Remembering Another Lincoln City Top of the Table Clash

First against second this weekend in a game that might have a big say in the League One title race.

Promotion is at the forefront of City minds, but there will be some looking up, not down, and wondering what if. The same could be said of the 1980/81 season, and tomorrow’s game might just invoke memories of another big clash, with some interesting parallels between then and now.

Firstly, in 1980/81, after 34 games, City were second, just as we are now. We had an eight-point gap between Doncaster and us in third as well as a game in hand. This was under two points for a win, so while they were eight points adrift, by today’s standards, that would be 11, not unlike this season. With 20 wins and ten draws, we had 50 points, but today, we’d have 70, one less than now. We were three behind Southend United, with a game in hand.

We didn’t play the Shrimpers until April 11th, by which point we had lost just once in 16 matches. They were top, 41 played, 59 points, and we were second with a game in hand, on 57 points. A win would have taken us level, a draw would still give us the advantage. Below us, Doncaster were seven adrift and only had eight to play for. The top four went up, and fifth-placed Aldershot were ten adrift of us with five to play, so a draw would secure us promotion.

Technically, we’d done that a week earlier, a young Wayne Biggins setting up Gordon Hobson to help us beat Hereford 1-0, but to be 100% sure, on points rather than goal difference, we needed a draw against Southend United.

Earlier in the campaign, the Imps had beaten Southend 2-1 at Sincil Bank, but the Essex side had held the upper hand in the standings for much of the season. Victory for City would bring the leaders firmly within reach, while defeat would leave Colin Murphy’s side facing the daunting prospect of a four-point gap, albeit still with that game in hand.

Murphy’s decision to insist on a Saturday afternoon kick-off was unusual, given Southend’s typical Friday night home schedule. Nonetheless, a large crowd was expected at Roots Hall, with estimates suggesting more than 8,000 supporters would be present. City were also backed by significant travelling support as the promotion rivals met in what many viewed as the most important match of the season.

Team selection provided its own talking points in the build-up. David Hughes, rested for the previous weekend’s home fixture against Hereford United, returned to the 14-man squad after impressing in the reserves during the week, but was not picked. Younger players Wayne Biggins and Stuart Hibbert were also included among the travelling party, though Murphy was expected to rely on the experience of Hughes and Tony Cunningham as he looked to strengthen City’s chances of leaving Essex with at least a point. He didn’t, Biggins started.

Murphy was confident that Southend could still be caught, stating that his side would be doing everything possible to secure victory. Southend manager Dave Smith, meanwhile, was hopeful of naming a full-strength side, with Alan Moody expected to recover from injury. Smith spoke highly of the Lincoln team, identifying goalkeeper David Felgate, captain Trevor Peake and leading striker Gordon Hobson as key figures who could cause problems for his side.

When the match began at Roots Hall, it quickly became clear that the occasion would live up to expectations. Lincoln goalkeeper David Felgate was called into action within the opening minute, producing a superb save from a Derek Spence header that denied the hosts an early breakthrough. The stop proved crucial, as conceding so early might have placed the visitors immediately under severe pressure.

Lincoln did not retreat after that moment. Instead, Murphy’s team selection hinted at attacking intent, with Biggins operating in a deeper role behind the forward pair of Cunningham and Hobson. As the match developed, the visitors continued to look dangerous on the break even while Southend enjoyed long spells of possession.

Felgate was again involved in one of the game’s defining moments roughly 20 minutes into the contest. A header from Hadley looped towards goal, struck the upright and bounced back into the goalkeeper’s arms. Southend later created another clear opportunity when Keith Mercer fired over from six yards after Anton Otulakowski had surged forward and supplied a low cross from the right.

Lincoln’s own opportunities came largely through counter-attacking play. Cunningham, who produced an impressive performance, dispossessed Moody and drove in a low shot that goalkeeper Causton could only parry. The ball rolled dangerously across the face of goal, but as Hobson moved in to finish from close range Moody recovered to clear the danger.

There were also appeals for handball at both ends of the pitch during the match. On both occasions, referee Tom Bune ruled that the contact was accidental, allowing play to continue.

As the game progressed, the balance between defence and midfield became increasingly decisive. Biggins had a couple of moments when he was able to turn sharply and shoot, while substitute Bell was introduced late in the game as Murphy sought a possible winning goal. Bell created a half-chance but sent his effort over the crossbar.

Ultimately, neither side was able to find a breakthrough. Lincoln’s defensive organisation proved difficult for the home side to break down, with Steve Thompson providing a commanding presence in central defence alongside captain Trevor Peake. Full-backs Trevor Thompson and Phil Neal also helped close down the wide areas as Southend attempted to create openings.

The match finished goalless, a result that ensured the championship race remained alive. Southend stayed two points ahead, though Lincoln still possessed a game in hand and faced the task of overturning a three-goal deficit in goal difference across the final five fixtures of the campaign.

The travelling Lincoln supporters, estimated at around 2,500, had gathered behind one goal throughout the afternoon and provided strong backing for Murphy’s side. At the final whistle, the players moved across the pitch to acknowledge their fans, saluting the large contingent who had made the journey to Essex for a match that had kept the title contest finely balanced.

There was controversy after the game, when it emerged Southend charged home supporters £2, but Lincoln fans were charged double! We even complained to the FA, and rightly so, but I’d wager little was done.

City: David Felgate, Trevor Thompson, Phil Neale, David Carr, Trevor Peake, Steve Thompson, Tony Cunningham, Phil Turner, Gordon Hobson, Wayne Biggins, George Shipley (Derek Bell for Biggins)

Southend: Mervyn Cawston, Micky Stead, Steve Yates, Tony Hadley, Alan Moody, Dave Cusack, Terry Gray, Ron Pountney, Derek Spence, Keith Mercer, Anton Otulakowski (Garry Nelson for Mercer)

City came away knowing it was in our hands. If we could match their results and reel in that goal difference, we’d be fine. A week later, we lost 1-0 at Mansfield, and Southend won against Bournemouth on the Friday (2-1) and away at Aldershot the next day, which effectively gave them the title. We did make a decent fist of it, winning a game in hand against Port Vale (1-0) and then winning at Bournemouth (1-0), but Southend were relentless, beating Torquay 3-0 the same day to all but secure the title.

They didn’t tie it up until the last game, a 1-1 draw with Rochdale, but with two left for us to play, they led by five points, and the game was up. We beat Darlington 1-0 the next day, too little, too late, and finished a week later with a draw against Bury.

Malcolm Johnson has covered the game in more depth for us here.