20 years ago City were second from bottom of the fourth tier, with a single point to show for their endeavours.
With just one goal in those matches, few held out much hope for the visit of York City, packing a 100% record under Chris Brass. Lee Bullock, Jon Parkin, and Lee Nogan were all good names at this level, and the Imps had yet to find their feet. Keith believed in his players, he believed in his 5-3-2 formation, and whilst there may have been some dissent from supporters, thanks to messageboards being the only outlet, we didn’t all have to share their collective misery.
It was a warm afternoon at the Bank (I’m writing this on August 5th, and thus far, warmth and summer are not two words I can put together). City had a familiar look – Mazza, Bailey, Mayo, Morgan, Weaver, Futcher, Gain, Butcher, Liburd, Cropper and Taylor-Fletcher. Richardson, Yeo, and McNamara were the subs that got a runout; Bloomer and Scott Willis did not.
The Minstermen had the only 100% record in the league, four wins with six goals and only one conceded. Still, with just 21 minutes on the clock, Taylor-Fletcher bagged his first goal at Sincil Bank to give us the lead. Futcher flicked on a long Mark Bailey throw, and Taylor-Fletcher applied the merest of touches.
That didn’t spur the leaders into action – they had more possession but without any real purpose. Richard Hope fired over in the first half, an effort that turned out to be York’s best.
City had led early at Bury a week before and ended up getting beaten, so nerves amongst the 3,892 were frayed going into the final 20 minutes. The Imps had been on top, and finally, with 72 minutes showing on the clock, Butcher got the second. it was a peach, too, coming from behind Mitch Ward to take the ball from his toes before curling an effort in from the edge of the area.
City began to pour all over the visitors, and only a superb save from Ovendale prevented Yeo from adding a third, with the offside flag denying sub-Marcus Richardson, who stabbed home the rebound. It mattered not, City did bag a third when Darren Dunning swiped Bailey’s leg in the area. Kevin Friend dismissed Dunning, and Paul Mayo rifled in the penalty.
The win lifted City to 21st, one place behind Boston United.
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