Lincoln edged out Dover and secured a secure a seventh straight home win in the Conference.
The Imps' Nat Brown had a header cleared off the line from Sean Newton's cross in a first half of few chances.
The deadlock was broken early in the second period when Newton's deep cross dropped over Dover keeper Andy Rafferty for Ben Tomlinson to stab home.
After Connor Essam clipped the bar, Dover's Sean Raggett also struck the woodwork, but the hosts held on.
Lincoln move to within two points of the play-off places in ninth spot, with Dover in 12th.
Preece on Lincoln City v Dover
Lincoln City player-coach David Preece told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:
"I don't think we'll have to work harder for the three points than we did today for the rest of the season.
"It was an absolutely brilliant performance and even before you start talking about that, if you think about Dover, they're a big strong side, they've got quality and you wouldn't want to play them every week.
"They've been on a long unbeaten run and that says everything about our performance today.
"It's exactly what we needed and I think over the past few months, every time we've had a setback the boys have come right back and given us the answers we've been looking for."
- Published7 June 2019
- Published20 June 2016
