I mentioned in a recent piece about my passion for Luton Town as a youngster, so I was thrilled just days after my 20th birthday in November 1998.
The Imps and the Hatters hadn’t met in any competition for 30 years, but a promotion by John Beck (care of Shane Westley) saw us pitted against them for the first time in my life. There were no split allegiances at this point, I was 100% an Imp, but it was still something of a thrill.
November 1998 was a turbulent time for the Imps. Shane Westley had been sacked with City rooted to the bottom of the third tier, and John Reames took charge. Only once in Westley’s spell in the third tier had we avoided defeat in back-to-back matches, but after beating Cheltenham in the FA Cup, that was exactly what the visit of Luton could provide.
Reames, backed by Phil Stant and Keith Oakes, had a lot of choices to make, and wanted to play more attractive football to entice supporters to the Bank. Luton, pressing hard for a top-six spot, would be a formidable opponent.
Reames’ selection headaches were obvious. Jason Perry was suspended, Dean Walling, Jason Barnett and Lee Philpott were all injured, and there were questions over whether he’d stick with the wing-backs used at Cheltenham in the FA Cup. In attack, the debate was familiar: Tony Battersby, Lee Thorpe, Colin Alcide or Gavin Gordon? One thing was certain, Lincoln had to find a result to clamber away from the bottom.
Luton arrived weakened by bans for Steve Davis and Graham Alexander, but they were hardly limping. With £400,000 capture Phil Gray in lethal form and a Worthington Cup quarter-final on the horizon, they were a side with pace, energy and momentum. Managed by former Imp Lenny Lawrence, the Hatters posed a major threat.
For City, there was one piece of good news on the eve of the game. Defender Kevin Austin, the dependable left-sider who had scarcely missed a match since his arrival from Leyton Orient, turned down a £400,000 move to Bristol City and declared himself ready. His commitment would be tested against one of the division’s sharpest front lines. Whether a move would have benefitted City, strapped for cash and feeding on scraps other clubs didn’t want, will never be known.
The match itself was as entertaining as any at the Bank that season. Both teams flew forward in waves, chances falling thick and fast. Paul Smith was denied by Kelvin Davis early on, while Barry Richardson had to keep out efforts from Simon Davies and the predatory Gray.
On 40 minutes, Lincoln got their reward: Battersby knocked down a long ball, Smith pounced and the Imps were ahead. But as so often that year, set-pieces undid the hard work. A Luton corner squirmed through and Gray levelled before half-time.
The second half was just as frantic. Gordon, restored to the starting line-up, gave everything, while Thorpe’s energy kept the visiting defence stretched. Terry Fleming cleared off the line to deny Mitchell Thomas before Smith’s cross forced Gavin McGowan into an own goal, sparking fresh hope. Sincil Bank roared, Thorpe and John Finnigan both went close, but Lincoln couldn’t kill the game.
Lawrence turned to his bench, sending on Gary Doherty, and it was the young Irishman who had the final say. Another Luton corner, another lapse, and Doherty rose unmarked to head in. The Imps almost paid again in stoppage time, Sean Evers squandering a glorious chance, but 2-2 it remained.
For Reames and his staff, the result summed up the challenge ahead. City played some of their best football of the season, with Battersby, Smith and Gordon a genuine threat, but defensive fragility at set-pieces kept them nailed to the bottom. The draw stretched the unbeaten run to three games in all competitions, but left Lincoln still searching for the first home league win under the chairman-turned-manager.
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