For the second straight game Dover saw-off full-time opponents in Vanarama National League as they overcame Lincoln City 2-0 at Crabble on Saturday afternoon.

Quality goals in either half from Jamie Grimes and Moses Emannuel proved the difference, while it was a return to Crabble to forget for Sean Raggett, who was forced off after a head injury inside 10 minutes following his summer switch from Kent to Sincil Bank.

The game began at 100mph and man of the moment Ricky Miller, who had drawn praise from City boss Danny Cowley in the lead-up to the game, blazed over from 10 yards out just 18 seconds in after Ross Lafeyette had bullied his way onto a high ball from Jamie Grimes and crossed low from the left across the face of goal.

The deadlock was broken in the 4th minute when Jamie Grimes rose highest to glance a perfect header into the top corner from a Sammy Moore corner, after Moore's effort from 25 yards had been tipped wide by the sprawling Paul Farman seconds before.

The returning Sean Raggett lasted just seven minutes as he was clattered by his own keeper as the pair and Miller tried to get onto a speculative ball forward on the corner of the City area.

Raggett appeared dazed after a spell lying prone on the turf and despite being keen to continue, he was replaced by Lee Beevers after a warm ovation from the home fans in the River End.

The game settled down into an end-to-end affair but with goalmouth action at a premium, though Jim Stevenson fizzed a fierce volley over from full 30-yards on 17 minutes and five minutes later the bustling Matt Rhead expertly played Nathan Arnold through at the other end, only for Steve Arnold to race off his line to thwart the City attacker.

Farman was fortunate to get away without conceding a penalty when he tried to shepherd the ball over the byline under intense pressure from the lively Miller who went down and howled at ref David Rock who pointed merely for a goal kick.

Miller sent a cross from the left of the box straight into Farman's chest just after the half-hour and five minutes before the break the industrious Lafayette did well down the left before squaring to Moore who curled a peach from 20 yards out a foot over Farman's bar.

City had the final word in first-half stoppage time as Jack Muldoon saw a shot blocked by Aswad Thomas while Sam Habergham' low free-kick was cleared from the six-yard box.

After a low-key start to the second half the game sprung to life with a devastating break on 54 minutes which led to the second goal.

Grimes hacked clear from his own box, Lafeyette brought it down on halfway and played a fine one-two with Emmanuel before sending his teammate into the left of the area to dink superbly over the outrushing Farman and into the corner.

Buoyed by the goal Dover continued to press and Emmanuel fired just past the angle of post and bar from 20 yards and Moore sliced a long-range volley wide.

Lincoln replaced Rhead with Adam Marriott and on 68 minutes Macauley Donne lashed a speculative volley wide from well outside the box but City could not fashion any real openings.

At the other end Grimes was inches away from his second with a towering header from a superb right-wing free-kick from Moore which bounced just past the post with Farman diving at full-stretch.

City's best chance came with eight minutes to go when a ball looped up in the Dover box but Bonne could only head straight at Arnold from eight yards out.

Marriott and Arnold saw shots charged down as City laid siege to the Whites goal while Bonne's glancing header from Alex Woodyard's cross with seven minutes left was deflected inches wide.

The onslaught continued and Steve Arnold beat away a fierce Marriott strike from a tight angle though Miller saw a shot held by Farman in the first of four added minutes at the end.

Arnold dived to his right to deny Bonne in stoppage-time but it was Dover who held on to go level on points with the Imps after their third straight win over them.

Dover Athletic: Arnold, Magri, Sterling, Grimes, Thomas, Parkinson, Moore, Stevenson, Lafayette, Miller, Emmanuel (Pinnock 69mins). Subs not used: Kinnear Jr, Obileye, Fazakerley, Jackson Jnr

Lincoln: Farman, Wood, Habergham, Waterfall, Muldoon (Anderson 69mins), Rhead (Marriott 60mins), Raggett (Beevers 10mins), Champion, Arnold, Bonne, Woodyard. Subs not used: Power, Hawkridge.

Attendance: 1,209. (150 Lincoln fans)