Lincoln made their first substitution on 49 minutes with Yeo on for the injured Cornelly.

For Harriers striker Bishop fired a useful shot on target. He received the ball from Flynn's cross on 55 minutes but was denied at the near post by keeper Marriott.

Lincoln were so close to grabbing a second on 58 minuets when Mayo's shot struck the bar and bounced down for Butcher to head goalwards, only for Hinton to clear off the line for the second time in the match.

Harriers keeper Digby palmed a Yeo shot around the post on 62 minutes and then visiting midfielder Parrish was booked for dissent three minutes later.

Butcher followed him in to the referee's notebook, also for dissent on 69 minutes.

Lincoln replaced Pearce with P Smith and on 75 minutes Webb was sent on for goalscorer Bradley.

Meanwhile, Harriers brought on Broughton for Foster with 20 minutes left.

And the visitors applied some pressure late on with Broughton denied by Marriott's smart parry and then a dangerous Parrish header was cleared away from he danger zone and over the bar.

To cap Harriers' dismay young defender Ayres was stretchered off after a foul from Webb which landed he Lincoln substitute a booking.

Stamps replaced him in injury time but Harriers cold not find an equaliser and, in reality, did not deserve one.

The play-off challenge is now certainly on very rocky ground for Ian Britton's men ans Saturday's trip to strugglers Macclesfield has become a must-win mission.