Match ends, Chester FC 4, Lincoln City 0.
ChesterChester4Lincoln CityLincoln City0
Chester beat nine-man Lincoln to move to within six points of the play-offs.
John Rooney stabbed in Matty Hughes' cross before Sean McConville slotted the ball under Paul Farman to make it 2-0 inside the first 12 minutes.
Lincoln's Todd Jordan was then sent off for a professional foul before Ryan Higgins added a third, when his left-foot shot flew into the top corner.
Alan Power was shown red for a poor challenge on Craig Mahon, before Brad Abbott's long-range effort sealed it.
Chester's four-goal victory margin, capped by stunning first strikes for the club from Higgins and Abbott, was their biggest since returning to the Conference in 2013.
Chester manager Steve Burr told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"We should have had more. That's the kind of football that gets me excited. We've injected some pace into the side and the confidence has come back.
"The lads who looked tired and burnt out at Christmas now look like different players again.
"I hope Lincoln don't use the fact that they were down to 10 men, then nine, as our first-half display was as good as we've had here.
"I'm just disappointed that they had two sent off as they could have 12 men on the park. Our performance was excellent."
Line-ups
Chester
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Worsnop
- 23Higgins
- 4Kay
- 22HeneghanBooked at 84mins
- 3RobertsSubstituted forCharnockat 73'minutes
- 10Rooney
- 16McConvilleSubstituted forThomsonat 69'minutes
- 18Abbott
- 7MahonSubstituted forRichardsat 65'minutes
- 17McBurnie
- 27Hughes
Substitutes
- 2Thomson
- 6Charnock
- 13Viscosi
- 15Richards
- 19Hobson
Lincoln City
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Farman
- 17Caprice
- 4JordanBooked at 15mins
- 23Brown
- 3Newton
- 22MarshallSubstituted forSam-Yorkeat 80'minutes
- 8PowerBooked at 61mins
- 12Mendy
- 9BurrowBooked at 18mins
- 11Tomlinson
- 16RobinsonSubstituted forEveringtonat 25'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Sam-Yorke
- 18Everington
- 25Waite
- 27Barr-Rostron
- 30Grant
- Referee:
- Simon Bennett
- Attendance:
- 1,569
Match Stats
Home TeamChesterAway TeamLincoln City
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away1
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chester FC 4, Lincoln City 0.
Post update
Foul by Oliver McBurnie (Chester FC).
Post update
Nathaniel Brown (Lincoln City) wins a free kick.
Post update
Attempt saved. John Rooney (Chester FC) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Post update
Corner, Chester FC.
Booking
Ben Heneghan (Chester FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Ben Heneghan (Chester FC).
Post update
Ben Tomlinson (Lincoln City) wins a free kick.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Heneghan (Chester FC) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Lincoln City. Delano Sam-Yorke replaces Marcus Marshall.
Post update
Corner, Chester FC.
Post update
Offside, Chester FC. Kane Richards tries a through ball, but Kane Richards is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. John Rooney (Chester FC) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Post update
Offside, Lincoln City. Kegan Everington tries a through ball, but Kegan Everington is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. George Thomson (Chester FC) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Chester FC. Kieran Charnock replaces Gareth Roberts.
Post update
Corner, Chester FC.
Substitution
Substitution, Chester FC. George Thomson replaces Sean McConville.
Post update
Foul by Kegan Everington (Lincoln City).
