Referee Paul Robinson strictly adhered to the laws of the game but failed to show a modicum of common sense in dealing with any of the incidents throughout the game, heavily relying on input from his assistant referees throughout.

The farce began with only eight minutes gone. Simon Weaver appeared to elbow Richie Foran, with the Carlisle striker reacting angrily. So early in the game, a ticking off and a yellow card apiece would have seemed the logical decision until intervention from Mr Robinson’s assistant referee necessitated the official sending both players off.

Carlisle’s Brian Shelley was next to go on 75 minutes after retaliating to a blatant elbow from Scott Willis, with no action taken against the Imps’ midfielder.

The final chapter in a sorry afternoon of drama came in injury time, when Trevor Molloy’s over vociferous condemnation of the award of a dubious penalty to Lincoln warranted another straight red card.

The irony was that this was not a overly physical game but the big plus for the Cumbrians was that they did not roll over and die as they would have done in previous seasons.

Club captain Lee Maddison was disappointed with the penalty conceded but full of praise for his young side after the game. He said: “The ball just got played over the top and I just eased him out of the way and it just shows what’s gone on in the rest of this game. The referee has given the penalty like he gave decisions to them all the game.

“It’s difficult enough with eleven men against Lincoln, they throw the ball in from all angles and especially with us having a young side I think we coped tremendously well.

“When you are up against it you want to prove, not just to the fans, but to the referee as well, because you feel he is on their side. So it was a great result for the lads to dig deep and to prove everyone wrong.”

Lincoln almost had a perfect start in the first minute when Scott Willis ghosted in to head over a Peter Gain free kick.

Early home pressure saw a Willis effort blocked for a corner and a Gain shot tipped round the post by Peter Keen.

On 12 minutes a Galloway lay off gave space to Baldacchino but his weak shot was comfortably saved by Alan Marriott.

Two minutes later Baldacchino’s short corner was whipped in by Maddison with Peter Murphy side footing narrowly wide.

Maddison then got forward to get on the end of a square ball from Mick Galloway only to blast over.

Richard Logan headed over twice for Lincoln before Gain broke through on the left forcing Keen full length with a rasping drive.

On 61 minutes McGill’s goalbound effort was blocked by Morgan and from the counterattack Willis played in Paul Mayo only for Keen to get down well to make the save.

Five minutes later Carlisle got the decisive goal when Burns’ corner was met by a McDonagh header, only for Logan to inexplicably raise his hand to the ball. Trevor Molloy strode up to comfortably send Marriott the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Wake then fired narrowly wide after a good run and cross from Maddison followed by another Keen save from Yeo.

With a minute remaining Lincoln were thrown a lifeline when Cropper was adjudged to have been pushed by Maddison but Yeo hit Keen’s left hand post and watched agonisingly as the ball ran along the goal line and out of play.

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