The Most Lethal In Total From Open Play

So, who was the most lethal in terms of cumulative goals from open play? We know Ainsworth had 19, and Yeo 18, and they’re the top two.

Next, it’s Ben Tomlinson in 2013/14; he scored 17 times, with one from the spot taking the tally to 18. Taylor-Fletcher’s 16 in 2003/04 is next, followed by Matt Rhead (15) in 2015/16, tied with Ben Wright (15) in 2007/08. Wright, like GTF, doesn’t have any penalties in his tally, and his goals tally is perhaps one of the most underrated achievements of any striker on the list.

Lee Thorpe was another non-penalty taker, and his 15 in 1999/00, and 14 in 1997/98 make up the top eight performing strikers.

Thorpe’s achievements shouldn’t be sniffed at – he was also the leading league scorer in 2001/02, with 13 from open play. Despite being the leading scorer in all competitions in 2000/01, he wasn’t the leading league scorer, that was Steve Holmes, but five of his 11 goals were from the spot.

There have only been nine occasions where the Imps leading league scorer has NOT reached double figures excluding penalties. That was 2009/10 (Davide Somma), 2020/21 (Anthony Scully), 2005/06 (Gary Birch), 1998/99 (Thorpe), 2002/03 (Ben Futcher), 2011/12 (Sam Smith), and as we’ve already said, Akinde, Grant, and Holmes.