Back in October 1982, things were looking good for the Imps ahead of a trip to Plymouth Argyle.
We were top of the table and flying. Ironically, we were in the hunt for promotion to the Second Division alongside the likes of Cardiff and Bradford. However, we were in the ascendancy, and we went down to Devon knowing that whatever the outcome, we’d remain top of the table.
Gale force winds that had battered the Devon coast since Friday continued throughout Saturday afternoon, blowing straight down the pitch. Argyle faced the wind in the first half, with Lincoln required to cope with it after the interval, and heavy rain arrived shortly before half-time to further complicate conditions.
Plymouth made changes in an attempt to arrest their slide, including handing a debut to former City loanee Lindsay Smith, signed on a short-term deal earlier in the week. City, meanwhile, included Marshall Burke in midfield despite doubts before the match after X-rays confirmed a small break in his toe.
Lincoln took time to settle but gradually asserted itself, threatening to expose a Plymouth defence that had struggled in recent weeks. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute after Argyle goalkeeper Crudgington failed to deal cleanly with a cross under pressure from Glenn Cockerill. A corner followed, and when Phil Turner delivered to the far post, Derek Bell kept the ball in play and headed across two defenders into the corner of the net.
City pressed for a second goal before the interval. Crudgington was forced to hold a drive from Turner and then tipped a powerful long-range effort from Neale over the bar. Plymouth were grateful for the defensive contribution of their new signing Lindsay Smith, but Lincoln continued to push forward.
Despite the wind now in their favour, Plymouth were unable to turn territorial advantage into clear chances after the break. Lincoln remained organised at the back, with David Felgate providing solid support behind the defence. David Carr blocked a fierce effort from Cooper, and in the closing stages, Neale cleared a McCartney shot off the line.
There were openings at the other end. Bell tired when well placed for a second, and Cockerill shot straight at Crudgington after a move involving Bell and Hobson. In midfield, George Shipley and Marshall Burke kept play moving, while Turner maintained his work rate throughout.
As the game moved into injury time, Lincoln added a second goal. Turner broke forward and played a pass through for Gordon Hobson, who beat Smith for pace. As Crudgington advanced, Hobson rounded him and finished from a narrow angle to secure the points.
The final whistle brought scenes of appreciation between the players and a small group of travelling supporters who had endured the rain and wind at the open end of the ground. Maurice Burton even remarked in his post-match analysis that those fans deserved better, stood on open terracing in the rain, while fewer than 3,000 home fans settled under cover in the vast expanse of empty seats Home Park offered.
The win left us top of the table with 24 points from 10 games, ahead of Oxford and Newport on 20 points and Cardiff on 19. Plymouth remained just outside the bottom four on 10 points from 10 matches.
Lincoln City: David Felgate, David Carr, Phil Neal, Glenn Cockerill, Trevor Peake, Steve Thompson, Marshall Burke, Phil Turner, Gordon Hobson, Derek Bell, George Shipley. Sub: Jimmy Gilligan.