Janos Kovacs second-half goal sealed victory for Lincoln against Barnet.
Barnet dominated the first half with Lincoln keeper Rob Burch keeping them in the game, saving well from both Albert Adomah and Yannick Bolasie.
But City broke the deadlock just before the hour when Kovacs followed up his own header to fire home after the ball had rebounded off the post.
Lincoln almost doubled their lead when Clarke was sent clear by Paul Connor but his shot was inches wide.
Lincoln boss Peter Jackson told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:
"I thought all of the back four were outstanding.
"I'm just delighted we managed to get the victory. We had the disappointments of last year but a lot of people turned up today and we've got the win.
"First half I thought they were the better side but second half we played better.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 8 August 2009
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Lincoln City
1-0
Barnet
FT
(HT 0-0)
Kovacs 59
Lincoln City
01 Burch
03 Brown
04 Kovacs yellow card
05 Swaibu yellow card
16 Heath (Colman-Carr 89)
07 Oakes yellow card (Clarke 77)
08 Butcher yellow card
25 Hughton
09 Connor
10 Fagan (Howe 66)
15 Clarke
Substitutes
20 Musselwhite,
06 Hone,
30 Colman-Carr,
17 Clucas,
19 Clarke,
18 Howe,
26 Hutchinson
Barnet
01 Cole
03 Gillet
05 Yakubu
12 O'Neill
20 Leach
04 Hughes yellow card
07 Adomah
10 Hyde
11 Bolasie (Hyde 83)
14 Jarrett
28 Furlong (Charles 90+2)
Substitutes
18 Carpenter,
02 Devera,
21 Kamdjo,
22 Deen,
08 Deverdics,
16 Hyde,
19 Charles
Ref: KettleAtt: 3,753
LINCOLN CITY
BARNET
Possession
Lincoln City51%
Barnet49%
Attempts on target
Lincoln City5
Barnet3
Attempts off target
Lincoln City6
Barnet3
Corners
Lincoln City4
Barnet7
Fouls
Lincoln City12
Barnet19
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:32 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+5:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jake Hyde on Janos Kovacs. Direct free kick taken by Robert Burch.
90:00+3:22 Direct free kick taken by Albert Jarrett.
90:00+3:22 Booking Richard Butcher is cautioned.
90:00+3:13 Foul by Richard Butcher on Elliot Charles, free kick awarded.
90:00+1:34 Substitution Paul Furlong leaves the field to be replaced by Elliot Charles.
90:00+0:21 Ismail Yakubu concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Butcher. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Brown.
89:40 Cian Hughton is ruled offside. Jake Cole takes the direct free kick.
88:53 Substitution Joe Heath goes off and Luca Colman-Carr comes on.
85:47 The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Jake Cole.
84:05 Paul Connor produces a left-footed shot from close range that goes over the bar.
83:40 Daniel Leach gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Connor. Direct free kick taken by Robert Burch.
82:59 Substitution (Barnet) makes a substitution, with Jake Hyde coming on for Yannick Bolasie.
82:36 Rene Howe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan O'Neill. Direct free kick taken by Jake Cole.
82:05 Aaron Brown has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
79:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Butcher by Micah Hyde. Janos Kovacs takes the direct free kick.
78:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Clarke by Kenny Gillet. Free kick taken by Aaron Brown.
76:16 Ryan O'Neill restarts play with the free kick.
76:16 Substitution Stefan Oakes leaves the field to be replaced by Shane Clarke.
76:16 Booking Janos Kovacs goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
75:56 Janos Kovacs challenges Kenny Gillet unfairly and gives away a free kick.
75:28 Richard Butcher challenges Micah Hyde unfairly and gives away a free kick. Micah Hyde takes the free kick.
73:38 Robert Burch fouled by Yannick Bolasie, the ref awards a free kick. Robert Burch takes the free kick.
72:40 Jamie Clarke has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
72:04 Corner taken right-footed by Yannick Bolasie from the left by-line, Ismail Yakubu has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
67:31 Unfair challenge on Mark Hughes by Richard Butcher results in a free kick. Jake Cole takes the free kick.
65:23 Substitution Rene Howe is brought on as a substitute for Chris Fagan.
63:59 Cian Hughton sends in a cross, save by Jake Cole.
61:58 Stefan Oakes shoots direct from the free kick, save by Jake Cole.
61:58 Booking Mark Hughes receives a caution.
61:47 Chris Fagan fouled by Mark Hughes, the ref awards a free kick.
60:52 The assistant referee flags for offside against Paul Furlong. Direct free kick taken by Robert Burch.
59:47 Paul Furlong concedes a free kick for a foul on Janos Kovacs. Robert Burch takes the direct free kick.
58:40 The assist for the goal came from Stefan Oakes.
58:40 GOAL - Janos Kovacs:Lincoln City 1 - 0 Barnet A goal is scored by Janos Kovacs from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 1-0 Barnet.
Correction - 57:46 Paul Furlong challenges Moses Swaibu unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is delivered by Stefan Oakes,
57:46 Foul by Paul Furlong on Moses Swaibu, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Stefan Oakes.
55:46 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Butcher by Mark Hughes. Shot on goal comes in from Stefan Oakes from the free kick, save by Jake Cole.
54:57 Unfair challenge on Richard Butcher by Mark Hughes results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Stefan Oakes.
54:40 Albert Jarrett decides to take a short corner.
54:17 Yannick Bolasie takes a shot. Robert Burch gets a block in.
53:21 The referee blows for offside against Paul Connor. Jake Cole takes the free kick.
51:21 Shot by Albert Jarrett from 25 yards. Blocked by Moses Swaibu.
49:37 Ismail Yakubu fouled by Janos Kovacs, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jake Cole.
48:31 Corner from right by-line taken by Aaron Brown.
48:24 The ball is crossed by Cian Hughton, clearance made by Daniel Leach.
46:44 Paul Connor concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Hughes. Jake Cole takes the free kick.
45:19 The referee blows for offside against Chris Fagan. Jake Cole takes the free kick.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+3:06 The match has reached half-time.
44:12 Mark Hughes challenges Chris Fagan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stefan Oakes has an effort direct from the free kick.
40:18 The free kick is swung in left-footed by Albert Jarrett, Robert Burch makes a comfortable save.
40:18 Booking Caution for Moses Swaibu.
39:55 Moses Swaibu gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Yannick Bolasie.
39:11 Kenny Gillet concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Connor. Cian Hughton takes the direct free kick.
36:57 Corner taken by Albert Jarrett from the left by-line, Richard Butcher manages to make a clearance.
35:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by Moses Swaibu on Yannick Bolasie. Free kick taken by Micah Hyde.
35:08 The referee penalises Aaron Brown for handball. Free kick taken by Jake Cole.
33:55 Foul by Richard Butcher on Albert Adomah, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ryan O'Neill.
33:03 Jamie Clarke has a volleyed shot. Comfortable save by Jake Cole.
32:10 Long range effort by Mark Hughes goes wide right of the target.
29:54 Albert Jarrett sends in a cross, save made by Robert Burch.
29:21 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Albert Jarrett from the left by-line, save by Robert Burch.
28:57 Yannick Bolasie takes a shot. Save by Robert Burch.
27:33 Albert Adomah challenges Jamie Clarke unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Burch takes the free kick.
26:27 Paul Connor fouled by Daniel Leach, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Cian Hughton.
23:09 Albert Jarrett takes the direct free kick.
23:09 Booking Stefan Oakes receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
22:50 Stefan Oakes gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Yannick Bolasie.
20:13 Corner taken left-footed by Albert Jarrett from the left by-line, comfortable save by Robert Burch.
18:51 Aaron Brown decides to take a short corner.
17:02 Albert Jarrett produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.
15:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Leach by Paul Connor. Direct free kick taken by Jake Cole.
14:22 Chris Fagan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jake Cole takes the indirect free kick.
12:04 Corner taken left-footed by Albert Jarrett, Janos Kovacs fouled by Paul Furlong, the ref awards a free kick. Robert Burch restarts play with the free kick.
11:02 Effort from long range by Stefan Oakes goes wide right of the target.
10:45 Daniel Leach challenges Paul Connor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Richard Butcher takes the direct free kick.
9:59 Yannick Bolasie challenges Joe Heath unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Burch takes the direct free kick.
7:23 Corner from the left by-line taken by Albert Jarrett, Janos Kovacs manages to make a clearance.
7:05 The official flags Paul Connor offside. Jake Cole takes the indirect free kick.
6:30 Chris Fagan has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.
5:01 Daniel Leach concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Connor. Stefan Oakes restarts play with the free kick.
4:01 Aaron Brown takes the outswinging corner, Jamie Clarke has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
3:09 Corner taken left-footed by Aaron Brown from the right by-line, clearance made by Paul Furlong.
1:53 The referee penalises Yannick Bolasie for handball. Robert Burch takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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