Notts County eased to a 3-0 victory at Lincoln thanks to a hat-trick from striker Luke Rodgers.

Magpies ease past Lincoln to give Sutton a dose of reality

Notts County eased to a 3-0 victory at Lincoln thanks to a hat-trick from striker Luke Rodgers to give new Imps boss Chris Sutton a dose of reality. Rodgers scored after just 14 seconds, beating Lincoln keeper Rob Burch after running straight through the static home defence. Sutton was watching from the stands as Rodgers continued his demolition after 25 minutes as he slotted past Burch once more. On-loan Peterborough forward Rene Howe shot across goal after escaping the County defence in a rare Lincoln attack. Lincoln midfielder Shane Clarke came closest for the home side with a 20-yard drive that came back off Kasper Schmeichel's right-hand post. But it was no surprise when Rodgers rounded off his hat-trick after 89 minutes after again being left unmarked in the six-yard box.