Lincoln United began their return to step four last month and as always with non-league football it’s been a busy start to the season for Scott Hellewell’s side.
The Whites currently find themselves in 15th place in the Northern Premier League East division having played four league games and losing just once.
That loss came on the opening day as the Whites travelled to North-Eastern side Heaton Stannington where the hosts netted the game’s only goal in second half injury time to clinch a late victory.
A first victory:
That was then followed up with a return to Ashby Avenue where they dramatically found three points over play-off hopefuls Matlock Town.
The visitors took the lead 25 minutes into that one as Cameron Wilson rolled the ball into the bottom corner.
Captain Elliot Dye then equalised with the first of his brace when he was played through by Tris Drummond in the 51st minute before the visitors restored their lead 15 minutes later.
The usual chaos that we have come to expect from Hellewell’s side ensued in the final ten minutes as Owen Vincent found the second equaliser of the game.
United then secured victory when Dye headed home in the 86th minute to complete his brace and give the Whites the lead for the first time all game.
Bank holiday weekend:
More recently in the league, the Whites found draws against West Yorkshire side Pontefract Collieries and local Lincolnshire rivals Grimsby Borough over the August bank holiday weekend.
The first of those two points came when the Whites once again had to come from behind against the Colls at Ashby Avenue.
Jack Boyle gave the visitors the lead with a curling effort 25 minutes into the game before the hosts doubled their lead with just 15 minutes remaining.
As always though Hellewell’s side were never out of the game as Dye pulled one back from the spot before Ethan Bojang found the leveller with two minutes remaining.
The now departed Scott Fenwick had a header cleared off the line before Bojang followed in to secure another dramatic point for the Whites.
Quickly following that on the same bank holiday weekend was a well-earned point as the side travelled to play-off pushing Grimsby Borough.
The Whites took the lead for the first time all season in the league as new signing Connor Brown calmly dinked the ball over the keeper when one-on-one.
However, the Whites were pegged back against the run of play when midfielder Alex Flett turned the ball home in the 61st minute.
The Cup competitions:
Those results have left them with five points and in 15th place so far in the league with the side also progressing to the Preliminary round of the FA Cup.
In that one, Skegness Town needed a replay to eliminate them from the competition after the Whites held on for a 1-1 draw despite being reduced to ten men half an hour into the clash.
The side were then defeated 2-1 at Ashby Avenue in the replay and manager Scott Hellewell said:
“The first half was poor for both teams but I expected us to kick one once we got the goal.”
In their most recent fixture, the Whites progressed to the Second Qualifying round of the FA Trophy where they will now welcome Malvern Town FC.
Ultimately it has been a strong start to the season for Lincoln United that has given them a good chance at survival following a summer of change.
However, one thing that seems to have remained for Hellewell’s side is that they never do things the easy way.