Lincoln put themselves firmly in the ascendancy in their Sky Bet League One play-off tie against Sunderland after second-half goals from Tom Hopper and Brennan Johnson gave the Imps a deserved 2-0 victory.
With nothing separating the sides at the break, Hopper fired Lincoln ahead after 51 minutes, before Johnson doubled the lead 15 minutes from time, although City had emergency loan goalkeeper Josef Bursik to thank after he produced two fabulous saves to keep the Black Cats out.
Lincoln's first-choice keeper Alex Palmer sustained a head injury in training, so Stoke stopper Bursik came in to make his debut for the club.