A late header from Rotherham skipper Ryan Cresswell ensured the Imps began the 2010/11 npower League 2 campaign with a defeat.

Cresswell met a Nicky Law cross with three minutes on the clock to secure the points for his side, although City had dominated proceedings after the break with Mustapha Carayol levelling following an early Adam Le Fondre goal.

The game was just nine minutes old when Le Fondre blasted home from close range after Adam Watts had blocked a Kevin Ellison shot on the line but City rallied and deservedly levelled when Carayol drilled past Andy Warrington after he was released by Moses Swaibu.

Five minutes after he scored, Carayol surged forward but, after he skipped past a number of challenges having started his run from within his own half, his last touch saw him slice over from a narrowing angle. Had the ball found the back of the net rather than the running track, it was have been one of the best individual goals seen by a City player in some time.

Alas, a goal-kick was all that was forthcoming and City were punished late on when, after they failed to clear their lines from a United attack, Law chipped in for Cresswell to head home.

Match report by John Vickers at Don Valley Stadium:

Manager Chris Sutton began this 2010/11 npower League 2 opener against Rotherham United at Don Valley Stadium with the team that started the friendly against Norwich City.

This meant Imps' League debuts for goalkeeper Joe Anyon, midfielder Josh O'Keefe and wingers Mustapha Carayol & Albert Jarrett whilst former Rotherham striker Drewe Broughton lined up against his former side having made the move to City permanent during the summer.

Conditions were slightly overcast as referee Rob Shoebridge led the teams on the long walk to the pitch and once the pre-match formalities were completed, things got underway with the Imps, led by skipper Scott Kerr, kicking off.

United's Andy Warrington was the first 'keeper to get a touch of the ball, claiming a forward ball from Paul Green which went over the head of Drewe Broughton, and in the fourth minute a cross from Mustapha Carayol saw City win the first corner of the new campaign. Albert Jarrett's delivery, however, was headed over by Josh O'Keefe.

A couple of minutes later a strong aerial challenge by Adam Watts on Adam Le Fondre in the centre circle saw the home player require treatment before the City defender was spoken to by referee Shoebridge.

When play resumed, and with Le Fondre back on the pitch, the Millers attacked for the first time when a misplaced pass from O'Keefe gave the hosts the chance to attack. Le Fondre was the man to gain possession and after he played it wide to Nicky Law, the ball was swung in for ex-Imp Kevin Ellison to get in a goalbound effort. Although Watts did well to block on the line, on hand to ram the ball into the roof of the net from six yards was Le Fondre.

A couple of minutes after this set-back, Jarrett was cautioned for a mistimed challenge on former Grimsby left-back Tom Newey and shortly afterwards the par were at the centre of attention again when Jarrett appeared to be tripped by Newey but referee Shoebridge deemed the challenge to be fair and waved play-on.

City's heads hadn't dropped having gone a goal down and looked to get themselves back into the match with Jarrett and Carayol starting to see more of the ball as the half approached its midway point. The home defence stood firm though with skipper Ryan Cresswell heading clear a number of times.

In the 24th minute Carayol forced another corner following a clever flick from Broughton but once again the ball into the area was dealt with whilst a couple of minutes later a high, late challenge on Carayol by Danny Harrison earned the United man a deserved yellow card.

Warrington then punched a looping Green centre off the head of Broughton as the Imps pushed forward again whilst at the other end Tom Elliott headed a Law cross well wide with Anyon happy to watch the ball sail past his upright.

In the 37th minute a deflected Ellison cros forced the Imps to defend their first corner of the afternoon, but Kerr was well positioned at the near post to head clear. Five minutes later Broughton saw yellow for persistent infringement having had a running battle with Exodus Geohaghon throughout the opening half.

Elliott headed another Law cross behind as United looked to go into the break two goals to the good and shortly before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of two minutes were to be added on, Anderson got a great block in to deny Ellison.

HT: ROTHERHAM 1 IMPS 0

Both sides emerged unchanged for the start of the second period and within 20 seconds of the restart, Anderson was forced to clear an Ellison centre out for a corner. Law's delivery found Geohaghon at the far post but he saw his downward header blocked by Green.

Ellison then sent a diving header well wide as United started the second half brightly but having weathered the early storm, City pressed with Carayol winning a corner off Newey. Jarrett's delivery, however, was claimed at the second attempt by Warrington as a strong breeze started to swirl around the stadium.

At the other end, Watts appeared to take a knock as he shepherded a ball back to Anyon under pressure from Elliott and as Swaibu played a great ball forward, Mustapha Carayol managed to get the wrong side of his marker. After doing this, the winger cut inside and rifled a lovely right-footed effort past Warrington with the ball nestling in the foot of the net.

Before play restarted, Watts required treatment from head therapist Michael Wait, and with the travelling Imps' fans still on their feet, the popular centre-back was given great reception as he resumed his duties.

Five minutes after he levelled matters, Carayol surged forward but, after he skipped past a number of challenges having started his run from within his own half, his last touch saw him slice over from a narrowing angle. Had the ball found the back of the net rather than the running track, it was have been one of the best individual goals seen by a City player in some time. Alas, a goal-kick was all that was forthcoming.

With Watts still struggling, Ian Pearce was introduced as his replacement shortly after the hour mark. His first touch saw him head a long Geohaghon throw-in away to safety.

A break in play came in the 64th minute when United striker Elliott was left clutching the base of his back having stretched to send a downward header a foot wide and when play restarted, O'Keefe won a free-kick in an attacking position as the Imps pressed again. Carayol's effort from the dead-ball hit the wall though.

At the other end Le Fondre headed a Holden centre over the bar whilst City's next attack saw Broughton head a Jarrett cross back for O'Keefe only for Jason Taylor to block for what turned out to be an unproductive corner.

A change for Rotherham saw Mark Bradley come on for Danny Harrison in the 76th minute whilst a second City switch a couple of minutes later saw Scott Kerr make way for Clark Keltie in the middle of the park.

A quiet period ensued before the game entered its final five minutes; the next attack seeing Carayol switch play to Jarrett who fizzed a left-footed effort wide. Play immediately switched to the other end and after City failed to clear their lines following a Rotherham attack, the ball was chipped in from the right by Law and there to plant a header into the net from close range was skipper Ryan Cresswell.

Before play restarted Cian Hughton was replaced by Gavin McCallum and it wasn't long before the Fourth Official indicated that a minimum of three minutes were to be added. These extra stages passed without further incident so manager Chris Sutton will be left to reflect on an opening day defeat.

FT: ROTHERHAM 2 IMPS 1

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Joe ANYON
2 Paul GREEN
4 Adam WATTS
5 Moses SWAIBU
3 Joe ANDERSON
25 Cian HUGHTON
11 Scott KERR
14 Josh O'KEEFE
7 Mustapha CARAYOL
17 Albert JARRETT
10 Drewe BROUGHTON

subs
13 Ian PEARCE (for WATTS 61)
8 Clark KELTIE (for KERR 78)
9 Gavin McCALLUM (for HUGHTON 88)
18 Delroy FACEY
19 Jamie CLAPHAM
22 Andy HUTCHINSON
20 Paul MUSSELWHITE

GOAL: CARAYOL (52)

BOOKINGS: JARRETT (11), BROUGHTON (42)

ROTHERHAM UNITED
1 Andy WARRINGTON
23 Dean HOLDEN
5 Ryan CRESSWELL
22 Exodus GEOHAGHON
3 Tom NEWEY
7 Nicky LAW
8 Jason TAYLOR
4 Danny HARRISON
15 Kevin ELLISON
19 Tom ELLIOTT
10 Adam LE FONDRE

subs
18 Mark BRADLEY (for HARRISON 76)
11 Stephen BROGAN
12 Jamie GREEN
16 Paul WARNE
21 Marcus MARSHALL
29 Grant DARLEY
30 Jamie ANNERSON

GOALS: LE FONDRE (9), CRESSWELL (87)

BOOKING: HARRISON (26)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Rob Shoebridge
ASSISTANTS: Tony Horton & Joe Hull
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Chris Akers

ATTENDANCE: 3,772 (533 City supporters)