GRAEME Lee made a dream start as Hartlepool United manager after a 1-0 victory to reach the third round of the FA Cup.
The only goal of the tie came on 52 minutes when Neill Byrne drove a ball across the face of he home goal where Lincoln defender Lewis Fiorini could only put it into his own net.
Pools defended superbly thereafter to clinch their fourth League One cup scalp of the season.
Lee and Michael Nelson’s made a confident start and should have led in the sixth minute following good work down the right by Reagan Ogle but Matty Daly scuffed his shot from eight yards the wrong side of Sam Long’s right stick.
Lee’s side were playing some nice football into the teeth of the strong wind, with defender Neill Byrne twice bringing the ball forward great distances.
But Byrne was required at the back with Lincoln starting to apply some pressure which culminated in six first-half corners.
Ben Killip was largely untroubled though he did produce two good low saves from Lincoln strikers Hakeeb Adelakun and Dan Nlundulu.
Pools were far from daunted and had another glorious chance when Daly drove forward and, unselfishly played in Cullen but his shot landed tamely in the hands of Long.
Long also saved from Mark Shelton who was preferred to Tom Crawford in midfield and produced an industrious shift.
Pools needed less than seven minutes to score the decisive goal of the tie.
Nicke Featherstone drove in a long free-kick with Byrne putting the cross in with home midfielder Fiorini appearing to blast the ball into the net.
Michael Appleton brought on sub Max Sanders who had scored the winner in the previous round and he brought a save from Killip.
But that was one of the few moments which caused any concern to the boys of blue and white who successfully held out to the delight of 916 magnificent travelling Poolies.
Lincoln: Long; Poole (Sanders 63), Jackson, Motsma, Robson (Bramall 74); Fiorini, McGrandles, Bishop; Adelakun, Nlundulu, Maguire. Subs (not used): Mair, Longdon, Sorensen, Eyoma, Bridcutt, Roughan
Booked: Maguire 78
Pools: Killip; Odusina, Liddle, Byrne, Ogle, Featherstone, Daly (Holohan 88), Shelton, Ferguson; Cullen (Goodwin 76), Molyneux.
Subs (not used): Mitchell, Hendrie, Francis-Angol, Jones, Smith, Crawford,Fondop
Goal: Fiorini OG 52
Booked: Holohan 89
Referee; Bobby Madley
Att: 5,506 (away 916)