In the context of the season, this game won't be considered one of the more memorable for Chester FC.
Yet as a marker of the progress made in the past six months you'd be hard pushed for find a better one.
Sean McConville's ninth goal of the campaign clinched a deserved and hard-fought three points at Sincil Bank, moving the Blues into the upper half of the Vanarama Conference for the first time since returning to this level.
It wasn't the prettiest of matches but there was a lot to admire about Chester's resolve and commitment to getting the job done.
McConville's strike in the 41st minute was the only notable attempt on goal in an dismal first-half and although Lincoln did come into things a little more in the second period, the resistance was never truly tested as the Imps search for an equaliser descended into a flood of hopeful, aimless long balls.
For the Blues, a fourth straight win breaks down the top-half hoo-doo and will have convinced a few more doubters that the play-offs are a realistic goal.
Kingsley James returned from a three-game ban for the trip to Lincolnshire although the midfielder had to make do with a place among the substitites as Steve Burr retained the team that had won 3-1 at Welling United.
It was the same line-up from the dominant 4-0 win over Lincoln less than three weeks earlier although the Imps could be expected to be a different proposition on home soil.
Lincoln's season to date had consisted of some good, seven wins in a row at home, and some bad, four straight defeats on the road.
However, financial troubles brought about by the need to clear a £380,000 overdraft were of a bigger concern that the inconsistencies on the pitch.
Lincoln made the more positive start but both teams found it difficult to get hold of the ball on a tricky, sticky surface.
Arnaud Mendy hooked the first chance of the match over after Jon Worsnop flapped at Marcus Marshall's long throw before Ryan Higgins saw his shot blocked at the other end when in a decent position.
There were no real scoring opportunities of note in the opening half hour with Worsnop quick on his toes to defuse the danger when Marshall got behind the defence and Brad Abott slicing wide from the edge of the box for Chester.
In a game with little happening, it was hard to see how referee Dean Treleaven managed to find four infringements worthy of yellow cards with Ben Heneghan and the Imps' Jordan Burrow, Mendy and Tom Miller going into the book.
Lincoln had a period of pressure moving towards the end of the half with Nat Brown failing to connect with a close range header, Jordan Cranston unable to find the target with a cross from a promising area and Burrow wasting another decent chance in the air.
Four minutes before half-time, Chester put themselves into the lead with the game's first shot on target. Oliver McBurnie held up possession well and rolled a short pass to Sean McConville, who adjusted his feet and rocketed a right foot shot past the despairing Paul Farman and into the top corner.
It was a goal the game needed and ensured the Blues, who had not been able to produce the fluent football the manager wants, went into the break with control of the contest.
Mr Treleaven further frustrated both sets of supporters a few minutes into the second-half with soft bookings for Ben Tomlinson and Michael Kay, taking him to 10 for the season and an automatic suspension.
Rooney brought an unconvincing save out of Farman with a trademark free kick after Ryan Higgins had been tripped and McBurnie couldn't quite reach the midfielder's teasing cross seconds later.
Lincoln then spurned a glorious chance to get back on terms as first Tomlinson and then Mendy found themselves in on goal before being undone by last-ditch defence from Kay, Heneghan and Gareth Roberts.
Compared to the first period, the second was an improvement with the hosts having to chase the game and Chester content to break quickly and use pace out wide.
Lincoln began to control possession heading into the final 15 minutes but did not trouble Worsnop other than a well-struck shot from Charlee Adams, which was straight at the custodian.
Tyrrell Waite replaced Tomlinson for the hosts, who had already brought on John Marsden, and the Blues introduced Kieran Charnock and Kane Richards for the excellent Heneghan, who looked to have picked up a knock, and Mahon.
Chester's rearguard had handled everything the Imps threw at them with confidence and the assault became more and more desperate in the closing stages.
James came on for Hughes to reinforce the midfield as Lincoln threw men forward and Hamza Bencherif might have made the pressure count had Kay not thrown himself in front of the defender's shot.
McConville could have wrapped up the points in the final minute but poked his shot past the post after smart work from Abbott.
Lincoln had no real plan other than to bang the ball forward and hope for the best but the Blues defended gamely and deserved nothing less than maximum points.
Chester FC: Worsnop, Higgins, Heneghan (Charnock 77), Kay, Roberts, Rooney, Abbott, Mahon (Richards 80), McConville, Hughes (James 86), McBurnie.
Subs: Viscosi, Thomson.
Booked: Heneghan, Kay.
Goal: McConville 41.
Lincoln City: Farman, Miller, Brown, Bencherif, Cranston, Adams, Mendy, Nolan (Marsden 55), Marshall, Tomlinson (Waite 76), Burrow.
Subs: Grant, Sam-Yorke, Caprice.
Booked: Burrow, Mendy, Miller, Tomlinson.
Referee: Dean Treleaven (West Sussex).
Attendance: 4,568.
