Substitutes Freddie Draper and Bailey Cadamarteri scored the goals as Lincoln won 2-0 at winless Cambridge.
Freddie Draper, who came on following an injury to Ben House sustained barely a minute into the game, opened the scoring in the 26th minute.
Jack Moylan found Tendayi Darikwa on the right, and his low delivery was fired home by Draper.
Lincoln could have had the game won by half-time but for two big saves by home goalkeeper Vicente Reyes.
He beat away Jovon Makama’s effort while the game was goalless and then stood tall to deny the forward again 10 minutes before the break after Draper had played him through on the break.
Cambridge struggled to create chances, but just before the interval George Wickens was called on to keep out Dan Nlundulu’s deflected shot.
Wickens blocked Michael Morrison’s close-range chance, but 22 minutes from time the Imps made the game safe.
Adam Jackson’s long ball out of defence found Cadamateri, who chested the ball down before firing unchallenged beyond Reyes for his first Lincoln goal.
