A freak own goal two minutes from time by Lincoln goalkeeper Rob Burch handed Exeter a 1-0 win.
Exeter keep pressure on leaders
A freak own goal two minutes from time by Lincoln goalkeeper Rob Burch handed Exeter a 1-0 win which boosts their bid for automatic promotion.
The Grecians had looked set to drop out of the top three until the late drama when midfielder Dean Moxey fired in a hopeful shot from 30 yards which beat the dive of Burch and came back off the post - but the keeper was helpless on the ground as the ball struck him on the back and rolled in to the empty net.
The goal proved just enough for Exeter who worked hard to contain Lincoln before pushing forward in the final 20 minutes.
The visitors had a let off in the 16th minute when defender Rob Edwards punched the ball away from Lincoln striker Geoff Horsfield as the home team threatened.
Edwards somehow escaped without even a card but the resulting free-kick from Aaron Brown was deflected wide.
Seventeen-year-old Lincoln striker Andy Hutchinson went close in the 25th minute with a first-time shot which brought a great diving save from Paul Jones - and Jones made another excellent save late on to prevent youngster Nathan Adams from scoring.
