It might have been a confusing pre-match read, but those reading a match report post-match would be delighted. Matt Carmichael brought his pre-season form to the Football League, bagging in the 55th minute with a goal not unlike some of last season’s. Clarke and Nicholson combined in a very Andrade and Toffolo-esque manner with the left back squaring to Carmichael who drilled home.
James and Davis had formed a strong partnership at the back quickly, whilst young Nicky Andersen had a decent game on the right. He’d played 19 Third Division matches for Mansfield the year before but wouldn’t play for the Imps again. Mark Cook was reported to have enjoyed a solid outing in the middle of the park too.
Immediately after the game, it was all change. James, an eye-catching centre half with less than a season of Imps’ experience behind him, was sold. Leicester City paid £150,000 for his services and loaned us two players in return. One was midfielder Paul Groves and the other a young defender by the name of Grant Brown.
Both players made their debuts at Molineux as we faced Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup. The focus was on Steve Bull, the Wolves centre forward looking to stake a claim for a place in England’s Italia 90 squad. Despite Wolves being in the Second Division, the Imps ran them close, losing 1-0. Bull was described as finding ‘Fourth Division Lincoln a problem’ in the Daily Express, with the Imps making it’difficult’ for him and partner Andy Mutch. Incidentally, whilst Grant Brown won Man of the Match, Wolves’ goal was scored by a certain Shane Westley.
Before the second leg at the Bank, Aldershot were the visitors and once again, Carmichael was the man of the moment. Having been spotted plying his trade down there, he was the main story in the run-up to the game. His background gave the papers something to write about and his goal against Scunthorpe fuelled their thirst for his story.
The team was much changed as well. Out went Darren Davis, captain against Wolves, as well as Andersen, and Nicholson. Obviously, James was missing too, ensuring a new defensive partnership of Grant Brown and Steve Thompson. Bobby Cumming returned from America to play in midfield with Paul Groves coming in on the right-hand side. It was a bold decision to make so many changes from a winning side, but it paid off. Carmichael nodded home a 62nd Bressington cross to give the Imps a 100% record.
Wolves were at the Bank for the second leg of the cup clash shortly after and the Imps were unlucky not to get more from the game. Carmichael, rapidly looking like the find of the summer, hit the post, had an effort cleared off the line and had a goal disallowed. Wolves bagged twice, both were allowed and a 3-0 aggregate defeat eliminated us from the competition. Having played Wolves eight times in four seasons, it would be 30 years before we saw them again, albeit their Under 21 side.
Murph took the time to discuss the sale of James in the programme against Wolves, saying; “One must purchase correctly and in this respect with regard to the sale of Tony James, the purchasing circumstances lie solely on my shoulders and I accept the frustrations and feelings of supporters as you have your views and opinions. If the history and tradition of the club’s buying policy during my previous managerial spell are repeated then it is most certainly worth bearing the scars that are acquired by practising such patience. It’s no good willing to please.”
One wonders, with two wins out of two, what social media might have been like had it been a thing in August 1989?
The final home game of this article took place on Saturday, September 2nd against Doncaster Rovers. Murph welcomed back one injured player, John Schofield, who replaced Mark Cook in the side. Other than that it was ‘as you were’, with the game watched over by notorious referee Edward Parker.
The Imps rushed into an unassailable two-goal lead. The first on 10 minutes was a gem, worked between Carmichael, Sertori and Schofield before falling to Graham Bressington who conjured up a fantastic right-footed effort to beat Mark Samways.
Within 15 minutes, it was 2-0 to Lincoln. Paul Groves, impressing hugely during his loan spell, nodded a Dave Clarke cross into the roof of the net. Clarke had already provided 50% of the Imps’ assists, if they’d been counted at the time, with Groves applying a simple header to send the Imps top of the ‘in play’ table. Lee Turnbull pulled one back for the visitors to make it 2-1 at half time.
The crowd of 3906 was the lowest of the season at home, with 4500 watching the Scunthorpe game and 6733 the Wolves game.
The Imps had the better of the second half, Carmichael hitting a post, Sertori having an effort cleared off the line and Paul Groves terrorising Rufus Brevitt, who went on to play in the Premier League with QPR. In the dying minutes, Andy Gorton pulled off a save with his feet and Turnbull had a goal disallowed for offside.
The 2-1 win meant the Imps went top and a 3-0 victory away at Torquay a week later meant they stayed there. Grant Brown headed his first goal from a long Paul Casey throw, Carmichael set up Sertori for a calmly taken second and it was the GMVC hero at the double as he made a 40-yard run to give the Imps a three-goal cushion at half time at Plainmoor.
The Imps had the only 100% record in the Barclays League, having played four, won four, scored seven and conceded one. That seems like a good point to end this part, especially with the Imps as the stand-out side in the country.
Good stuff, Gary. I’ve an idea Matt Carmichael had played against us for Wycombe in the 1987/88 season but I haven’t checked. A pity we couldn’t have signed Paul Groves as well as Grant Brown but I don’t think it was ever likely.