A highly entertaining game at Sincil Bank saw Rotherham United maintain their excellent form to move into second place in the League Two table with a well deserved victory.

Ryan Taylor was restored to the starting line up in place of Ian Ross who dropped to the substitutes bench and the Millers were soon on the attack with a fine passing move that ended with Pablo Mills' cross being headed out.

City replied with a cross from Frecklington that Dodds put wide before the opening goal almost came. Mills delivered a cross that was played on by Derek Holmes to Mark Hudson who hit the post.

Immediately the Imps went up field with a long ball to Wright who looked a certain scorer only for the ball to hit the post and be gratefully grabbed by Andy Warrington.

The lively Forrester fired wide but the Millers replied again with a great ball from Taylor to Chris O'Grady who just failed to control the ball. A deep cross from Marc Joseph was headed on by Holmes to Taylor whose close range header was blocked and as City replied John-Lewis fired wide.

Back came the visitors again and this time they took the lead on 24 minutes when a superb pass from Graham Coughlan sent O'Grady away and from his cross Holmes was on hand to knock the ball home.

It was almost two up a few minutes later when Green nearly conceded an own goal but the ball hit the bar but the pressure was maintained on the home goal with a Taylor break that saw Hudson just beaten for pace by Green.

Just before the interval free kicks to either side were dealt with and after two home corners in quick succession brown drilled a 30 yarder just over the bar.

Three minutes into the second half Warrington caught a deep Clarke cross at the post and a great ball from the keeper sent Taylor away but he fired wide with a good chance.

That proved costly as City levelled matters on 55 minutes when a long ball saw Coughlan under hit a back header to his keeper and Forrester took advantage to slip the ball home from a narrow angle.

However, the home delight was soon quiet again as United restored their lead just a couple of minutes later with Mills delivering a delightful cross that Holmes headed home.

That livened up the game even more as City looked to level matters again with Forrester firing just wide and a corner came to nothing.

On 72 minutes it was almost three for the Millers with another great move, this time Mills found Danny Harrison who sent Joseph away only for his goalbound shot to be tipped over the bar.

Holmes then had a header saved from a Joseph cross and the striker just failed to get on the end of another cross from O'Grady.

Any thoughts of City getting back on level terms disappeared on 84 minutes when another fine move saw Coughlan feed Ross, on to Mills and another low cross to the far post saw Holmes complete his hat-trick.

A late push by City failed to reduce their arrears before they were reduced to ten men in added time as Clarke was dismissed for a horrible two footed tackle on Hudson. United ran out worthy winners to the delight of the superb backing from the Millers supporters.

Lincoln: Marriott, Green, Brown, Beevers, Ridley, John-Lewis, Kerr, Frecklington (Clarke 46), Dodds, Forrester (Smith 73, Wright. Subs: Ryan, Hone, Duffy.

Rotherham: Warrington, Joseph, Sharps, Coughlan, Brogan, Harrison, Mills, Hudson, O'Grady, Taylor, (Ross 68), D. Holmes. Subs: O'Donnell, Tonge, Newsham, P. Holmes.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northants).

Attendance: 5016 (1,482 away).