Classic Match: Imps 4-1 Workington

It was all left for City to do now. One of Ashman’s former West Brom players, Barry Donaghy was getting lots of the ball down one flank, whilst Martin Harris saw plenty on the other. Ironically, for a game chosen because of our own winger vote, it was the opposition who looked more dangerous, until the half hour mark.

It wasn’t just tough in terms of the football, but also as a physical encounter. Alan Harding and keeper Ron Hughes both received a booking in an incident that today would have seen both sent off. City players, on a rare attack, experienced a coming together with the keeper and in the following few seconds punches were thrown and players from both sides helped calm things down. That seemed to work in the Imps’ favour.

Finally, City got going. Neale, making on his sixth start for the club, scored his first goal in Imps colours. He started the move off in the middle of the park and received a return pass from Alan Harding eighteen yards out, where he blasted  Hughes to draw things level.

Just before half time, City took the lead through the second own goal of the game. John Ward’s rasping effort looked to be beating Hughes, but hapless defender Chris Kisby diverting the ball past his own keeper into the back of the net, with Percy Freeman lurking too. If the defender hadn’t intervened, it was likely City would have taken the lead. Hughes had only moments early made a superb save from Big Percy, with the rebound hooked wide by Ward.

The first half finished tempestuously as Kisby was booked for a horrible tackle on Freeman, presumably anger showing through.

Even in the second half City didn’t show signs of the dominance that followed throughout the season. Ian Branfoot had to be alert to keep out a shot from Donaghy, his effort beat Grotier only for the Imps’ defender to clamly collect the ball and bring it away from goal. That scare perhaps once again prompted a response, this time one of our featured wingers was involved. Dave Smith, surged down the right winger and won a corner which he took himself. His ball bounced directly off the post and back into a melee of players, where the original Lincolnshire Poacher, John Ward gobbled up the rebound. Alas, that effort was stopped on the line, but the relentless Ward just steamed in and fird the ball into the back of the net. 3-1 to City.

Workington still had time to hit the bar through the lively Donaghy, but City ended the game as a contest with seventeen minutes remaining. Both Alan Harding and Dick Kryzwicki, wingers you can still vote for, toyed with the Workington defence, one after the other. Like a lion stalking an injured prey they exchanged passes on the left flank, looking for that moment of weakness.

Harding saw it first, Kryzwicki sensed it and the former’s ball down the line saw the latter ease himself into space. His cross was inch perfect and when a cross was that good, Percy Freeman was always going to be on the end of it. It was his 16th of the season and it meant City were 4-1 up and beyond the reach of the spirited visitors.

Market Rasen-born Peter Sellars got his sixteen minutes of fame shortly afterwards, with the 17-year old replacing Terry Cooper once the game was made safe. It was a signal that the game was won and despite a late chance for Freeman, the score didn’t change.

It was a satisfying win for City, especially after two goalless games, but manager Graham Taylor knew he needed to patch up his depleted side. He got on the phone to Nottingham Forest and ordered himself a Bert Bowery and a Tony Woodcock ahead of the next week’s fixture with Southport. I think most of you know what happened.

Returning home on that chilly evening in 1976, Imps fans would be listening to Oh What a Night by the Four Seasons which was number one. It wasn’t much of a night for Workington, nor much of a season. They finished bottom, despite the spirited display. The following season they won just four matches, crowds fell below 1,000 and again they finished bottom. This time, they were voted out of the league in favour of the Crazy Gang of Wimbledon.

They’re still in business though and they still play at Borough Park although it is significantly different to the ground that held 21,000 in 1958. They play in the Northern Premier League, one division higher than Lincoln United but at the same level as Grantham Town and Gainsborough Trinity. They finished 12th this season, disappointing considering their play-off finish the year before.

More ‘Classic Matches’ through the summer as I try to stay away from baseless rumours and speculation!

Thanks to Lincoln City Football Club for the pictures