Sub Sam Finley scored a 95th minute winner to send the crowd wild as Stanley chalked up their third successive league victory in a seven-goal thriller.
The Imps went ahead three times but an own goal, a Joe Pritchard wonder strike, Seamus Conneely’s fierce effort and then Finley's late late goal meant the Reds grabbed three points in dramatic fashion. Dion Charles also saw a penalty saved for Stanley.
John Coleman named an unchanged side to the one which overcame Shrewsbury 2-0 on Tuesday night.
The last time these two sides met in the league, Stanley overcame the Imps 1-0 to clinch the League Two title in April 2018 before Lincoln clinched promotion last year.
Michael Appleton’s side were first in action with former Burnley captain Jason Shackell heading over while Jordan Clark’s strike from an angle was blocked by Imps keeper Josh Vickers.
The Imps took the lead on 30 minutes when a corner found the head of Harry Anderson and the ball fell for West Ham loan striker Anthony Scully in the six yard box and he turned and fired home.
Stanley then enjoyed a spell of pressure and equalised on 36 minutes when Clark raced down the right wing, played a one-two with Callum Johnson, and the winger’s cross was turned into his own net by Shackell at the near post.
Clark’s long range deflected strike wasn’t far off a second but Lincoln should have scored on the stroke of half-time when Scully got the ball unmarked six yards out but Joe Bursik superbly blocked the effort.
Stanley were awarded a penalty on 47 minutes for a foul by Shackell on Benny Ashley-Seal as both leapt for the ball in the six yard box. Charles took the spot kick but Vickers saved it to keep the scores level.
Lincoln went ahead on 53 minutes. Sub Aaron Lewis, who entered the pitch on 50 minutes, had already forced a save out of Bursik but, in the next attack, the keeper could only push Neal Eardley’s cross out and Lewis was there to head home.
Stanley searched for another equaliser with Bobby Grant heading just wide as the rain hammered down.
It was then Stanley’s turn for a super sub as Pritchard had only been on the pitch two minutes when, on 70 minutes, he got the ball 30 yards out, ran forward and rifled it into the net, similar to his goal at Rochdale.
It was end-to-end and Lincoln once more took control on 76 minutes when unmarked Shackell headed home a corner.
The lead only lasted two minutes though as Clark tricked his way into the box, he laid the ball back to his skipper and Conneely rifled the ball home.
There were more chances for both sides and injuries resulted in over 10 minutes of added time - and up popped Finley as Stanley leapfrogged Lincoln in the table.