UP NEXT, weather permitting, Kimberley Miners Welfare welcome second placed Lincoln United to the Stade Du Stag. After a narrow defeat against a poor Wisbech side last weekend, the miners will face an altogether different prospect as they aim for a first league win since the opening weekend.

Lincoln United come to Kimberley knowing that a win is a must if they are to keep up with table toppers, Eastwood CFC, who will be favourites in their away match at Sleaford Town. With one win in their last four league matches, Lincoln have seen themselves slip into second spot and will consider this match as an ideal chance to get going in the right direction.

In their last match, Kimberley took a long bus trip to face Wisbech Town in the league. After a very lengthy remembrance service with Wisbech Royal British Legion, the match kicked off. Both teams severely lacked any quality, with a lot of effort from both sides, but no composure on the ball. The result was two teams who were keen to hoof the ball as far and as high as they could for the opening twenty or so minutes. Wisbech broke the deadlock after a low cross wasn’t dealt with and the Wisbech striker was on hand to scramble the ball into the Kimberley goal. This seemed to kickstart both sides into playing some football on the ground. Kimberley tried their hardest to get back into the game, but didn’t have the final ball to create any chances of note, with neither side creating much all game. Aaron Coyle came closest for Kimberley with a turn and shot wide early in the second half. A 1-0 defeat, when 0-0 would have seemed to have been the fairer result in a match between two sides who were clearly not at their best. Onto the next game.

Lincoln United’s last match saw them travelling to Barton Town in the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy on Tuesday night. In bitterly cold conditions, the sides went in level after a goalless first half. Two goals in the middle of the second half saw Lincoln through to the semi final as Barton could only manage one goal in reply. 2-1 to Lincoln United.

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides met in October as the miners made the trip to Lincoln. Having started the game really well, Kimberley defended well and created a few chances of their own until after twenty minutes, Lincoln went ahead. A poor clearance found the Lincoln player on the edge of the box, who then curled the ball into the top corner for 1-0. The miners continued to play well and pushed for an equaliser that just didn't come before the break. The same cannot be said after the restart. Four Lincoln goals in twenty minutes in the middle of the second half saw Kimberley collapse. Nat Peters grabbed a very late consolation as the lads were sent home feeling dismayed after such a good first half was let down by such a poor second. 5-1 to Lincoln.

Last season, the two sides were separated by a massive thirty eight points as Lincoln finished second, eleven points behind league champions Sherwood Colliery and went on to lose in the playoffs.

The two sides first encounter was the opening fixture of the season, taking place at Lincoln. With the score at half time at 0-0, Jake Park scored with eleven to go for Lincoln to take the points.

The return fixture at The Stag Ground came in November. Matt Cotton scored a goal at each end of the match for Lincoln to take a 2–0 win.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was established in 1938 as Lincoln Amateurs, but World War II prevented them from joining a league until 1945, when they became members of the Lincolnshire League. The following season saw them transfer to the Lincoln League, and in 1954 the club were renamed Lincoln United after taking on a paid player, Ray Bean. In 1960 they rejoined the Lincolnshire League and went on to win the league title in 1963–64. The club moved up to Division Two of the Yorkshire League in 1967 and won the division at the first attempt, earning promotion to Division One.

Lincoln United were Division One champions in 1970–71 and again in 1973–74. However, after finishing bottom of the division in 1978–79, the club were relegated to Division Two. A third-place finish in Division Two in 1980–81 saw them promoted back to Division One. In 1981 the Yorkshire League merged with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East League, with Lincoln placed in Division One South. Although they won the division in the league's inaugural season, the club were not promoted. League reorganisation in 1985 led to Lincoln being placed in Division Two. Although they won the division at the first attempt, the club left the league to join the newly formed Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League.

The 1991–92 season saw Lincoln United reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 7–0 at Huddersfield Town; this was the first (and still the only) time a club from the Central Midlands League reached the FA Cup first round. They went on to win the Supreme Division at the end of the season and moved back up to Division One of the Northern Counties East League. The following season saw the club win the Division One title, securing promotion to the Premier Division. They went on to win the Premier Division in 1994–95 and were promoted to Division One of the Northern Premier League.

The next two seasons saw Lincoln finish third in Division One, narrowly missing out on the two promotion places. In 1997–98 they reached the FA Cup first round again, losing 2–0 at Walsall. A fourth-place finish in 2003–04 was enough for promotion to the Premier Division, with the creation of the Conference North and South seeing numerous clubs promoted to fill the new divisions. However, the club were relegated in 2007–08 after finishing bottom of the Premier Division, dropping into Division One South. In 2015–16 they finished fifth in the division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs for the first time. In the play-offs the club were beaten 3–2 in the semi-finals by Shaw Lane. The following season the club won the Lincolnshire Senior Cup for the first time, beating Stamford 3–2 in the final.

In 2022–23 Lincoln finished third-from-bottom of Division One East of the Northern Premier League, resulting in them facing an inter-step play-off with a club from the division below. After being beaten 2–1 by Avro they were relegated to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League. They were runners-up in the division the following season, subsequently losing 3–1 to Skegness Town in the play-off semi-finals.

Honours
Northern Counties East League
- Premier Division champions 1994–95
- Division One champions 1992–93
- Division One South champions 1982–83
- Division Two champions 1985–86
Presidents Cup
- winners 1993–94
Yorkshire League
- Division One champions 1970–71, 1973–74
Division Two
- champions 1967–68
Central Midlands League
- Supreme Division champions 1991–92
Lincolnshire League
- Champions 1963–64
Lincolnshire Senior Shield
- Winners 2005–06
Lincolnshire Senior Cup
- Winners 2016–17
Lincolnshire Senior A Cup
- Winners 1972–73, 1985–86, 1995–96
Lincolnshire Senior B Cup
- Winners 1963–64, 1970–71
Lincolnshire Intermediate Cup
- Winners 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1980–81
Lincolnshire Junior Cup
- Winners 1955–56

FINALLY

Both sides will head into the game in search of victory. Kimberley will want to put in a performance for the points, but also to make up for a poor showing last weekend in terms of quality. The effort was there. Lincoln look just one place above themselves in the league. That’ll be their motivation
Please get along to support the boys
Admission prices are as follows
Adults £7
Concessions £4

NOTE - THERE WILL BE A PITCH INSPECTION AT 9:00 AFTER THE SNOW AND THE FORECASTED HEAVY SHOWERS