Past Meetings: Lincoln City and Peterborough United

The rivalry with Peterborough has delivered high-scoring contests, late drama and the occasional thrashing, particularly since the 1990s.

Is it a derby? Probably not, but it does feel like one at times. If they beat us, they claim it like a derby; if we win, they claim not to care. Still, ask me which game stands out most from last season, and it would be our 5-1 win against them at the Bank. Revenge for us being a bit rubbish against them for years.

The clubs have faced off regularly in the lower divisions, with a head-to-head record that shows Posh slightly in front but plenty of memories for the Imps.

Recent Clashes

The most recent meeting came in January 2025 at Sincil Bank, which obviously is where I go first. It will go down as one of the most emphatic results Lincoln have ever enjoyed against their neighbours. Dom Jefferies fired us ahead inside 12 minutes, Tom Bayliss added a second before half-time, and once Freddie Draper converted a penalty, the contest was all but over. Cian Hayes’ own goal and James Collins’ strike made it five, with only Ricky-Jade Jones replying for the visitors in a 5-1 demolition.

Earlier in that same season we held Peterborough to a 1-1 draw at London Road in September, Poku equalising after House had put us in front. The campaign before produced tight, low-scoring affairs: a goalless draw at the Bank in January 2024 and a 2-0 defeat away the previous October, David Ajiboye and Joel Randall doing the damage.

The 2022/23 season was less kind, with a 3-0 home defeat and 4-0 reverse away showing the gulf between the sides at that stage. Yet only a couple of years earlier there had been one of the most dramatic afternoons of recent times. In May 2021, City were 3-0 up at London Road thanks to Anthony Scully’s brace and Jorge Grant’s penalty. Posh roared back through Siriki Dembélé and Clarke-Harris, the striker completing his brace from the spot in the 90th minute to seal a 3-3 draw that secured their promotion. Szmodics dived. Cheat.

Earlier Meetings

The late 2010s gave us a mixed bag. New Year’s Day 2020 brought a superb comeback at the Bank: Ivan Toney had given Peterborough the lead, but Tyler Walker equalised and Grant smashed home a stoppage-time winner in front of a bouncing Co-op Stand. That day also saw Dembélé sent off, further adding to the drama. A few months earlier though, Posh had won 2-0 at London Road, with Marcus Maddison dictating play.

Our Football League Trophy run in 2017/18 famously included a 4-2 win over Peterborough, setting up the Wembley trip and eventual victory. That contest featured goals from Matt Green and Harry Anderson, proof that in the cups we could more than hold our own.

Go back to the 2000s and the story continues. In 2006/07, Ryan Amoo struck twice in a 2-1 away win at London Road, one of several strong showings during Keith Alexander’s era. The previous campaign had seen us scrap out two draws, but the 2007/08 season ended badly with a heavy 4-0 defeat. Those League Two fixtures were always fierce, often tight, and rarely short of talking points.

The late 1990s also brought contrasting fortunes. April 1998 at the Bank was memorable, Colin Alcide bagging a brace in a 3-0 win backed up by Paul Smith. That followed a humbling 5-1 defeat at London Road earlier in the campaign, showing how unpredictable the fixture could be even in the same season.