My favourite opening game of the season bucks a trend, because it isn’t a win.
With the league season due to start tomorrow, no result against Reading will ever be able to capture the utter joy of this trip to Wycombe in 2017. Why? Because as the teams came out, they welcomed us to Sky Bet League Two.
It had been six long years.
It wasn’t the dream start some might have hoped for in terms of the score, but in a game that swung one way and then the other, it was a occasion that stood the test of time. In many ways, it felt like the perfect opener, a tough challenge, a moment of adversity, and a show of character that hinted at what this group could go on to achieve.
There had been plenty of talk ahead of the season about whether the momentum from our National League title win could carry over. At Adams Park, we got the first indication that yes, it could. But not without some early turbulence.
The significance of the occasion wasn’t lost. This wasn’t just another fixture, it was the first Football League game for Lincoln City since the curtain fell in 2011. And yet, on the pitch, we were treated to anything but a smooth reintroduction.
The opening exchanges were messy, dominated by long balls and free kicks as both sides looked to impose themselves physically. Unsurprisingly, Wycombe’s approach was built around Adebayo Akinfenwa, their gravitational centre forward, who immediately set about challenging Sean Raggett and Luke Waterfall with his presence. The referee was busy early, whistling for niggling fouls and stopping the game from flowing.
Then, somewhat against the run of play, came the breakthrough.
A neat move down the right saw Nathan Arnold flash a ball across the face of goal, and Matt Green, sharp and alive to the chance, buried it past the keeper with a clinical finish. It was exactly what we wanted to see from Green on debut, predatory movement and composure under pressure. One chance, one goal.
Unfortunately, we barely had time to celebrate before Wycombe hit back. Two quick-fire goals flipped the game on its head and served as a harsh reminder that this division punishes lapses. First, a poorly defended free header inside the area drew them level. Then came a low, skimming free kick that beat Paul Farman at his near post, disappointing, certainly, and a moment the ‘keeper will have wanted back.
Within five minutes, we’d gone from in front to behind, and by half-time, we were fortunate not to be further adrift. Wycombe had asserted themselves, pressing high and disrupting our shape. We looked shaken and short on ideas. It was clear that Danny and Nicky Cowley would need to make adjustments during the break.
And they did.
Barely five minutes into the second half, we were level once again. It was the best move of the match, Alex Woodyard, ever the calm head in midfield, split the defence with a precise pass that found Josh Ginnelly in space. The winger, quick and confident, surged through on goal and lifted the ball into the net with real class. It was a moment of real quality, and a fine way to mark his first competitive outing in Lincoln colours.
Ginnelly’s pace and directness had already stood out, but this was the definitive contribution, and it changed the complexion of the game. Wycombe, who had looked dominant late in the first half, suddenly found themselves on the back foot. Their long-ball approach began to lose its bite, and as Akinfenwa tired, so did their threat.
The final half hour saw City control the tempo without ever truly threatening a winner. We had territory, but the clear-cut chances didn’t arrive. The best outlet remained Ginnelly, while Matt Rhead offered a more direct option, though increasingly, we moved away from long diagonals and tried to find joy in the wide areas instead.
Defensively, we steadied. Neal Eardley was calm and composed on the left, while Joe Jacobson, Wycombe’s left-back, was probably their standout performer, keeping Nathan Arnold quiet and earning the official Man of the Match.
There was a period around the 70-minute mark when both sides seemed content with a draw. Perhaps that was a reflection of the occasion as much as the game itself. An opening point, no injuries, and no disasters was, in context, a solid return.
It wasn’t a complete performance by any means. We switched off for five critical minutes, and that cost us a chance of victory. At times, our balls into Rheady were predictable and easily dealt with. There were glimpses of the sort of movement and link-up play that had defined the promotion campaign, but nothing sustained.
And yet, considering the step up in quality, it was a performance of promise.
Matt Green looked sharp. Josh Ginnelly added pace and flair. Neal Eardley was steady and assured, and Alex Woodyard provided the kind of leadership that quickly translated to this new level. Paul Farman, despite being beaten twice, played his part when called upon and deserved his moment at full-time, a player who had been part of the journey, now finally back in the league.
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