ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Eric Whalley was a fan of Friday night football - but maybe not for much longer.

Not only did the Reds slip to their third League Two defeat of the season, but they face a potential defensive nightmare for next Saturday's trip to Notts County after both Peter Cavanagh and Michael Welch were controversially dismissed for each picking up two yellow cards.

But that just put the seal on a night of misery for John Coleman's men, who struggled to find a way back after conceding in the sixth minute.

Lincoln went into this game unbeaten but still searching for their first home win of the season. And it didn't take long for Martin Gritton to get them into the driving seat.

Welch's headed clearance was picked up in midfield and launched forward by youngster Lee Frecklington, the ball dropped beyond a chasing defence and Gritton beat Welch and Robbie Williams for pace to bury it underneath the advancing Ian Dunbavin after only five minutes.

With Paul Mullin operating as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation, it looked set to be tricky for Stanley to get back into the game, despite them having two extra men in midfield as the Red Imps started with an unanticipated 4-3-3 line-up. And while Gary Roberts and Ian Craney used some intricate football up front, the end product lacked the necessary impact to fight back.

Lincoln fans thought they were celebrating a second moments later when Mark Stallard's ball to the far side of the box was picked up by Nicky Eaden but he lashed his right footed drive into the side-netting.

Scott Kerr then pumped in a well driven free kick that Gritton went close to pouncing on but Dunbavin made it his own before claiming an acrobatic overhead kick by Jamie Forrester from around 12 yards out.

The Stanley stopper had a respite after that, but while the Reds peppered the goalmouth at regular intervals, the central defensive pairing of Adie Moses and Paul Morgan was solid. When they were breached, chances were wasted - Roberts' woefully overhit free kick from the right flank being a prime example. Craney had tried to make slight inroads but had one chance deflected to the keeper and one charged down.

The midfielder had the best chance to equalise on 33 minutes but, after benefitting from Mullin's neat knock-down, he bent a volley wide of the left hand post.

Lincoln had gone through a quiet attacking spell, but their threat on the break never wained, and that was to be to Stanley's downfall.

Forrester burst down the right, fired in a wicked centre that Stallard hit first time, Dunbavin made a good stop, but the ball squirmed under his body and Stallard welcomed a second, then third chance to poke the ball home, defying Williams' attempts to clear.

Stanley came out more attack minded for the second half, with Harris making way for Andy Mangan.

But it took them a few minutes to adapt and, while they did, Dunbavin reacted well to deny Stallard from finishing his angled run with another goal.

Stanley began to keep more possession, and used it wisely, with Mangan twice going close to reducing the deficit.

But just as the Reds were growing in confidence, the defence was all at sea on the break. Forrester slipped the ball through to Stallard and he got the better of Leam Richardson to slide the ball underneath Dunbavin.

To compound their frustration, Stanley found themselves down to 10 men three minutes later when Welch was booked for a second time for a late tackle on Frecklington. The defender knew his fate, but it was harsh following a caution for an innocuous challenge on the halfway line.

But on losing a man, Stanley sprung to life and Mangan was unlucky to have a shot blocked by the keeper's legs from Craney's pass.

That was Craney's last taste of action as he was replaced by Julien N'Da, and the Frenchman was instrumental in driving the Reds' late push.

Goalkeeper Alan Marriott fluffed a Roberts corner, and from the follow-up set piece he struck a stunning left-foot consolation from 20 yards.

Had Mangan made the most of another chance, this time set up by N'Da, they might even have challenged for a point at the death.

But their fate was sealed when Cavanagh, who had been harshly booked in the first half, picked up a second yellow card for a trip on Stallard.