Inconsistency : How we won promotion....Part 4

By Nathan Jackson
July 9 2007

In Part 4 of the "How We Won Promotion" series we examine an inconsistant period in the Imps' 1997/8 season in which good wins were followed up by disappointing defeats. Despite inconsistency, the Imps did manage to recover the damage of the middle part of the season, and again turn the dreaded P (no, not playoffs) word into the most talked about thing around Sincil Bank.

Gareth Ainsworth played a small but vital part in the 1997/8, playing his final game against Rotherham marking the end of a 2 years love affair with the end.

His hat-trick against Scarborough for the Imps has only been followed by three other players. Lee Thorpe, Simon Yeo and Jamie Forrester have all scored hat-tricks for the Imps in the 10 years since Gareth Ainsworth left.

Since leaving Sincil Bank he has helped Cardiff and QPR to promotion to the 2nd tier of English Football, ironically joining QPR just a month after Cardiff beat them in the Division 2 Playoff Final.

Speaking of Cardiff, they were City's first opponents in the 4th fifth of the season. City recorded a second win in a row with Colin Alcide scoring the only goal of the game in the 51st minute. A week later and City made the trip to the Abbey Stadium for the surprise result....of a draw. Chenery gave Cambridge the lead before Alcide's equaliser.

City confidentally beat Barnet 2-0. Mark Hone scored in the 54th minute before Gavin Gordon doubled the lead in the last minute. Alcide scored his 3rd goal in 4 games before a certain Jamie Forrester equalised for Scunthorpe just days after the Barnet game.

A promotion scrap between the Imps and Torquay saw a 5 goal thriller. Rodney Jack gave the hosts the lead before Gurney doubled the lead. Lee Thorpe and Colin Alcide equalised for the Imps before future Premiership referee, Steve Bennett awarded a controversial penalty, this was converted by Gibbs and City trounced back north on the back of a 3-2 defeat.

The home game against Swansea is only remembered for one reason, it was John Beck's last as Lincoln City manager. Jason Price opened the scoring for Swansea before Lee Thorpe scored the last goal under the John Beck reign to gain the Imps a point.

Shane Westley took over as manager and his first game came in a defeat at Leyton Orient. Fleming was sent off for in the first half before Inglethorpe scored the only goal of the game. The Imps first home game under Westley saw an impressive performance against Rochdale. The same combination of Alcide and Thorpe scoring the winning goals for the Imps.

Any side that didn't beat Doncaster in those days knew they were in trouble, but just a crowd of 2,357 at Belle Vue saw Stant and Thorpe gave City a rather unsurprising lead after just 10 minutes. George and Donnelly unbelieveabley brought Donny level, City did secure a win via goals from Jae Martin and Alcide with two late goals.

For the fourth game in five, both Thorpe and Alcide scored to give the Imps a confident 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town. Promotion was the watch word on everyone's lips now but fans were given a warning shot when Colchester beat the Imps 1-0 at Sincil Bank thanks to a Dunne goal.

Coming in the final fifth of the season : Fights, delight, agony, PROMOTION.