April 3rd isn’t a traditional football day. I worked back from 2000 to find a match to cover, and got to the early eighties before I found one we played on this day.
However, one game played on April 3rd in recent times jumped out, and it surprised me how close it was to that wonderful day we beat Macclesfield. I’m talking about Dagenham and Redbridge, live on the telly, a promotion clash we came out the right side of.
For 94 minutes, Lincoln City demonstrated everything that had come to define them that season: organisation, discipline, and a level of energy that seemed to epitomize what it meant to be a part of that squad.
At the time, we were in the thick of a push for promotion, a goal that seemed increasingly realistic with each passing game. We had had our fair share of tense moments, and there had been times when we could have easily faltered under pressure. The first 45 minutes against Forest Green (also on the box) had been a rollercoaster of emotions, with the final stages of the match feeling like a nervous wait for the inevitable. The opening 65 minutes against Bromley had been similarly nervy, but as the game wore on, we began to feel more confident.
We were expecting the same from the game against Dagenham, but that night was different. From the first whistle to the last, it was a performance that encapsulated everything that was good about that Lincoln City side.
The programme notes (ah, those were the days) from Danny Cowley urged fans to enjoy the game and to take in the full 90 minutes. It wasn’t something that we always managed, but on that night, it seemed so easy. The team was playing with such confidence and poise that there was no reason not to enjoy every minute. It wasn’t just the result that made it special, but the way we played the game. There was a sense of inevitability, a feeling that we were in control of everything that happened on that pitch. Perhaps it was the best performance of the season, or maybe it wasn’t. In the context of who we were playing, what was at stake, and the significance of every game at that point in the season, however, it certainly ranked highly.
Dagenham & Redbridge were no pushovers. They were a strong team, one that many expected to be in the top five by the end of the season (they finished fourth). They had a solid game plan, one that relied on physicality and direct play, particularly through the towering presence of forward Ollie Hawkins. We knew that if we let them dictate the game, they could cause us problems. That’s why, when Hawkins was forced off the pitch through injury after just 19 minutes, it felt like the game was slipping away from Dagenham. He had been the focal point of their attack, and without him, they were left scrambling to find an alternative.
In hindsight, it was a moment that changed the course of the match. Paul Benson, a 37-year-old striker, was brought on to replace Hawkins. Benson was a tall player, but he didn’t have the same physical presence or mobility as Hawkins, and from that point on, Dagenham’s long-ball strategy faltered. Our centre-backs, Luke Waterfall and Sean Raggett, were more than capable of dealing with the aerial threat that Benson posed. From then on, it was clear that Dagenham had lost their rhythm, and we took full advantage.
The night was, in many ways, a showcase for the key players who had been driving Lincoln City’s success that season. Matt Rhead, our target man, was in excellent form, and he dominated every aerial battle. Rhead’s ability to hold the ball up, flick it on, and bring others into play was crucial to the way we controlled the game. For a while, I had questioned his mobility, but on that night, he was a force to be reckoned with. He was involved in both of our goals, playing a pivotal role in the build-up to each one. He was deserving of his man-of-the-match award, and his performance reaffirmed why he was so important to the team.
Equally important was the return of Bradley Wood to the right-back position. Wood brought an added dimension to our play that had been lacking during his absence. He was a player (once) known for his tenacity, and he showed that once again with an impressive display. One particular run in the second half, where he drove past Dagenham defenders with sheer determination, was a reminder of what he brought to the team. His partnership with Nathan Arnold on the right side was key to our success, and it was no coincidence that Arnold had one of his best performances of the season with Wood back in the side. Together, they provided a balance of defensive solidity and attacking threat that proved too much for Dagenham to handle.
Elliot Whitehouse also stood out on the night. He had often been a player who struggled to find his place in the team, but in recent weeks, he had started to show his true potential. Against Dagenham, he was instrumental in midfield, his intelligent positioning and link-up play with Alex Woodyard proving crucial. Whitehouse’s goal was the icing on the cake, a composed finish that showed his growing confidence. He had become an important part of our midfield duo, and his development was one of the most encouraging aspects of that season.
Of course, it wasn’t just the standout individuals who made the difference. The entire team played their part in ensuring that Dagenham had no space to build any meaningful attacks. Waterfall and Raggett, as always, were rocks at the back, clearing every ball that came their way. Sam Habergham was versatile, contributing both defensively and offensively, and Terry Hawkridge provided width and support on the left. Lee Angol, often the subject of criticism for what came after, worked tirelessly up front, pressing the Dagenham defenders and playing an important role in our pressing game. Despite not scoring, his contribution to the team was invaluable, and it was frustrating to hear his efforts go unappreciated by a small section of the fans.
The game ended with a 2-0 victory, and it was a result that sent a clear message to our promotion rivals. Dagenham had been soundly beaten, and it was clear that if we played like that for the rest of the season, we were more than capable of securing promotion. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t the result itself that was most important, but the way in which we played. It was a performance that highlighted our potential and gave us belief that we could go all the way.
Looking back, it was a night that encapsulated the spirit of that Lincoln City side under Danny Cowley: organised, disciplined, and full of energy, but also one that is forgotten among the jubilant scenes a few weeks later. It was a game that reaffirmed our position as one of the best teams in the division, and it set the tone for our promotion.
That night against Dagenham will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who were there, a night when everything came together, and we could all say, “This is what it feels like to be truly great.”
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