MANIC MONDAY
We preview all the Bank Holiday matches from the National League where it’s all up for grabs
LINCOLN CITY are on the brink of the National League title – and boss Danny Cowley has urged the Imps’ supporters to raid their piggy banks and get behind them at Gateshead.
Sam Habergham’s dramatic free-kick to snatch a late win against Torquay United on Friday, coupled with Tranmere Rovers dropping points for the second home game in a row, means they can start their championship party in the north-east.
It will require three points and Tranmere to either draw or lose at Guiseley but, whatever happens, the Imps know they need just two more wins to book their place back in the Football League after six years away.
They are currently five points ahead of Rovers and also boast a game in hand – away to Maidstone – in the final week of the season.
Since falling into Non-League in 2011, Lincoln’s best finish was 13th in the table. But the arrival of Cowley and his brother Nicky in the summer has revitalised the team.
The Imps stole the headlines in the FA Cup by knocking out Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion, before conquering Premier League Burnley to reach the quarter-finals.
In the process they became the first Non-League side to reach that stage in 103 years.
Over 9,000 fans travelled to see them take on Arsenal and Cowley wants to recreate a similar atmosphere tomorrow.
“Monday becomes our biggest game of the season, and if we can take a similar following as those we took to Burnley or Ipswich, then we can be an incredible force,” Cowley said.
“I totally respect how expensive it has been for our supporters to follow us this season with the amount of games, but I urge them to go to Gateshead – we need them.”
Gateshead are playing to keep their increasingly slim play-off hopes alive. Three defeats in a row have stopped their promotion charge in its tracks and they are now playing for snookers if they are to reach the top five.
Manager Neil Aspin just wants his team to get back to the level of performances they’ve shown they are capable of this season.
“We’ll need to be better than we have been recently,” Aspin said. “It’s a massive game in front of the BT cameras and Lincoln can clinch the title.
“They’ve had a fabulous season and will secure it at some stage, but I hope my players can get themselves into the right frame of mind to give it a go, and play with pride and determination that will make it difficult for them to do it on Monday.”