Starting debutant Ryan One had the Imps a goal up at the break, with Jack Moylan doubling the lead shortly after half-time. Former Imps loanee Jack Vale then saw red for the Cobblers who then conceded further goals from City subs Ivan Varfolomeev and Rob Street.

“It was amazing from start to finish,” said Skubala, whose team made it 15 games unbeaten. “We knew it would be a tough game, especially when they had 11 men on the pitch, but when we got that first goal we felt comfortable.

“We just got on top of them and I thought there were some great individual performances out there and some great finishes.

“We knew we could go and get some goals after the sending off, which was important to get our goal difference up.

“I needed to freshen up a few players tonight to bring some energy to the team and I thought the lads who came in did very well and it was great to see. I thought the subs coming on added so much energy and intensity to the game.”

Skubala had words of praise for Varfolomeev after the Ukrainian midfielder scored his first goal in English football, opening his Imps account with a 25-yard stunner.

“Ivan’s goal was excellent,” added Skubala. “He tries around 200 shots a day to get that sort of goal and it was brilliant to see him finally get his goal.”

It was a sobering night for Northampton manager Kevin Nolan, who admitted his side were second best.

“You can’t take it away from Lincoln, they’re a really good side,” he said. “Fair play to them, we were done by a better outfit, but we gifted them two poor goals.

“We didn’t do enough tonight and made wrong decisions. And we didn’t put them under pressure.”

Nolan was highly critical of referee Kirsty Dowle, while disagreeing with the decision to send off Vale.

“The referee was poor throughout the night and was well out of her depth, if I’m totally honest,” he said. “The sending off was absolutely ridiculous. I’m going to lose my striker now for three games over a really poor decision. We’re going to appeal it as anybody else wouldn’t have given it. The referee has gone off their shouts and screams and everybody knows it.

“I’m all for referees being given games, but we can’t shoehorn them in quickly. We’ve got to make sure they learn the game better.”