CHORLEY were in trouble even before kick-off when the team coach could not be restarted after the meal-break en route to Lincoln and the replacement coach reached the ground with less than half an hour to spare.

But the Magpies appeared to have shrugged off the setback and could have been two up in the first two minutes.

From Paul Varley's excellent cross, Ian Barker put a free header over the bar and then from Barker's inviting low centre Marcus Hallows' mishit shot bounced into the keeper's hands off the far post.

After that, however, an impressive Lincoln took charge and from the number of chances created might well have won more emphatically.

On 15 minutes Gary Bull's cross-cum-shot deceived Lee Bracey, possibly unsighted in a crowded penalty area, and went in off the far post.

Lincoln doubled their lead on 39 minutes when Ian Williams headed home unmarked from a corner and Brendan McDaid missed a great chance to make it three, poking the ball wide from close range.

He made amends after 52 minutes with a cracking shot on the turn from the edge of the box which gave Bracey no chance.

Chorley responded with a spell of pressure and from one of a series of corners Ian Leather got in a good header which flew straight at the keeper.

But on 65 minutes the Magpies shipped a fourth goal, Ian Wilkins getting the finest of touches to a McDaid corner which it seemed Bracey should have cut out.

With ten minutes to go, Chorley finally pulled one back in spectacular fashion, Hallows firing Eatock's short free-kick unstoppably into the top corner.

It was not, unfortunately, a signal for a sustained rally and Bracey had to make two smart diving saves in the closing stages to prevent Lincoln hitting Chorley for six.

The one bonus for the Magpies was the return from a pre-season injury of centre-back Billy McCartney.

His experience will be vital with skipper Ian Leather due to start a two-match ban this week.

LINCOLN UNITED...4

CHORLEY...1