Scott Ramsay won a surprise call-up for Albion Sincil Bank today.

The 19-year-old striker from Hastings was given his first start of the season in preference to Darren Freeman.

Ramsay, who scored twice in 24 League games last term, partnered Bobby Zamora up front, with Gary Hart taking up a position wide on the right as Micky Adams stuck with a 4-4-2 formation.

Captain Paul Rogers returned in the middle of midfield, with Richard Carpenter ruled out by an ankle injury sustained in Tuesday's 2-1 Worthington Cup defeat by Millwall.

Charlie Oatway recovered from a groin injury to take his place alongside Rogers against the team he onced served on loan.

Freeman, booked in for an operation to repair a double hernia on September 5, was among the substitutes.

The replacements also included Lincoln-born Steve Melton and out-of-favour goalkeeper Michel Kuipers.

Lincoln, still smarting from Tuesday's 6-1 thrashing at Sheffield United in the Worthington Cup, made one change.

The fit-again Gavin Gordon replaced record buy Tony Battersby upfront.

Gordon joined Albion reject Dave Cameron, dubbed 'useless' by Adams' assistant last season.

The early exchanges were rather untidy, with no real openings for either side.

Zamora won a couple of balls in the air early on.

The first, from Kerry Mayo's long throw, ended with Brooker hooking a volley well wide.

The second was a flick on for Ramsay, but Holmes was alert to the danger.

Cameron's first contribution against his old club was to concede a foul for an elbow on Kerry Mayo just inside the Albion half.

Brooker got the better of former Hastings player Smith close to the byline to make progress into the area.

Smith recovered to get a tackle in, prompting half-hearted appeals for a penalty.

Smith scored Lincoln's only goal early on at Sheffield in his new role as right wingback. It promised to be an intriguing battle between him and the elusive Brooker.

Albion threatened when Kerry Mayo's cross was cut out by Holmes as far as Crosby.

The central defender's side-foot from just outside the box was deflected wide for the first of three corners in swift succession.

The third of them was pulled back by Watson for Kerry Mayo to strike a low shot which deflected off Ramsay and then a Lincoln defender for yet another corner.

Albion, with Brooker looking lively, were exerting plenty of pressure at this stage and they came close again moments later.

Brooker's cross from the left was flicked on by Rogers. It bounced narrowly wide of the far post as Zamora threw himself forward in a vain attempt to connect.

The Seagulls continued to carry the game to hosts still seeking their first win of the season.

A fluent passing move, involving several players, found Zamora in space inside the box, but he was crowded out when he checked inside.

Cameron had Crosby to thank for avoiding a caution midway through the half.

He caught the Albion stopper late.

Referee Baines seemed ready to produce a card, but Crosby was back on his feet quickly so Cameron escaped with a lecture.

Zamora should have given Albion a deserved lead in the 23 minute.

He mis-kicked eight yards out when Hart pulled a low cross back to him, then his follow-up was beaten away by Marriott.

Crosby's firm header at the far post from Watson's ensuing corner was denied by a combination of Marriott and the post at the expense of yet another corner, the Seagulls' seventh.

It was totally one way traffic at this stage, with the only thing missing a goal to reward Albion's dominance.

Lincoln's first corner did not arrive until the 33rd minute, Cullip heading behind Gordon's cross to the near post under pressure from Cameron.

Lincoln's second corner moments later, taken once more by Paul Mayo, produced the opening goal completely against the run of play, Logan's header at the far post back across the face of goal was nodded in from close range by Holmes.

The goal was terribly harsh on Albion. As is so often the case though, they had been punished for failing to score when so much in command.

Worst followed as, almost inevitably, Cameron doubled Lincoln's lead four minutes later.

Miller's slide rule pass put the big Scot clean through as Albion looked hopefully for an offside flag.

Cameron finished with some confidence, finding the net with a low left footer past the exposed Cartwright.

The former soldier wheeled away in delight to celebrate his first goal for his new club in front of the home fans.

He then looked over from the far side of the pitch towards the Albion dugout in euphoric fashion.

It must have been a galling moment for Adams, but after everything that happened to Cameron at the Seagulls' last season he seemed pre-destined to score.

Incredibly Albion could have fallen three behind in the 43rd minute. Crobsy's square pass, meant for Kerry Mayo, was cut out by Gordon who then made tracks towards goal.

The pursuing Crosby could not get in a challenge, but fortunately for Albion Gordon scuffed his shot tamely to Cartwright.

Albion almost pulled a goal back two minutes into the restart.

Lincoln were caught out as they tried to play offside from Watson's free-kick a couple of yards inside the Albion half.

Cullip headed on for Brooker to lob over Marriott towards a gaping goal, but the covering Brown nodded behind for a corner.

Tempers flared when Albion were awarded a free-kick on their right flank a few yards outside the Lincoln area.

Several players from both sides clashed in the box while referee Baines had his back to them.

As Baines realised something was going on, Watson curled the free-kick into the empty net, but there was no way it was going to be allowed to stand.

Albion started the second half as they had the first, with the play almost entirely condensed inside Lincoln territory.

Another chance went begging when Cullip pulled a cross back for Crosby to fire over from the edge of the area.

Adams made a change on the hour, introducing Jones for Ramsay.

Jones went on to the left flank, Brooker switched to the right and Hart reverted to his customary striking role alongside Zamora.

Within six minutes of his introduction, Jones cracked a right foot drive from 20 yards which the diving Marriott tipped spectacularly for another corner.