A goal just before half-time from Rotherham's Reuben Reid ensured City's 2008/09 Coca-Cola League 2 season got off to a losing start at a blustery Don Valley Stadium.
The lively Reid netted what turned out to be the only goal of the game shortly before the break when he latched on to a high ball over the top before he showed good pace and strength to get the better of Aaron Brown and once he got the ball under control, finished neatly past the advancing Rob Burch.
City certainly had their chances throughout the course of the 90 minutes but found that killer touch elusive with Kevin Gall, Gary King, Ben Wright and Stefan Oakes all denied by home 'keeper Andy Warrington and the United defence.
Gall's effort on the quarter-hour mark was perhaps the best opportunity but the striker was denied by Warrington as he went through on goal.
MATCH FACTS
LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
4 Janos KOVACS
5 Lee BEEVERS
3 Aaron BROWN
7 Stefan OAKES
11 Scott KERR
14 Lenell JOHN-LEWIS
21 Gary KING
9 Kevin GALL
15 Ben WRIGHT
subs
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON (for JOHN-LEWIS 54)
12 Dany N'GUESSAN (for KING 54)
17 David GRAHAM (for WRIGHT 76)
16 Danny HONE
13 Ayden DUFFY
ROTHERHAM UNITED
1 Andy WARRINGTON
3 Mark LYNCH
19 Jamie GREEN
15 Alex RHODES
12 Marc JOSEPH
23 Reuben REID
25 Pablo MILLS
5 Ian SHARPS
20 Ryan TAYLOR
4 Danny HARRISON
10 Mark HUDSON
subs
7 Micky CUMMINS (for RHODES 57)
8 Peter HOLMES (for REID 90+1)
2 Dale TONGE
6 Nick FENTON
30 Steven CANN
GOAL: REID (44)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear)
ASSISTANTS: S Clayton & Michael Denton
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Bobby Madley
ATTENDANCE: 4,748 (1,200 City supporters)
