Turn Back the Clock : The Greatest Ever Game?

By Nathan Jackson
May 16 2007

Our first ever playoff game is arguably the best playoff game ever played. The Imps entertained local rivals Scunthorpe United in the 1st leg, a game that turned out to have near-enough everything. One of the highest gates since Sincil Bank turned into an all seater stadium witness 8 goals, a further 2 disallowed, and one of the most passionate local derbies around.

Scunthorpe had been comfortably in the playoffs near enough all season, that's a compliment considering that at some points, only 3 points seperated the team in 3rd from the team in 11th, it was incredibly tight. Even Kidderminster Harriers briefly occupied 2nd place in the table. City had been up and down in that pack but an unbeaten run at the end of the season saw the Imps qualify on the final day.

Scunthorpe carved out the first chance when Andy Dawson sent a low drive goalwards from the edge of the area, Alan Marriott was equal to the challenge. Dawson conceded the first corner of the game when under pressure from Bailey. Bimson crossed the ball and Weaver directed a header goalwards, only to see Tom Evans comfortably save.

Peter Gain rounded off a great move between himself, Paul Mayo and Dene Cropper by smashing a ball towards goal, Evans struggled to gather the ball and only barely stopped Paul Smith getting a sniff on goal. It was to be a busy day for Smith, infact it would turn out to be his final ever match at Sincil Bank thanks to a serious back injury sustained a few weeks later that forced him to quit professional football.

Smith won a free kick after being obstructed on the right. Bimson swung in the free kick and it went over everyone and found Weaver at the back post, the defender having the simple task of heading into an empty net to give City the lead.

The atmosphere lifted and now the Imps fans were really getting behind the Imps. It was a new experience for City fans and they had been creating a carnival atmosphere along with their playoff veteran opponents.

City started to dominate the game, camping themselves on the edge of the Scunthorpe area and it wasn't long before an unfamliar sight could be seen. A cross was only half cleared by the Scunthorpe defence and the ball fell to Butcher, he floated the ball back in and Paul Mayo hit a spectacular volley past Evans to score his first ever goal for the Imps. It was a goal that Sky Sports described as "It wouldn't look out of place at Old Trafford or the Nou Camp."

Scunthorpe fans weren't happy as they thought that Mayo was offside and they vented their anger at the linesman. However, Mayo perfectly timed his run and the near 7,000 Imps fans went crazy. It seems almost insane looking back on myself as I was thinking "This is great.....I wish we could have playoff games more often".......I think the young version of me needs a bit of a slap.

Martin Carruthers was booked after a foul on Mayo. Carruthers would end up playing for City during the 2004/5 season. After more Imps dominance, Scunthorpe got back into the game agains the run of play. Scunthorpe won a corner despite the ball not crossing the line. Beagrie took the corner and Alex Calvo-Garcia proded the ball goalwards, Mark Bailey tried to clear the ball on the line but a goal was given for Scunthorpe and the away end was suddenly full of claret and sky blue shirts jumping around madly.

Ben Futcher and Carruthers got into a heated argument just as the Imps won a corner. Bimson swung the ball in and Butcher rose to head the ball into the net, the goal was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. Paul Hayes wasted a good chance to level the scores form a narrow angle before Futcher joined Carruthers in the book.

Airo wailed as Dene Cropper won a corner, but Evans easily caught Bimson's delivery. Carruthers came within a layer of paint of scoring as his 25 yard shot hit the ball. Dene Cropper failed to connect with Bimson throw. That was the final action of an eventful first half of football.

Calvo-Garcia tested Marriott within 2 minutes of the restart but Marriott produced a fine save to deny the Spaniard. A speculative overhead kick from Dene Cropper seemed to surprise everyone, only just going wide of the post. It wasn't long before the teenage striker was heavily involved in the Imps third. He ran onto a clever Mayo header before sending in a low cross and Paul Smith smashed past Evans to give City a 3-1 lead.

Dene Cropper would leave Sincil Bank less than a year later, claiming a lack of first team opportunities made him want to leave. He left for Boston before eventually finding his way back into non-league. Keith Alexander tried to sign him back from Worksop Town at the beginning of the 2005/6 season but Cropper refused.

City fans thought it was 4-1 within 2 minutes of the last goal when a Bailey cross was dropped by Bailey and Mayo slammed home from close range. It was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. Torpey and Dalglish replaced Carruthers and Sparrow for the visitors. Beagrie was booked for a foul on Weaver.

At around the midway period of the half, United pulled a goal back. Beagrie sent a corner in and the poor Sincil Bank turf stopped the ball dead right in front of goal and Calvo-Garcia doubled his tally for the day. This again sent the away end into raptures.

If they were in raptures at that point, then it was pure delight within 90 seconds as Hayes passed the ball to Stanton. The defender took a few touches before sending the ball across goal and into the net to score his first ever goal for Scunthorpe. It was at this point that Brian Laws tauned the Imps fans by putting his finger over his lips to replicate the stunned silence of the previously noisy Imps supporters. Yeo came on for Cropper for the Imps.

Torpey was booked for Scunthorpe. Calvo-Garcia almost grabbed a hatrick but his header went over the bar following Dawson's corner. A midfield battle ensued and the ball fell to Bimson, a long and high ball over the top saw Simon Yeo latch onto it and he sent a first time shot past Evans to put the Imps back into the lead. A sense of relief enguled Sincil Bank as Yeo pulled away in jubilation. Willis replaced Gain for City.

Yeo was booked as the game entered injury time. Stuart Bimson picked up the ball near the corner flag and cleverly played it to Richard Butcher. The former Kettering man took his time before chipping the ball into the box and a fantastic volley from Simon Yeo flew past Evans and it was 5-3 to the Imps as City fans invaded the pitch in nirvana.

LINCOLN CITY : Alan Marriott, Mark Bailey, Stuart Bimson, Paul Morgan, Ben Futcher, Simon Weaver, Richard Butcher, Peter Gain Paul Mayo, Dene Cropper, Paul Smith.

LINCOLN CITY SUBS : Simon Yeo (for Cropper 73), Scott Willis (for Gain 86), Matt Bloomer, Chris Cornelly, Ben Sedgemore.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED : Tom Evans, Nathan Stanton, Andy Dawson, Mark Jackson, Matt Sparrow, Alex Calvo-Garcia, Peter Beagrie, Ian Kilford, Paul Hayes, Greg Strong.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED SUBS : Steve Torpey (for Carruthers 65), Paul Dalglish (for Sparrow 65), Wayne Graves, Lee Ridley, Adam Capp.