How they didn't achieve a handsome victory will remain a mystery to the frustrated Blues fans who headed for the exit with tortured facial expressions.

City failed to convert an early penalty, surrendered a 1-0 lead in a three-minute goal blitz, hit the woodwork, played against 10 men when Dany N'Guessan was dismissed 20 minutes from time, and contrived to miss a succession of scoring chances during a one-sided second half.

Chester totally dominated after going 2-1 behind, but their expected stroll unfolded into an agonising episode of squandered chances.

The outcome against the Imps leaves the Blues still searching for vital points in their bid to escape a relegation dogfight with four matches remaining.

Chester boss Simon Davies made two enforced changes to the side that had battled their way to a 2-2 draw at promotion-chasing Hereford United the previous week.

Centre half Paul Butler was sidelined with an achilles injury, and winger Richie Partridge was continuing to nurse a troublesome hamstring injury.

Shaun Kelly deputised for Butler in defence, and striker Paul McManus started in place of Partridge.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that Chester held the upper hand, particularly in attack, with Kevin Ellison, John Murphy, and McManus probing and causing a nuisance to a concerned Lincoln defence.

Murphy latched onto a well measured pass on the right edge of the box after just four minutes and attempted to lob visiting keeper Alan Marriott who fouled the City striker as he tried to pass.

The referee instinctively awarded the Blues a penalty, but Ellison's low and weak spot-kick was easily gathered by Marriott.

Paul Linwood steered a header over the bar in the seventh minute as City continued to dictate, and Mark Hughes' low shot was directed straight at Marriott.

Hughes was then guilty of missing a close range effort after a fine build up between Sandwith and Ellison.

Lincoln keeper, Marriott, suffering with a hamstring injury, was substituted by Ayden Duffy in the 16th minute.

City then profited from their possession by taking a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Paul Rutherford created the opening on the right flank and carved a fine pass into the middle where McManus swept the ball beyond Marriott to find the left corner of the net – his first senior goal for the club.

But Lincoln then caught Chester napping with two replies in two minutes.

The Imps almost immediately levelled matters when Dany N'Guessan found Jamie Forrester at the near post who turned and whipped home a left-footed six-yard shot high into the roof of the net to celebrate his 12th goal of the season.

Forrester then demonstrated further evidence of of scoring ability when he latched onto a 23rd minute crossfield pass from Ben Wright and managed to slot home low beyond John Danby to find the net.

Danby was then forced to paw clear a goalbound left-footed shot from Louis Dodds as Lincoln searched to extend their advantage.

But Chester looked determined to peg back their deficit before the break, with Ellison forcing Duffy into a save after fine work from McManus.

And Hughes found the sidenetting with his angled six-yard effort following a build up between Rutherford, Kevin Roberts, and Hughes.

Chester replaced Kelly for James Vaughan in defence before the restart, but the second half started scrappily as both sides attempted to discover a foothold.

Lincoln were reduced to 10 men after 69 minutes when N'Guessan picked up his second yellow card and took his time walking off the pitch.

But Chester failed to capitalise from their numerical advantage despite creating chance after chance to level matters.

Ellison dragged a 25-yard shot low and wide five minutes after N'Guessan's dismissal, and Roberts blasted a 20-yard effort over the bar with 15 minutes left.

Roberts came closest to equalising for the Blues when Lincoln were at sixes and sevens in the 78th minute when he crashed a six-yard shot against the bar.

But Linwood was then guilty of slicing wide from eight yards, Ellison produced four wayward shots, Murphy headed over the bar from a Sandwith corner, and then saw his goalbound header two minutes from time headed off the line by Adie Moses.

It just wouldn't go in for Chester, but the Blues only had themselves to blame for conceding Lincoln's two quick-fire replies.