Connor Stanley and Matty Grivosti got the goals as the B team got their Central League Cup campaign up and running in impressive style.
After defeat to Huddersfield in their opening Group B game, the Whites put their first points on the board to keep their qualification hopes intact.
Stanley drilled home the opening goal three minutes before the break and with Grivosti rounding off a tidy move 10 minutes into the second half, Wanderers had enough in hand to survive Jordan Garrick’s fine late strike for the visitors.
Garrick had started Lincoln’s recent League One defeat at Wanderers as one of several players in the City line-up with first-team experience.
And the Whites also had some senior representation on show in an entertaining encounter at Lostock.
Joel Dixon started in goal behind a defence including Eoin Toal – who featured for 45 minutes – while Lloyd Isgrove and Owen Beck filled the wing-back roles.
Beck completed his first 90 minutes in a Wanderers’ shirt in a tidy work-out for the on-loan Liverpool man.
And Isgrove also played another full game to add to his match fitness following his recent return from injury.
Dixon had little to do before the break as Wanderers enjoyed most of the possession and they made it pay when Stanley fired Matty Craddock’s side ahead.
Good work by Connor Carty created the opening for Stanley and after firing his initial effort against the bar, the attacking midfielder kept his composure to collect the rebound and pick out the top corner with a neat finish for his third goal of the campaign.
Wanderers then enjoyed their best spell just after half-time as the chances continued to come.
Carty dragged an effort wide after being released by Beck’s fine ball over the top before the Whites doubled their lead.
This time, Adam Senior’s accurate long ball picked out Isgrove to tee up Grivosti with a nice first-time touch and the summer signing from Warrington Town tucked the ball away from close range.
Grivosti then had another opportunity he couldn’t convert at the far post after Beck and Carty had opened up the City defence.
Garrick’s curled effort with 10 minutes to go – after he had earlier been denied by Dixon – kept City in the hunt.
But Wanderers closed out the victory to collect three points and go joint top of the table alongside Huddersfield and Rotherham, who won their opening game at Huddersfield to keep the group wide open.
Images: Finn Watkins