A week is a long time in football and the past seven days have been very encouraging for Chester FC.

Never mind Lincoln had two men sent off and never mind the Imps dreadful defending, this was a performance filled with promise for what remains of the season.

Going forward the Blues are once more a team to be feared with pace, energy and a choice of outlets to leave opponents guessing.

Defensively the return of Michael Kay at centre back has made a real difference and alongside him Ben Heneghan looks a class operator in his favoured spot.

John Rooney, Sean McConville and two stunners from Ryan Higgins and Brad Abbott had the home fans in the 1,569 crowd on their feet and although a play-off push still looks a tall order, don't rule it out on this evidence.

A frozen pitch at the Swansway Chester Stadium prevented the fixture going on the previous Tuesday and the break had worked in the Blues' favour.

Lincoln's impressive run came to an end with a 3-0 defeat at Macclesfield Town on Saturday and the Imps were without Tom Miller, Hamza Bencherif and Charlee Adams.

A rush of new signings and an impressive 1-0 win over play-off chasing Kidderminster Harriers had helped banish Chester's post-Christmas gloom.

Matty Brown missed out after limping off in that game but Ben Heneghan shone as his replacement and his inclusion from the start was the only change.

Chester had gleaned plenty of confidence from the weekend's win yet even so their total dominance in the first half hour here was unexpected.

Lincoln had the first shooting chance on four minutes, Jordan Burrow testing Jon Worsnop with a half-volley, but found themselves behind two minutes later.

John Rooney had stung Paul Farman's palms a few seconds before he opened the scoring with a scuffed shot from Matty Hughes pull-back, which took a heavy deflection off the unfortunate Sean Newton.

Chester could have been scored three more before the 10 minute mark, Hughes slicing a volley wide and Farman making good saves from Craig Mahon and Rooney when his defence left him exposed.

It didn't take too long for the second goal to arrive, Mahon and Ryan Higgins pressuring down the right enabling McConville to slot past Farman from close range in the 12th minute.

Lincoln should have pulled one back almost immediately when Ben Tomlinson found Nat Brown but he skied his shot over the crossbar when it looked easier to score.

Oliver McBurnie was a handful for the Imps makeshift back four and on 15 minutes he got clear of Todd Jordan, who bundled him over from behind and referee Simon Bennett had no real option other than to produce a red card.

A man down and two goals behind, Lincoln looked completely lost and the Blues opened them up at will with Hughes and Rooney having decent chances.

Chester increased the lead on 24 minutes with a stunning strike from Higgins, who was waiting for a pass to appear before deciding to rocket a shot past Farman from 25 yards.

It capped an outstanding period of football from the Blues, who even allowing for the Imps' woeful defending had been irrestiible.

Lincoln sacrificed Conner Robinson for Keegan Everington to prevent the situation becoming more embarrassing and the change at least served to tighten things up.

Chester remained the aggressors with Rooney rolling a shot wide of the post and McConville sliding a shot beyond Farman only for Newton to clear off the line as the half ended 3-0.

Lincoln showed some improvement early in the second period, although they could not have done much worse, with Gareth Roberts clearing a Burrow header off the line and Everington brought a save out of Worsnop from 20 yards.

Chester had dropped the pace yet still managed to fashion an excellent chance on the hour when Higgins found McConville, whose shot was headed off the line by Arnaud Mendy.

Lincoln's evening got worse on 62 minutes when captain Alan Power needlessly hacked down Mahon and Mr Bennett understandably gave him a straight red card.

Three minutes later and the Blues made it 4-0 through the excellent Brad Abbott. There didn't look much on when the on-loan midfielder took possession but he rifled an unstoppable show into the bottom corner form 30 yards.

Chester introduced Kane Richards, George Thomson and Kieran Charnock moving into the final 20 minutes and continued to press forward in search of further goals.

Thomson's attempted lob was just a little too strong and dropped over the crossbar, and Farman made a fine save to prevent Rooney topping Higgins and Abbott from 35 yards.

Lincoln's evening had been miserable enough without a fifth goal and the brilliant Blues eased off towards the end after an excellent night's work.

Chester FC: Worsnop, Higgins, Heneghan, Kay, Roberts (Charnock 73), Rooney, Abbott, Mahon (Richards 65), McConville (Thomson 69), Hughes, McBurnie.

Subs: Viscosi, Hobson.

Goals: Rooney 5, McConville 12, Higgins 24, Abbott 65.

Booked: Heneghan.

Lincoln City: Farman, Caprice, Brown, Jordan, Newton, Marshall (Sam-Yorke), Power, Mendy, Burrow, Tomlinson, Robinson (Everington 26).

Subs: Waite, Barr-Rostron, Grant.

Sent off: Jordan 15, Power 62.

Booked: Burrow.

Referee: Simon Bennett (Stoke-on-Trent)

Attendance: 1,569.