Match ends, Lincoln City 2, Chester FC 1.
Lincoln CityLincoln City2ChesterChester1
Chester lost away from home for the second time in five days as defeat by Lincoln City drew them further into the National League relegation scrap.
Following manager Steve Burr's sacking after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Torquay, the Cestrians trailed again through Robbie McDaid's 38th-minute header.
Chester substitute James Alabi then came off the bench to head in a superb hanging cross from John Rooney.
But Matt Rhead nodded on Lee Beevers' cross for Imps sub George Maris to net.
Chester had to play the final quarter of an hour with 10 men after losing top scorer Ross Hannah, just two minutes after Alabi's 73rd-minute equaliser.
The Imps' 81st-minute winner, in their first game since manager Chris Moyses announced his end-of-season departure, earned their first victory in six games.
It leaves Chester in 17th, still four points clear of trouble, but having played one match more than most of the teams around them.
They have now picked up just three points from seven games since beating Aldershot 8-2 last month - the biggest win Chester fans had seen since 1972.
Alabi had not scored in six starts since his four goals that night, but at least responded to being dropped by ending his personal drought.
Lincoln City coach David Preece told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:
"It was familiar territory, wasn't it? Going 1-0 up and being pegged back but this time it was different. We showed a bit more resilience. We were always in control in the first half.
"Sometimes this season we've been accused of not having a Plan B, but what everyone's seen as Plan A all season turned out to be Plan B.
"We just want to finish the season as strong as possible. It's been a big week for the club and the players and sometimes when things like that happen you don't know how players are going to react, but this shows how Chris Moyses has always had the backing of the boys and he will do until he steps down."
Chester caretaker manager Jon McCarthy told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"I'm certain we would have taken at least a point, so to be hit by the blow of losing Ross Hannah is really frustrating. We definitely would have got something.
"We'd just gone 1-1, we'd turned the game completely around and, with the psychology of that, everybody knows we were waiting for that.
"You would have seen Lincoln go under a little bit and our players grow an extra six inches and that we feel would have been chance to go on and win."
Line-ups
Lincoln City
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Farman
- 2Wood
- 6Bush
- 12Hawkridge
- 18Beevers
- 26Howe
- 17HodgeSubstituted forRheadat 61'minutes
- 7MuldoonBooked at 90mins
- 19McDaidSubstituted forSimmonsat 77'minutes
- 28CatonSubstituted forMarisat 46'minutes
- 21Sparrow
Substitutes
- 9Rhead
- 13Grant
- 16Simmons
- 24Wildin
- 29Maris
Chester
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Thompson
- 12HughesSubstituted forHigginsat 42'minutes
- 17Astles
- 10Rooney
- 3Hunt
- 22HeneghanSubstituted forAlabiat 46'minutes
- 7MahonSubstituted forChapellat 67'minutes
- 5George
- 8Shaw
- 26Lloyd
- 9Hannah
Substitutes
- 1Worsnop
- 2Higgins
- 11Chapell
- 19Hobson
- 23Alabi
- Referee:
- Alan Young
Match Stats
Home TeamLincoln CityAway TeamChester
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Lincoln City 2, Chester FC 1.
Booking
Jack Muldoon (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Jack Muldoon (Lincoln City).
Post update
Luke George (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Post update
Offside, Chester FC. James Alabi tries a through ball, but James Alabi is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Terry Hawkridge (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Simmons (Lincoln City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Simmons (Lincoln City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Foul by Tom Shaw (Chester FC).
Post update
Jack Muldoon (Lincoln City) wins a free kick.
Post update
Offside, Chester FC. James Alabi tries a through ball, but James Alabi is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Chester FC.
Goal!
Goal! Lincoln City 2, Chester FC 1. George Maris (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Chapell (Chester FC).
Post update
Bradley Wood (Lincoln City) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Lincoln City. Alex Simmons replaces Robbie McDaid.
Post update
Offside, Lincoln City. Matt Rhead tries a through ball, but Matt Rhead is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Lincoln City 1, Chester FC 1. James Alabi (Chester FC) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by John Rooney with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Chester FC.
