Lincoln City 1-1 Chester

Lee Frecklington's 48th-minute header earned Lincoln a third straight draw with suspension and injury-hit Chester.

Patched-up Chester took the lead on 31 minutes when Anthony Barry hit his first goal in league football, a 30-yard strike past home keeper Rob Burch.

Geoff Horsfield had almost given the Red Imps a first-half lead but his strike was cleared off the line.

And the former Fulham striker almost scored a late winner but City keeper John Danby managed to block his shot.

Chester boss Mark Wright was without both his full-backs to face a Lincoln side managed by former Chester favourite Peter Jackson.

Suspended duo James Vaughan and Laurence Wilson were also joined on the sidelines by injured Sean Kelly, forcing Wright to reshuffle his back.

Tony Dinning, whose projected move to Inverness Caledonian Thistle collapsed when their management team were sacked, came in from the cold in as part of three-man back line.

And the adaptable Kevin Ellison was switched from up front to a deep-lying midfield role in what was essentially a 3-5-2 formation.

That also allowed a recall for youngster Glen Rule in midfield, with Richie Partridge being switched back up front.

Lincoln City: Burch, Beevers, Kovacs, Sinclair, Brown, Mullarkey (John-Lewis 67), Frecklington, Kerr, N'Guessan, Horsfield (Patulea 85), Elding.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Swaibu, Duffy.

Booked: Frecklington.

Goals: Frecklington 48.

Chester: Danby, Roberts, Dinning, Linwood, Rule, Mozika (Harris 71), Hughes, Barry, Ellison, Lowe (Rutherford 90), Partridge (Jones 79).
Subs Not Used: Rawlinson, Owen.

Booked: Mozika, Dinning, Rule, Ellison.

Goals: Barry 31.

Att: 3,760

Ref: Nigel Miller (Durham).