Daggers 1 Imps 0
With Bradley Wood suspended, Matt Rhead injured and Luke Waterfall out through illness, manager Danny Cowley was forced to shuffle his pack for this Vanarama National League game at Dagenham & Redbridge.Alan Power came in for his first appearance of the season whilst Adam Marriott and Jamie McCombe were also recalled to the starting line-up. Goalkeeping coach Jimmy Walker, meanwhile, was named amongst the substitutes with teenage stopper Richard Walton out through injury. Also on the bench was new loan signing Harry Anderson.
The Daggers kicked off and were the first to press with Fejiri Okenabirhie having a 25-yard shot on the turn tipped over well by Paul Farman, who duly claimed a downward header when the resultant corner was played into the mix.
City's response saw Sean Raggett head a Nathan Arnold free-kick goalwards only for home stopper Elliot Justham to claim the ball before a swift City break saw Adam Marriott square for Power who saw his long-range effort fly over the bar.
In the eighth minute good defending from McCombe saw him divert a low Joe Widdowson cross behind for a corner which Raggett headed clear before the hosts won a couple of throw-ins on their right flank.
An end-to-end opening continued with a rasping drive from Arnold being palmed away by Justham before a deflected Muldoon cross lead to a City corner on the right which came to nothing.
In the 19th minute there was half a sniff for Jonny Margetts as he latched on to a flick over the top by Marriott but Justham was quick off his line to block. Four minutes later a late challenge on Marriott saw Boucaud earn a deserved yellow card. The City man was back up after treatment before Arnold's free-kick lead to a City corner which saw Raggett inches away from connecting with Arnold's whipped in flag-kick.
Shortly afterwards the hosts took the lead when a long ball forward was flicked on and there to lift the ball over the advancing Farman was experienced midfielder Luke Guttridge.
The goal brought about a quiet spell before a Guttridge cross was headed behind by McCombe nine minutes later. The corner was headed goalwards by Craig Robson but easily claimed by Farman.
In the closing stages of the first half a Daggers corner was fired well over by Oliver Hawkins and this proved to be the last action of an opening period which ended after an additional two minutes of play.
HT: DAGGERS 1 IMPS 0
The teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half with Guttridge immediately running into Power before hitting the deck somewhat theatrically. The officials were having none of it though and once he realised nothing was given Guttridge sprang to his feet.
A couple of minutes in Margetts forced Justham into a low save to his right whilst at the other end the hosts won a couple of corners, both of which were cleared by McCombe.
It was a bright, lively start to the second half by the Imps as Marriott fired a low drive inches wide of the post and in a bid to inject some fresh pace, Terry Hawkridge came on for Alan Power in the 58th minute, shortly after the skipper was booked for a trip on Guttridge.
After the Daggers forced a couple of corners in the 64th minute Harry Anderson came on for for Adam Marriott; Jack Muldoon moving inside as a result of the switcharound.
Anderson was quickly in the action having a low effort tipped behind by Justham but Arnold's delivery was claimed by the home keeper. The hosts then made a change with Josh Staunton replacing Chris Assombalonga.
In the 73rd minute Margetts was booked for what referee Treleavan indicated as persistent infringement whilst two minutes later the City striker fired over following good link up play between Muldoon and Anderson.
As the clock ticked on Farman pulled off a great save to deny Robson before McCombe cleared for a corner and after Paul Benson replaced Oliver Hawkins for the hosts Farman got down well again to tip behind an Okenabirhie shot.
Daggers' Matt Robinson picked up an 89th minute booking following a tug on Arnold and shortly afterwards Staunton cleared under pressure from Margetts before four additional minutes were indicated.
Midway through these added stages good persistence from Anderson saw him win a corner but McCombe headed Arnold's delivery over. Before the goal-kick was taken Beevers was shown a yellow card, presumably for something said to the referee.
City kept pressing for the leveller but the final ball eluded them and they were left to reflect on a second succesive defeat when the final whistle went.
FT: DAGGERS 1 IMPS 0
LINCOLN CITY
1 Paul FARMAN
3 Sam HABERGHAM
7 Jack MULDOON
8 Alan POWER
10 Adam MARRIOTT
13 Jonny MARGETTS
18 Lee BEEVERS
25 Sean RAGGETT
27 Jamie McCOMBE
28 Nathan ARNOLD
30 Alex WOODYARD
subs
6 Callum HOWE
11 Terry HAWKRIDGE (for POWER 58)
12 Harry ANDERSON (for MARRIOTT 65)
16 Alex SIMMONS
23 Jimmy WALKER
BOOKINGS: POWER (57), MARGETTS (73), BEEVERS (90+3)
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
1 Elliot JUSTHAM
2 Curtley WILLIAMS
3 Joe WIDDOWSON
4 Scott DOE
5 Craig ROBSON
6 Matt ROBINSON
9 Christian ASSOMBALONGA
10 Luke GUTTRIDGE
11 Fejiri OKENABIRHIE
12 Oliver HAWKINS
17 Andre BOUCAUD
subs
8 Frankie RAYMOND
14 Paul BENSON (for HAWKINS 86)
15 Jordan MAGUIRE-DREW
32 Josh STAUNTON (for ASSOMBALONGA 72)
30 Mark COUSINS
GOAL: GUTTRIDGE (27)
BOOKING: BOUCAUD (23)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Dean Treleavan
ASSISTANTS: S Ogles & P Saunders
FOURTH OFFICIAL: L Grimsey
ATTENDANCE: 1,399 (247 City supporters)
