Seven goals, a long-awaited first home win, and a transfer saga involving an Australian international, this was classic early nineties Lincoln City.
Looking back more than three decades on, the 4-3 victory over Northampton Town at Sincil Bank in 1993 stands out not just for the scoreline, but for what it represented at a pivotal moment in the season.
City had come into the fixture riding the emotional high of a pulsating Coca-Cola Cup clash with Everton. The danger, as manager Keith Alexander knew all too well, was the inevitable comedown. Speaking before the game, he warned against exactly that scenario.
“…what we have got to be careful of is making sure that it is not a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show, which happens so often to clubs after a big game.”
He stressed that league form was the “bread and butter”, and that as the home side Lincoln had to start quickly and get back to the routine of picking up points. Northampton may have been bottom of the Third Division, but they arrived at Sincil Bank under new management after the midweek sacking of player-manager Phil Chard, with former Wolves boss John Barnwell taking charge. That alone made them a potential unknown quantity.
Alexander’s preparations were not helped by a growing injury list. Steve Mardenborough was ruled out with a thigh problem, Sean Dunphy was sidelined with an ankle issue, David Clarke was struggling after a knock against Everton, and Paul Smith was suspended. The return of youngster Matt Carbon offered some respite, while John Schofield was expected to join the back four in Smith’s absence. Gary Jones, who had scored a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Bury, returned to the squad after being cup-tied in midweek, and Dean West was back following a successful loan spell at Boston.
With hindsight, it is easy to forget just how tense the mood had been at Sincil Bank before that afternoon. City had not won at home all season. Goals had been scarce. Frustration had been building. Yet in the space of ten days, something shifted. The Everton tie had sparked belief, and the Bury draw hinted that attacking persistence might soon be rewarded.
Northampton’s visit delivered the breakthrough, but not without drama.
Dean West gave City an early lift, heading home in the 12th minute. However, the old anxieties resurfaced before the interval. In the final 11 minutes of the first half, Martin Aldridge and Steve Brown struck to turn a 1-0 advantage into a 2-1 deficit. Alexander later admitted his bewilderment at the way the goals had been conceded, and the injury to Matt Carbon, who was unable to continue after the break, compounded matters.
The half-time team talk proved decisive. Whatever was said behind closed doors, it worked. Lincoln came out with renewed purpose and intensity, and within four minutes they had transformed the game.
David Johnson equalised with his fourth goal of the season, drilling a low shot from 20 yards beyond Steve Sherwood. Moments later, loan striker Gary Jones showed composure and awareness, rounding Sherwood and scoring from a tight angle on the right to give City a 3-2 lead.
For a brief spell, it looked as though the first home win of the campaign would be secured without further incident. Yet Sincil Bank had already developed a reputation that autumn for chaos and excitement. Northampton equalised again on 76 minutes when Mike Pollitt could only parry Aldridge’s effort into the path of Darren Harmon, who finished from close range.
At 3-3, the familiar fear of another missed opportunity threatened to creep in. Instead, three minutes later, David Puttnam rose to meet a cross from Johnson and headed home what proved to be the winner. It was a rare goal for Puttnam, and one that finally put a mark in the home win column. The 4-3 result lifted Lincoln four places to 15th in the table and, just as importantly, eased the pressure that had been building.
Looking back, the game encapsulated Alexander’s faith in attacking football. In the previous ten days, City had been involved in three matches producing 18 goals. Nine had been scored by Lincoln. After a difficult start to the season, the manager’s persistence was beginning to bear fruit.
Yet the story of that week did not end with the final whistle. Off the pitch, attention had turned to the attempted signing of centre-back Shaun Murphy from Notts County. The 23-year-old Australian international, who had represented his country at the 1992 Olympic Games, had initially agreed to join on a month’s loan to address defensive frailties. With Mark Smith, Matt Carbon, Sean Dunphy, David Clarke and Paul Smith either injured or unavailable, his arrival would have been timely ahead of the upcoming Autoglass Trophy tie with Mansfield.
However, events took an unexpected twist. Rather than a straightforward loan, City explored a permanent deal. Managing director Geoff Davey later explained the situation.
“We’ve failed to persuade him to sign. He has been here for two years and he’s not quite sure whether he wants to commit himself to another two. But the matter is not closed and we will be working on it in the next few days.”
Murphy ultimately turned City down, leaving the defensive question unresolved despite the seven-goal spectacle on the pitch. He went on to be a semi-regular in the second tier for Sheffield United for a decade after that.
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