As Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City continue their search for the elusive point needed to confirm the League One title, we take a look back at City’s fixture on this day eight years ago.
The Imps welcomed Colchester United to Sincil Bank for match 44 of the club’s first season back in the league after six years away, with the Checktrade Trophy already in the cabinet and a playoff place up for grabs.
Lincoln City’s Dream Period Continues
Before the current crop of players delivered beyond our wildest dreams, Danny Cowley had put the club back onto a positive footing and created a feel-good factor within the city.
After the FA Cup heroics of the previous season, adding to the National League title, Cowley’s Imps had taken to life in League Two like a duck to water. A first-ever Wembley appearance saw silverware already in the bag and City chasing down a playoff spot for a second successive promotion.
Colchester United, who were hovering around mid-table, travelled north on the back of two straight defeats and in search of a positive end to the campaign.
The U’s lined up with future Imp Mide Shodipo in attack and had Sammie Szmodics warming the bench. Ryan Allsop was between the sticks for the home side, with Matt Rhead leading the line up front.
Late Goal Secures Lincoln City’s Top Seven Spot
After a goalless first half, Elliot Whitehouse gave the home side the lead with a 55th-minute penalty, but the lead was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Courtney Senior levelled things up for John McGreal’s side.
With the game heading for a draw into the fourth minute of injury time, up stepped Luke Waterfall to get his head on it and win the game for Lincoln City, all but securing their place in the top seven.
This victory put Cowley’s side six points ahead of Mansfield Town with a slightly better goal difference than their rivals.
Unfortunately for Lincoln, their journey would come to an end in the play-off semi-finals with a defeat to Exeter City across two legs. Following a 0-0 draw in the home leg, City were beaten 3-1 in Devon thanks to goals from Jayden Stockley, Hiram Boateng and Ryan Harley, with Matt Green grabbing a consolation.
A Year Too Early In The Rebuild?
One of my overriding memories of the time was my thought that the club didn’t want promotion in 2018, perhaps believing it was a little early for the side Danny Cowley had assembled. The club flirted with the top three. I remember winning at Carlisle over Easter and automatic promotion being talked about.
It may sound ridiculous to suggest the club didn’t want promotion, as they would have obviously taken it. Still, the way the squad continued to be shaped and added to for the following season suggested a successive promotion wasn’t part of the plan at that time.
John Akinde was added to the forward line and, perhaps opportunistically rather than planned, Jason Shackell joined to partner Michael Bostwick at the heart of the defence. Harry Toffolo was another new signing and excelled at left back as the Imps were comfortably crowned champions in 2019.