Boxing Day derbies are never short on drama, but the 1988 Sincil Bank showdown between Lincoln City and Grimsby Town offered more questions than answers for Imps fans.
The 2-2 draw, played out in front of a restless holiday crowd, captured both the frustration and fragility of a Lincoln side still adapting to life back in the Fourth Division.
Chairman John Reames had walked into the Red Imps Club before the season kick-off to a warm welcome, fans raising glasses to promotion hopes sparked by the previous season’s GM Vauxhall Conference title. But now, his tone had shifted. Gone was the bullish confidence of August; instead, a cautious “we’ll see” hinted at growing uncertainty — uncertainty that this display did little to dispel.
Lincoln lined up in a 4-4-2 designed to use width through Phil Brown and Paul Smith, but the strategy never really materialised. In contrast, Grimsby used the flanks effectively, looking the more assured side for long spells, particularly on the break with Keith Alexander and Steve Saunders proving a real menace.
Still, it was City who struck first. On 29 minutes, Mark Sertori won the ball on the edge of the area and released Brown, whose cross found Smith in space. The midfielder took a touch, then fired through Paul Rees’ legs to mark his return to the side with a confidence-boosting third goal of the season.
Lincoln nearly doubled their lead before the break. Gordon Hobson twice tested Rees — first forcing a fingertip save with a delicate chip, then seeing a low strike denied by an outstretched leg. The Imps were in front at half-time, but not comfortably so.
The second half delivered on the festive fireworks. It took just six minutes for the match to boil over. Steve Saunders slalomed into the box and was brought down by Shane Nicholson. Tommy Watson’s penalty was superbly saved by Mark Wallington, but City’s defenders were statuesque, allowing Watson to follow up and score off the post.
Moments later, tensions exploded. Trevor Mathewson stamped on a grounded Saunders and was somehow only booked. Nicholson, Darren Davis, and Grimsby’s Mark North all followed into the referee’s book in a frantic spell that nearly derailed the match.
But Lincoln found another moment. John McDermott played in Bobby Cumming near the byline and when Cumming was tripped, referee Stockbridge pointed to the spot. Hobson sent Rees the wrong way to restore the lead on 69 minutes.
It didn’t last.
In the 81st minute, McDermott whipped a low ball across the 18-yard line. Clive Evans, under no pressure, inexplicably let it run. As Tony James tried to cover, Wallington rushed out and was left stranded as Big Keith calmly rounded him and tucked the ball into the empty net.
City had one final chance — Brown winding up a volley deep in stoppage time — but the final whistle came too soon. Once again, a fragile Lincoln side had thrown away points from a winning position.
The wind played its part, but so did tactics. City reverted to long-ball football in the second half — a strategy doomed to fail in such conditions, especially when aimed at the diminutive Hobson. Balls were pumped aimlessly forward, and Grimsby’s back line dealt with them easily.
In midfield, the Imps had no grip. Cumming was off the pace, and Nicholson struggled aside from a promising 25-yard dash. It left the defence under relentless pressure, and while Tony James — covering for the suspended Graeme Bressington — was superb, he couldn’t do it alone.
Wallington, despite a penalty save, will have had questions to answer about his decision-making for the second goal.
City lined up: Wallington; Evans, Davis, Nicholson, James; Mathewson, Smith, Cumming, Satori; Hobson, Brown
Subs (not used): Gamble, Casey
The result left City 12th in the table on 28 points from 20 games — just two off the play-offs but with performances raising concern. Grimsby, down in 19th, still sat ten points clear of the relegation places.
As for promotion? On paper, it was still possible. But in reality, this performance, much like the season as a whole, felt like one step forward, two steps back, as it proved. The Imps did climb the table a little, finishing ninth, seven points shy of Wrexham in the final play-off spot. Grimsby enjoyed a resurgence, finishing one place higher, five points behind the Red Dragons.