Lincoln City proved full value for their first away victory of the season against struggling Southend United.
On-loan striker Marcus Richardson opened the scoring after just ten minutes with his first goal for the club.
The Hartlepool United man rose unchallenged to meet a Paul Mayo cross and head powerfully past Shrimpers keeper Ryan Robinson.
The home side showed little in attack in the opening stages and had to wait until shortly before the interval to find a way through the City defence, only to find Alan Marriott in top form in the visitors goal.
Marriott dived to keep out a well-struck effort from Mark Gower at his near post, before producing a brilliant reflex save to deny Drewe Broughton.
After the break Southend pushed forward in search of an equaliser but it was Red Imps substitute Simon Yeo who should have scored next, but he somehow managed to miss an open goal.
The Shrimpers then had a golden opportunity to earn a point 15 minutes from time when Duncan Jupp was brought down by Paul Morgan to earn a penalty.
Jupp got up to take the spot kick himself but was unable to find a way past Marriott who turned his effort away in spectacular fashion.
Moments later Lincoln sealed the points, with Robinson unable to do anything about Richard Butcher's rasping long-range drive.
It was United's sixth defeat of the season and leaves them languishing in the relegation zone.