A last-gasp goal in each half secured Lincoln City a dramatic 2-0 victory over Leyton Orient at Sincil Bank in September 1986.
However, the story was not about the Imps, but instead about Lofty being jilted at the altar by Michelle, an event that captured the nation’s attention, and ensured people stayed away not only from the football but also from other popular evening attractions as well!
Late goals and a backs-to-the-wall display
Only 1,443 supporters were inside Sincil Bank to witness the encounter, a figure that frustrated manager George Kerr, but those present saw a contest packed with incident. Lincoln struck at the most crucial moments, first through Tony Simmons on the stroke of half-time, and then via Kevin Kilmore deep into injury time to wrap up a hard-earned win.
The opening period had been evenly contested, with both sides showing attacking intent. Gary Lund was central to our attack, linking effectively with midfielder Peter Daniel, who rattled the post early on after a neat interchange. At the other end, Orient’s wide threat caused problems, particularly for Simeon Hodson, who had to stay disciplined against Alan Comfort repeatedly testing the Imps’ back line.
Lund himself was denied a clear opportunity after being hauled down from behind when through on goal, an incident that yielded only a booking, much to the frustration of the home side. However, just as it seemed the half would end goalless, Daniel fed Simmons on the edge of the area. With his back to goal, the striker turned sharply and fired in a shot that crept in off the post despite the goalkeeper getting both hands to it.
The second half saw a complete shift in momentum, with Orient launching sustained pressure on Lincoln’s goal. Making his home debut, goalkeeper Lee Butler was called into action repeatedly, while the back four threw themselves in front of shots in a determined rearguard effort.
As the visitors pushed forward in waves, it appeared inevitable they would find an equaliser. Their best chance came nine minutes from time, when Butler produced a stunning reflex save to deny a close-range header from Ian Juryeff, before the rebound struck the crossbar and bounced clear. It was a defining moment, one that underlined the sense that fortune was favouring the home side.
With Orient left to rue missed chances, Lincoln delivered the decisive blow in injury time. A quickly taken free kick released Kilmore on the left, and the forward, reportedly available for transfer at the time, surged past two defenders before driving a clinical finish across goal and into the far corner.
The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory that owed as much to determination as it did to quality, lifting Lincoln up the table and restoring some pride after a disappointing defeat to Southend in their previous home outing. Sadly, just a few days later, we’d be hammered 4-1 at home by Hartlepool, the first game I ever went to.
After the match, Kerr did not hide his frustration at the low turnout, questioning the commitment of those who had stayed away, but he was full of praise for his players’ effort and resilience.
“The game against Southend was disappointing but now we’ve had two good results. A win on Sunday will put us right up there.
“We’re trying to put things right here and I just can’t understand how people in the space of one week can write us off as a load of rubbish. Come next Monday if we win they’ll be calling us a successful side.”
He was particularly happy with the performance of keeper Lee Butler, in for Trevor Swinburne. Butler would later move to Aston Villa for £85,000, but played most of his senior football for Barnsley in the early to mid-nineties.
“I’ve handled some good keepers like Nigel Batch, Stuart Naylor and Bobby Mims, but for me, at this stage, this lad is the best of the lot,” said Kerr, who also reportedly told Haworth Colliery he’d give them a percentage of the sale, only to have been sacked long before the player moved.
This wasn’t a big match in our history, in fact, we were relegated at the end of the season, but it did make me smile when researching that the people of Lincoln preferred Eastenders to watching the Imps, whereas now, you can’t get a ticket for a home game for love nor money!
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