Aaron Wilbraham heads home the Dons second goal

The MK Dons claimed all three points at Sincil Bank thanks to an unbelievable backs-to-the-wall performance, which saw the team finish with ten men after another dismissal for Izale McLeod.

An early penalty from McLeod plus headers Aaron Wilbraham and Clive Platt enabled the Dons to take the spoils, although the home side did claim two goals of their own through Lee Frecklington and Lee Beevors.

The Dons came into the game with a number of changes from last time out, including the loss of influential winger Lloyd Dyer, who failed a late fitness test - his place in the side was taken by Sean O'Hanlon, with Drissa Diallo moving to right back, Gareth Edds taking the right midfield slot and Jon-Paul McGovern switching to left wing.

The game started in ideal circumstances for the Dons as they were awarded a penalty in the first five minutes after apparent shirt-pulling at a Dean Lewington corner.

McLeod it was who stepped up and stroked the ball home from the penalty spot, giving Andy Marriott in the Imps goal no chance.

GOAL: LINCOLN CITY 0 MK DONS 1
Izale McLeod 5 (pen)

After the early goal, the match continued at a frenetic and competitive pace with both sides doing their utmost to battle for the ball and take control. Having been beaten on Tuesday night, it was clear that the Dons were fired up for this early clash of promotion contenders.

With twenty minutes on the clock, the Dons had a chance to double their lead through McGovern, when the exciting winger burst through from midfield and found the space to shoot but dragged his shot wide.

Then, just six minutes later, the Dons did double their lead thanks to a cracking header from Wilbraham. Edds surged forward down the right wing and powered in a superb cross to the back post, straight onto the header of Wilbraham who rose high to head past Marriott.

GOAL: LINCOLN CITY 0 MK DONS 2
Aaron Wilbraham  26

The Imps then came back into the game and after substitute Martin Gritton had headed a chance wide, they pulled a goal back on 44 minutes thanks to a fierce 25 yard stike from Frecklington.

GOAL: LINCOLN CITY 1 MK DONS 2
Lee Frecklington 45

The home side were then given a clear chance to level matters on the stroke of half time with the award of a contentious penalty for handball against O'Hanlon. Dons 'keeper Adolfo Baines dived to his left to keep out Jamie Forrester's shot.

HALF-TIME: LINCOLN CITY 1 MK DONS 2

The action of the first half continued almost immediately in the second period, when Platt, on as a sub for Wilbraham, restored the Dons two goal cushion with a back post header straight from the top drawer to convert McLeod's left wing cross in the 54th minute.

GOAL: LINCOLN CITY 1 MK DONS 3
Clive Platt 54

Four minutes later and McLeod, playing in the first game since his three game suspension for a red card at Boston, again received his marching orders, this time for two yellow cards.

After being booked in the first half for, in the referee's opinion, diving, the England under 21 international was harshly adjudged to have deliberately handballed, leading to a second yellow and a subsequent red.

Within a minute of McLeod's dismissal, the hosts claimed their second of the game through Lee Beevors, who stole in to collect a mis-hit overhead kick from Forrester to poke the ball past Baines from close range.

GOAL: LINCOLN CITY 2 MK DONS 3
Lee Beevors 59

The second Lincoln goal, combined with the hosts' numerical advantage, saw the Dons really put to the test with half an hour to go as Jeff Hughes spurned a clear chance, followed by two efforts from Ryan Amoo that threatened to level the scores.

As the final whistle approached, Lincoln continued to throw everything at Martin Allen's team, but with nothing to show for their efforts as the Dons dug deep and made it tough for the Sincil Bank outfit.

And even as the fourth official held aloft the board to confirm six minutes of added time, the Dons continued to repel Lincoln attacks, with the home side coming no nearer to an equaliser than an unthreatening header from Frecklington.

At the other end, the Dons still posed a threat with substitute Scott Taylor breaking away to sting the hands of Marriott with a feirce drive.

As the referee blew the whistle to end the game it was obvious how much this win meant to Martin Allen's team, who celebrated the result with the travelling Dons fans.

It was an enthralling game filled with action at either end, but all that matters for the Dons is the result - one which they had to really dig deep for, proving that they have the grit and determination for the long fight ahead.

FINAL SCORE: LINCOLN CITY 2 MK DONS 3