 60 seconds later before treatment could be administered; referee Quinn's decision to bring play to a halt, however, came as Somma threatened to break through the middle.

Herd looked to be in some discomfort as he was helped to the touchline by Michael Wait and although he was able to hobble back into the fray, he soon went to ground again and was replaced by Shane Clarke.

When play resumed, Burch tipped a Hughes header behind for a corner but the flag-kick was brought to a halt for a push on Clarke. A minute later, Lennon dragged Westcarr to the ground earning himself a caution for his troubles before Somma joined him in the book for a foul on Davies.

Following the full-blooded opening half, the first quarter hour following the interval was a pretty tame affair with a Hughes header from a Davies cross, which flew six feet wide of the post being the next effort at goal.

A high challenge by Neal Bishop then left Somma grounded with the South African taking his time before getting back to his feet and in the 64th minute Burch saved bravely at the feet of Hughes after a half-hit back pass from Joe Anderson put his 'keeper under pressure.

Although City dealt with the resultant corner when it was played in by Westcarr, the ball found its way back to the former City loanee and after he swung in a great centre back into the area, in flew Graeme Lee to plant a firm diving header past Burch and into the roof of the net.

With the home fans in full voice the Magpies went in search of a third but City's defence stood firm and a succession of attacking throw-in saw the Imps keep the ball in the right area of the field.

City's next effort at goal saw Somma cut in from the right before firing over and before Schmeichel took the resultant goal-kick, Matt Saunders was replaced by Michael Gordon, who came onto his natural wide right role with fellow substitute Clarke moving to the left.

Burch kept the Imps in the game again shortly after this 76th minute change when he saved low from Ravenhill before Lennon blocked his follow-up effort whilst Hughes clipped the outside of the post from the edge of the box after he pushed Green off the ball, fairly in the eyes of the referee.

A long-range Davies effort was then tipped over by Burch whist at the other end a Lennon cross was flicked off Somma's head by Edwards. County's response saw Facey win a corner off Baker and although the Imps dealt with this set-piece, they soon found themselves 3-1 down.

With the Imps pushing men forward in search of a late leveller, the home side edged themselves two goals in front when an 87th City attack was broken down and when Westcarr threaded the ball through to Facey he bore down on Burch before blasting a right-footed effort into the roof of the net.

With the game approaching its final minute Luke Rogers replaced Lee Hughes up front for the home side and midway through four added minutes, Scott Kerr was cautioned for persistent infringement before Johnnie Jackson and Jamie Clapham came on for Ben Davies and Craig Westcarr.

There was still time for Baker to clear an effort off the line and Rodgers to fly in - and fail connect with - Anderson before referee Quinn brought an action-packed League 2 encountre to a close.

FT: NOTTS COUNTY 3 IMPS 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
5 Moses SWAIBU
33 Nathan BAKER
38 Joe ANDERSON
11 Scott KERR
23 Clark KELTIE
339 Matthew SAUNDERS
16 Steven LENNON
34 Chris HERD
18 Davide SOMMA

subs
19 Shane CLARKE (for HERD 51)
31 Michael GORDON (for SAUNDERS 76)
6 Danny HONE
9 Paul CONNOR
14 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
35 Brian GILMOUR
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE

GOAL: LENNON (4)

BOOKINGS: SAUNDERS (45+2), LENNON (55), SOMMA (57), KERR (90+3)

SENDING OFF: SWAIBU (16)

NOTTS COUNTY
23 Kasper SCHMEICHEL
4 Mike EDWARDS
5 Graeme LEE
6 John THOMPSON
8 Ricky RAVENHILL
9 Lee HUGHES
10 Neal BISHOP
11 Ben DAVIES
18 Stephen HUNT
20 Craig WESTCARR
22 Delroy FACEY

subs
19 Luke RODGERS (for HUGHES 89)
17 Jamie CLAPHAM (for WESTCARR 90+3)
21 Johnnie JACKSON (for DAVIES 90+3)
7 Matt HAMSHAW
15 Karl HAWLEY
30 Ade AKINBIYI
1 Russell HOULT

GOALS: HUGHES (1), LEE (65), FACEY (87)

BOOKINGS: HUGHES (23), LEE (27)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Peter Quinn
ASSISTANTS: Amy Fearn & Stephen Martin
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Nigel Murphy

ATTENDANCE: 7,501 (682 City supporters)