Lincoln stretched their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One to 25 matches as the leaders edged past Leyton Orient 2-1 at the LNER Stadium.
A Jack Moylan strike, plus an own goal from Will Forrester, put the Imps firmly in the driving seat at the break, with Dom Ballard pulling a goal back for the Londoners after 70 minutes.
Ballard almost gave Orient a dream start after 34 seconds, when he burst clear only to shoot just wide, and then Imps skipper Tendayi Darikwa and Reeco Hackett both fired narrowly off target in the first couple of minutes.
O’s keeper Will Dennis twice denied Ryan One, but from his second save Tom Bayliss’ subsequent corner was only half cleared to Moylan, who swivelled to crash home a stunning effort after 19 minutes.
City doubled their lead in the fifth minute of added time when One raced down the right and crossed low only for Forrester to miscue his clearance, diverting the ball into his own net.
Orient reduced the deficit when Ballard stole in behind the City defence to superbly head in Idris El Mizouni’s cross.
And at the death, Imps keeper George Wickens produced a one-handed save from Forrester to ensure another City win.
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