An error from Lincoln ‘keeper Sam Vince gave Gresley a third and decisive goal, as the Whites went down 3-1.
Gresley went one up against the run of play when Martin Smyth slotted underneath Vince. They made it two on the stroke of half time, when Gary Rickett’s found himself unmarked from a corner and headed coolly across goal.
Lincoln reacted well after half time, a Paul Grimes free kick the pick of the goals, curling it round the wall in sublime style.
But the game was put to bed when Jordan Ball pounced on an error from Vince to score his third in three games to seal the points for Gresley.
Lincoln started the game stronger, Jack McGovern testing ex-United ‘keeper Robert Peet twice from free kicks.
Andrew Toyne and Kallum Smith both came close, but Lincoln lacked a cutting edge in the final third, and for all their dominance, could not test the Gresley goal.
The deadlock was broken against the run of play on 35 minutes. Some smart play by Lavell White on the left hand side ended with Martin Smyth. He calmly converting under Vince.
The away side’s lead was doubled right before half time, an unchallenged Gary Ricketts headed home from a corner. Again, question marks were raised over the defending as Ricketts had time and space to finish inside the six yard box.
Dave Frecklington’s words at half time sparked the Whites into action in the second half, a jinxing run from Paul Grimes ended after he was tripped by John Guy on the edge of the area. Grimes picked himself up and scored the free kick to give Lincoln a chance.
But again, Lincoln could not convert possession into chances, McGovern almost scored a contender for goal of the season with a half volley from 25 yards that flew just over the bar.
The defining moment of the second half came on 65 minutes, when a long ball over the top from Matt Roome left Vince in two minds. He hesitantly came out of his goal but was beaten to it by Jordan Ball who finished off calmly.
Gresley easily saw out the rest of the game, Vince making a couple of smart saves to keep it at three, and captain Jacklin superbly heading off the line to deny Ball from scoring a second.
Manager Dave Frecklington was disappointed with his players’ efforts after conceding the third.
“While it’s 2-1 you’ve got every chance of getting something, but conceding the third goal killed the game off.
“We didn’t seem to have any ideas after that which was disappointing.
“We’ve looked solid for the last three or four games, I’d love to know the reason behind it.
“As a four we seemed to defend individually, we didn’t seem to have any leaders out there. That’s what has normally been good.
“We can play all the nice pretty football in the world, but if you’ve got no result at the end of it, it’s frustrating. It’s a bad night, we regroup and go again.”