TWO moments of defensive madness cost Accrington Stanley their unbeaten run as Lincoln City won at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

Visiting skipper Scotty Kerr scored both goals to end the Stanley revival - but they were gifts.

Despite trailing, the Reds dominated the first period and were repeatedly denied by visiting keeper Rob Burch during the first-half.

But that wasn‘t the case in the second as they disappointed - badly.

It was a dreadful start for Stanley as thy went behind inside four minutes as Lincoln skipper Scott Kerr capitalised on dozing defenders on the left a he collected a quick throw-in and cut into the box before shooting across Kenny Arthur.

Stanley were rocked by that setback but slowly got a foot-hold in the game and Craig Lindfield managed to dig a shot out from an impossible position to force Burch into a fine save.

And then John Miles hit a volley straight at the keeper when Lincoln made a hash of clearing their lines from a Robbie Williams free-kick.

But players making a hash of things was a recurring theme in the first 25 minutes with passes going astray and the crowd becoming restless.

Stanley had more possession but when they did open the Lincoln defence off, Miles crossed to no-one.

Jimmy Ryan made Burch scamper across his goal to save a free-kick, while Lee Beevers was walking a fine line for the Imps.

The Reds, so impressive in the last month, finally remembered their abilities and were unlucky not to be level when Burch saved superbly from Lindfield and then Miles was denied a penalty when he was taken ut by the blundering Janos Kovacs.

Beevers should have walked on 36 minutes for a dreadful challenge on Bobby Grant, who was a late replacement for Chris Turner when the winger was hurt in the warm-up.

It was remarkable that Grant got up - and even more amazing that referee Dean Whitestone took no action other than award the free-kick.

In a rare Lincoln raid, Anthony Elding shot wide after good work from Kerr.

But normal service was recovered three minutes before the break when Burch made his third fine ave of the half, getting down well to keep out a Ryan shot that took a wicked deflection.

The second period started in an identikit fashion to the first with the Imps scoring again through Kerr.

It was a goal all of Stanley’s own making as Robbie Williams played a dreadful ball towards Ryan, who was then weak as Kerr took it off him and ran into the box before finishing well.

Arthur had no chance with either goal and had little to do - bt raced from his line quickly on the hour mark to head the danger away as Anthon Elding chased a long through ball.

It wasn’t a great game by any stretch of the imagination and Stanley were huffing and puffing and looking like a side ready for the summer break, although Charnock headed wide from a Miles free-kick.

Lincoln almost made it 3-0 when Michael O’Conner’s lob was saved by Arthur following good work from Adrian Patulea.

Charnock couldn’t connect with a Peter Cavanagh free-kick when Burch missed the ball completely, while sub Sean McConville shot just wide.

But they rarely threatened seriously and it was down to Arthur to make a fine save to keep out Patulea’s late effort.

And in the fourth minute of added time, Miles shanked a cross and Burch arched his back to tip over.

Then Jimmy Ryan saw a shot hacked off the line by O'Conner - but it wasn't good.