Lincoln City produced a scintillating second half display to remain firmly in the play-off picture.

After a dire first half, Brennan Johnson brought the game to life with three goals in 11 minutes before Cohen Bramall added a fourth to move Lincoln back into the top four. 

MK Dons, meanwhile, offered very little in either half and their season is effectively now over. 

  • Story of the match

A scrappy opening saw both teams cancel each out, with Lincoln's Brennan Johnson's ball across the face of goal proving the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening half an hour. 

Morgan Rogers capitalised on a slip from Dons' Harry Darling in the 32nd minute, but took too long to get his shot away as Dean Lewington got back to block the forward. 

At the other end, meanwhile, Matt O'Riley's free kick proved just too much for Darling to make a meaningful connection.

Imps full back Cohen Bramall found Regan Poole with a deep cross as the half drew to a close, but his goalbound strike deflected off teammate Callum Morton and bounced to safety.

After that dire first half it took just three minutes of the second period to produce a moment of quality the game had been lacking. 

An excellent through ball from Lincoln's Rogers caught out the Dons defence and there was Johnson to lift the ball over Andrew Fisher with great composure to put his side ahead.

Five minutes later, Johnson then doubled his and Lincoln's tally with a close range following good work in the area from fellow forwards Rogers and Anthony Scully.

Johnson completed his hat-trick in just nine minutes after Rogers was pulled back in the area, and the Nottingham Forest loanee left Fisher with no chance  from the spot. 

Bramall then added a fourth with 17 minutes to go with a free kick that bounced off the post and goalkeeper Fisher before creeping over the line.

  • Takeaways from the match

Lincoln find form at last

It was a welcome victory for Lincoln who were in danger of falling out of the play-off positions following a poor run.

This first win in seven, however, coupled with Saturday's comeback against Blackpool will do Michael Appleton's side the world of good though as the season reaches it's climax.

Season over for MK Dons

Russell Martin's side already had the odds stacked against them if they were to finish the season in the top six, but this result firmly ended any hopes of that happening. 

  • Standout players

​​​​​​​Brennan Johnson was clearly the game's standout performer with a superb, quickfire treble. 

Morgan Rogers, meanwhile  provided the assist for Johnson's first two, before wining the penalty for his third as well as the free kick that led to Bramall's fourth.