YORK City’s win-less run was extended to 15 games following a 4-1 thumping at the hands of a rampant Lincoln team.

The relentlessly busy, well-organised and confident Imps proved too strong for the home side, although manager Gary Mills will be frustrated that the first three goals were conceded from set-pieces with the Minstermen looking vulnerable from dead-ball deliveries all night.

Yan Klukowski’s 68th-minute header proved a consolation following earlier efforts from ex-Bootham Crescent loan midfielder Elliott Whitehouse, Nathan Arnold and Luke Waterfall and the visitors went on to complete the scoring when right-back Bradley Wood walked his way through a static City defence.

A miserable night was then compounded when Daniel Nti was sent off with 94 minutes on the clock following a reckless challenge on fellow sub Alan Power.

Earlier, an even start had seen home attacks undermined by attackers straying offside with five flags raised in the visitors’ half during the opening 17 minutes.

The hosts did go on to create the first chance of the night shortly afterwards, but Matt Fry’s far-post header from debutant Simon Lappin’s free kick was too tame to trouble Imps keeper Paul Farman and, within seconds, the ball was in the net at the other end.

After Lincoln won a corner through City’s right channel, Arnold’s inswinging low delivery was volleyed in from four yards by an unchallenged Whitehouse.

The visitors went on to double their lead with their next attack on 29 minutes after Klukowski’s heavy touch on the edge of his own box led to him fouling Arnold with a lunging tackle, picking up a yellow card in the process.

But worse punishment was to follow when Arnold fired the resulting free kick through the City wall and past a deceived Scott Flinders.

Theo Robinson then broke through the left channel but his attempted lob sailed harmlessly into Flinders’ arms.

For the Minstermen, Sean Newton’s header from another Lappin free kick only required a routine catch from Farman again, while Wood did well to dig out a cross from close to the right corner flag but, after showing nimble footwork to create space for a shot, Robinson directed his 15-yard attempt straight at Flinders.

Lincoln continued to look dangerous from dead balls after the break with Matt Rhead’s powerful header forcing Flinders into a flying save from Sam Habergham’s corner and, after Newton, who had been thrown up front after the break, sidefooted against the bar from eight yards following a Callum Rzonca left-wing cross, Waterfall made it 3-0 just past the hour from an Arnold free kick.

The Imps captain’s initial downward header, from the right-wing delivery, was parried by Flinders, but he followed up to prod in from four yards.

Klukowski pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when he bundled in a far-post header from a couple of yards after Newton had rose high to direct Lappin’s left-wing cross back across goal.

But full-back Wood made it 4-1 six minutes later when he ghosted in from the right flank past several uncommitted home challenges before checking and using the outside of his boot to find Flinders’ bottom-left corner from 15 yards.

Sub Jack Muldoon also had a couple of late chances for Lincoln that failed to extend Flinders before Nti became the second player to see red in as many games following Adrian Moke’s dismissal at the weekend.

City

Scott Flinders: 6

Shaun Rooney: 5

Yan Klukowski: 5

Matt Fry: 5

Simon Heslop: 5

Danny Holmes: 5

Charlie Cooper: 5

Simon Lappin: 6

Sean Newton: 6

Aidan Connolly: 5

Robbie McDaid: 5

Substitutes: Alex Whittle 6 (for Fry, 46), Daniel Nti 4 (for Connolly, 51), Callum Rzonca 5 (for Cooper, 56).

Subs not used: Scott Fenwick, Matty Dixon.

Star man: Lappin – showed flashes of his pedigree

Lincoln

Paul Farman, Bradley Wood, Luke Waterfall, Callum Howe, Sam Habergham, Terry Hawkridge, Alex Woodyard, Elliott Whitehouse, Nathan Arnold (Jack Muldoon, 63), Matt Rhead (Alan Power, 71), Theo Robinson (Adam Marriott, 76).

Subs not used: Richard Walton, Jamie McCombe.

Referee: Thomas Bramall rating: 7/10

Booked: Klukowski 28, Waterfall 45, Hawkridge 90+1

Sent off: Nti 90+4

Attendance: 2,889 (1,068 from Lincoln)

Shots on target: City 4, Lincoln 9

Shots off target: City 0, Lincoln 2

Corners: City 0, Lincoln 5

Fouls conceded: City 10, Lincoln 17

Offside: City 9, Lincoln 4