The Imps edged The Valiants in a battle of attritution with a late moment of brilliance from Grimes, possible only after spoiler and chief dog of war and Jolly Green Giant Geohaghan; had left the field of play. The huge figure will stop anything but cannot pass especially if confronted with Kerr and O'keefe with the bit between their teeth.
On came Pope on 70 as the game opened up thanks also in part to those tiring but thus far supreme defencive legs. Heavenly intervention ensured the Pope fluffed his lines in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral, whilst the Imps found space and favour thanks to Jarrett and an unshackled O'Keefe. It was 'oh my gosh Josh who fashioned a wonderful thirty diagonal defence splitter that absolutely Ashley smashed into the opposite corner. That's 8 in 8 for goal machine Grimes.
The Mighty Imps now look upwards with games in hand and a hatrick of victories behind them. Storm clouds are gathering in the Vale with Jim Gannon winless in five games.
Here is the match in stats starting with the teams & schemes, then the tale of the tape and finally a warm gloat at the league table
The Mighty Imps
4-4-2
24 Carson
16 Kelly (Yellow) 6 Hone 4 Watt 23 Hunt
15 Howell (Yellow) 11 Kerr 14 O’Keefe 9 McCallum
18 Facey 29 Grimes
Substitutions - Jarrett replaced McCallum 69, Broughton replaced Facey 90+1, Hoyte replaced Grimes 90+2
Substitutes 1 Anyon, 5 Swaibu, 19 Clapham, 28 Hoyte, 17 Jarrett, 10 Broughton, 27 Hutchinson
The Valiants
4-5-1
1 Martin
2 Yates 14 Taylor 5 McCombe 15 Collins
16 Haldane 4 Griffiths (yellow) 19 Geohaghan 22 Roberts 3 Taylor
11 Richards
Substitutions -Owen replaced Taylor 46, Loft replaced Haldane 78, Pope replaced Geohaghan 69
Substitutes - 24 Johnson, 6 Owen, 21 Sutton, 7 Loft, 10 O'Shea, 27 Brown, 29 Pope
Lincoln City 1-0 Port Vale (HT 0-0)
Scorer Grimes 86
Ref: Woolmer
Att: 3,370 (3018 Imps 352 Valiants)
Possession
Lincoln City 50% Port Vale 50%
Shots on target
Lincoln City 4 Port Vale 1
Shots off target
Lincoln City 5 Port Vale 0
Saves
Lincoln City 2 Port Vale 3
Corners
Lincoln City 3 Port Vale 4
Fouls
Lincoln City 14 Port Vale 8
Yellows
Lincoln City 2 Port Vale 1
Npower League 2 Table
CLUB P W D L GD PTS
Chesterfield 26 15 8 3 23 53
Wycombe 25 13 7 5 9 46
Rotherham 26 12 8 6 15 44
Crewe 26 11 8 7 18 41
Bury 25 11 7 7 13 40
Port Vale 26 11 7 8 6 40
Gillingham 27 11 7 9 4 40
Shrewsbury 27 10 9 8 9 39
Oxford Utd 27 11 6 10 1 39
Cheltenham 27 10 8 9 0 38
Southend 26 10 6 10 4 36
Stevenage 24 8 9 7 9 33
Torquay 24 8 9 7 7 33
Aldershot 26 8 8 10 -7 32
Accrington 24 7 10 7 -2 31
Northampton 25 8 7 10 -7 31
Bradford 27 9 4 14 -10 31
Morecambe 25 8 6 11 -5 30
Lincoln City 24 8 4 12 -12 28
Macclesfield 24 7 6 11 -11 27
Burton Albio 21 6 7 8 2 25
Hereford 24 6 7 11 -13 25
Barnet 28 6 7 15 -18 25
Stockport 28 5 9 14 -35 24