Managerless Lincoln comprehensively defeated bottom-of-the-table Darlington to end a run of three defeats.
City, who sacked Peter Jackson in midweek, were on top from the start and went in front after only two minutes when Rene Howe volleyed from six yards.
Howe fired home his second before the half-hour mark when he was left unmarked in front of goal.
Darlington's David Dowson had an effort ruled out for offside before Chris Fagan slotted in Lincoln's third.
Lincoln caretaker manager Simon Clark told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:
"I think we've been excellent for 95 minutes. When you play with two wingers you've got threats down both sides and we asked them to get at people and get crosses in the box.
"When they do that that we want both strikers and the midfielders coming in and they've been great today.
"We drew a line under the previous gaffer on Thursday morning, it was all about the players today."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 5 September 2009
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Lincoln City
3-0
Darlington
FT
(HT 2-0)
Howe 3
Howe 30
Fagan 55
Lincoln City
01 Burch
03 Brown
04 Kovacs
05 Swaibu
08 Butcher
11 Kerr (Clarke 86)
25 Hughton
09 Connor (Fagan 19)
14 John-Lewis
15 Clarke (Hutchinson 82 yellow card)
18 Howe
Substitutes
20 Musselwhite,
29 Miller,
10 Fagan,
17 Clucas,
19 Clarke,
24 Adams,
26 Hutchinson
Darlington
01 Knight
03 Bower
04 Plummer
05 Foster
06 Miller
14 Smith
19 Chandler
22 Porritt (Gray 43)
23 Cook (Smith 37)
20 Dowson (Main 64)
24 Gall
Substitutes
13 Liversedge,
21 Bains,
07 Smith,
11 Bennett,
12 Gray,
18 Convery,
15 Main
Ref: WhitestoneAtt: 3,005
LINCOLN CITY
DARLINGTON
Possession
Lincoln City56%
Darlington44%
Attempts on target
Lincoln City9
Darlington2
Attempts off target
Lincoln City3
Darlington2
Corners
Lincoln City4
Darlington5
Fouls
Lincoln City7
Darlington7
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+2:06 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
89:20 Booking Andrew Hutchinson is cautioned.
89:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Hutchinson on Mark Bower. David Knight restarts play with the free kick.
88:21 Rene Howe produces a curled right-footed shot from 18 yards. Save made by David Knight.
86:58 The assistant referee flags for offside against Curtis Main. Robert Burch restarts play with the free kick.
85:34 Substitution Shane Clarke replaces Scott Kerr.
84:12 Shot by Gary Smith from outside the box goes over the target.
81:01 Substitution Jamie Clarke leaves the field to be replaced by Andrew Hutchinson.
80:38 Aaron Brown produces a cross, save by David Knight.
78:31 Scott Kerr gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Chandler. David Knight takes the direct free kick.
76:57 Jamie Clarke takes a shot. Comfortable save by David Knight.
69:53 Chris Fagan challenges Jamie Chandler unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Chandler.
69:04 Long range shot by Lenell John-Lewis goes wide right of the goal.
68:07 The referee penalises Ian Miller for handball. Robert Burch takes the free kick.
67:11 Chris Fagan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matt Plummer. Gary Smith crosses the ball in from the free kick.
66:27 Lenell John-Lewis fouled by Matt Plummer, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Kerr restarts play with the free kick.
65:08 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Scott Kerr, save made by David Knight.
63:30 Substitution David Dowson leaves the field to be replaced by Curtis Main.
62:10 Moses Swaibu gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Dowson. Free kick taken by Jeff Smith.
60:48 The official flags Rene Howe offside. Matt Plummer takes the free kick.
59:40 Shot by Matt Plummer. Robert Burch makes a comfortable save.
59:14 Foul by Moses Swaibu on Gary Smith, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jeff Smith.
58:44 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Fagan. Direct free kick taken by David Knight.
55:46 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Smith, Janos Kovacs makes a clearance.
54:38 The assist for the goal came from Lenell John-Lewis.
54:38 GOAL - Chris Fagan:Lincoln City 3 - 0 Darlington Chris Fagan fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Lincoln City 3-0 Darlington.
53:05 David Dowson is ruled offside. Robert Burch restarts play with the free kick.
51:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Smith on Richard Butcher. Direct free kick taken by Robert Burch.
51:01 Rene Howe is ruled offside. Free kick taken by David Knight.
47:53 Corner taken right-footed by Gary Smith, Janos Kovacs makes a clearance.
46:01 Chris Fagan is caught offside. David Knight takes the free kick.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+2:57 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+2:39 Jamie Clarke takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by David Knight.
45:00+0:44 Aaron Brown fouled by Gary Smith, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is crossed by Scott Kerr, Lenell John-Lewis takes a shot. Save by David Knight.
44:25 The official flags Chris Fagan offside. David Knight takes the direct free kick.
42:54 Substitution Josh Gray on for Nathan Porritt.
42:32 Lenell John-Lewis fouled by Gary Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Janos Kovacs.
40:59 Shot from just outside the box by Lenell John-Lewis misses to the right of the target.
39:00 Jamie Chandler gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Fagan. Janos Kovacs takes the direct free kick.
36:44 Substitution Jeff Smith comes on in place of Jordan Cook.
33:07 Aaron Brown sends in a cross, save made by David Knight.
29:12 Assist by Lenell John-Lewis.
29:12 GOAL - Rene Howe:Lincoln City 2 - 0 Darlington Rene Howe grabs a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 2-0 Darlington.
26:28 Moses Swaibu challenges David Dowson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Smith takes the direct free kick.
25:22 Effort on goal by Gary Smith from 25 yards. Save by Robert Burch.
23:46 Effort on goal by Nathan Porritt from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
23:26 Short corner taken by Gary Smith.
22:03 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Gary Smith.
Correction - 18:55 Corner taken left-footed by Aaron Brown.
Correction - 18:55 Substitution Paul Connor leaves the field to be replaced by Chris Fagan.
18:55 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Aaron Brown,
18:55 Substitution Chris Fagan is brought on as a substitute for Paul Connor.
15:09 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Robert Burch.
13:53 David Dowson challenges Moses Swaibu unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Burch restarts play with the free kick.
13:21 Corner taken right-footed by Scott Kerr from the left by-line to the near post, Matt Plummer manages to make a clearance.
13:07 Shot by Lenell John-Lewis. Save by David Knight.
12:18 Rene Howe crosses the ball, Paul Connor takes a shot. Save made by David Knight.
11:48 Unfair challenge on Cian Hughton by Nathan Porritt results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Clarke.
9:44 The referee blows for offside against Jamie Clarke. Free kick taken by David Knight.
9:07 Gary Smith takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Rene Howe.
8:52 Nathan Porritt sends in a cross, clearance made by Moses Swaibu.
6:20 Aaron Brown takes the inswinging corner, Ian Miller makes a clearance.
5:18 Effort on goal by Lenell John-Lewis from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
2:08 Assist on the goal came from Cian Hughton.
2:08 GOAL - Rene Howe:Lincoln City 1 - 0 Darlington Goal scored by Rene Howe from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 1-0 Darlington.
0:58 Kevin Gall is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Robert Burch.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
League Two round-up
Bookmark with:
What are these?