Notts County suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City at Meadow Lane this evening in a closely-fought encounter in blustery condiditons.

Experienced striker Jamie Forrest netted for the Imps after sixteen minutes after capitalising on a poor header by Paul Mayo which allowed the ball to run into his path.

Mayo almost drew Notts level with a header in the second half but Scott Kerr cleared the ball off the line - and it was the closest Notts came as they desperately searched for an equaliser.

Notts boss Ian McParland was without the injured Danny Crow as Notts made three changes to the side which drew 0-0 with Barnet on Saturday with Gary Silk and Neil MacKenzie dropping to the bench with Austin McCann, Spencer Weir-Daley and Ali Gibb handed recalls.

The Magpies side had four ex-Imps in the starting XI, along with Jason Lee on the bench.

Shooting towards the Kop Stand in the first period, Notts looked lively in the early stages - but it was the Imps who drew first blood on sixteen minutes through experienced striker Jamie Forrester.

A cross from the left by Dany N'Guessan towards the far post was headed into his path by Paul Mayo, and the frontman simply made no mistake and lashed the ball into the back of the net. Hoult in the Magpies goal was fuming with Mayo that he didn't head the ball behind, which caught Hoult and the Notts defence cold and allowed the much-travelled striker an opportunity he wasn't going to miss.

Notts immediately tried to draw themselves back onto level terms with Alan Marriott denying Ryan Jarvis with a good stop at his near post from the on-loan striker's powerful drive while Marriott fumbled a corner a minute later but his defence were alert to get bodies in the way and clear.

Jarvis fizzed an effort just wide before the half-hour as Notts, with the crowd on their side, looked to draw back on level terms while Weir-Daley had a shot blocked by the Imps defence after some good play by Jarvis.

Notts were the ones having the majority of the ball in the half, but were unable to fashion many clear-cut chances. However down the wings, especially the left, they were able to get some smart balls into the box - but no-one was on the end of them.

Weir-Daley had another effort blocked just before the interval after a slip by Beevers, but Brown was quickly alert to race across and get a foot on the striker's shot to take the sting out of the effort.

Lincoln however registered one shot on target in the half, and importantly for the Imps the ball hit the back of the net.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-1 Lincoln City

The second half began with no changes for either outfit and Notts took the game to their opponents in the opening ten minutes of the half, but were almost caught out on the counter attack as Beevers pushed forwards from full-back for the Imps and created an opening for N'Guessan but he put his effort the wrong side of the post from twelve yards out.

At the other end Weir-Daley lifted an effort over Marriott from a narrow angle, but his effort was just off target.

In a bid to freshen up the attack Ian McParland replaced Ali Gibbon the right wing with Andy Parkinson in a rare outing for the former Tranmere wideman - and it seemed to have a desired effect as Notts quickly tested Marriott in the Lincoln goal with two long-range efforts on the bobbly surface by Richard Butcher and Ryan Jarvis which he dealt with well.

Paul Mayo almost netted his first Notts goal twenty minutes from time with a towering header from Richard Butcher's corner, but his effort was headed off the line by Imps skipper Scott Kerr while Marriott blocked a Weir-Daley effort from close range from the resulting corner.

Austin McCann was replaced by Jason Lee as Ian McParland opted to go for a big man in attack in the final fifteen minutes, and Jay Smith almost brought Notts level ten minutes from time with a free-kick but he curled the ball over.

However despite their best efforts, Notts couldn't find a way through and it was ultimately another home defeat for Ian McParland's men.

Throughout the half Notts put ball after ball into the Imps area, but they weren't able to find a way through. Resolute defending in some quarters, but there's a real element of lady luck really not being on Notts' side at the moment - take the bounce of the ball, those sort of things - Notts aren't getting the rub of the green.

But, that's something Notts have to deal with at the moment and scrap it out for every available point. Ian McParland will tell you that you have to make your own luck in this game - and Notts are certainly due a large slice of it.

The Magpies on the road this weekend at leaders Peterborough United, a challenge the players will relish as they aim to halt the Posh's promotion party for now at least.

Full Time: Notts County 0-1 Lincoln City

Notts County: Hoult, Tann (C), Edwards, Johnson, McCann (Lee 76), Gibb (Parkinson 59), Smith, Butcher, Mayo, Jarvis, Weir-Daley.
Subs Not Used: MacKenzie, Silk, Hunt.
Booked: Smith.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.

Lincoln City: Marriott, Green, Beevers, Brown, Forrester, Kerr (C), Wright, N'Guessan, Dodds, Clarke, Hone.
Subs Not Used: Duffy, Moses, Marfaw, Warlow, King.
Booked: Hone.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Forrester (16).

Match Referee: Mr A R Hall

Attendance: 3,858 (870 Lincoln City Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Ryan Jarvis