Cleanservice were our sponsors still, as we entered the 1991-92 season. Mark Edens, Phil Varlow, Ady Potter & last seasons player of the season Stuart Locke had all departed, but in came Lincoln Utd. stalwart, Martin Burnett, Baz Keetley, Paul Richardson & Mick Burke. We played only two pre season friendlies, against Welton & Swallowbeck winning both 5-0 & 6-0 respectively.
First game was at home to Sleaford Legionnares, who had been relegated from the Premier division. We lost 3-1 with Noel getting the consolation goal. The following week saw another defeat up on Lee Rd against Smith Claytons, where we lost 3-2, Dave Allsop & substitute Andy Sutton getting the goals. The third Sunday of the month was County Cup week & we travelled to Swineshead to take on Wheatsheaf Wanderers who we beat 3-1, two for sub Simon Coy & Martin Burnett's first goal in an Hartsholme shirt. The same two goal scorers got one a piece a week later in a 2-2 draw at Ship Inn Saxilby. So with only one point on the board, in the new '3 points for a win' system we were third bottom, and next up was Wild Life down on the Hartsholme. We were 1-0 up at half time thanks to Mick Reynolds, but Tony Simmons did the damage in the 2nd half to give the Life a 2-1 win.
It was turning out to be a tough division, but we recorded our first league win on the 13th October winning 3-1 at FV Jerusalem, two goals for Simon and one from Mick. Once again in the County Cup we travelled out, this time to Caythorpe, where goals from Jamie Smith, Noel & Martin Burnett gave us a 3-0 victory. The mini winning run continued at home to Woodhall Spa in a 7 goal thriller, leading 2-0, we were pulled back to 3-3, but nicked it 4-3, Ady, Simon, Noel & Pete the scorers. So we took our decent form into the Ron Eaglen Cup, away at Aubourn and with two goals from Martin and five from man of the match Ady Coy, ran out 7-2 winners. Martin continued his goal scoring run, with one against Scothern in a 2-2 draw, Mick getting the other.
Once more we were drawn against Premier leaders Ivy Tavern in the County cup, up on Sudbrooke Drive, we went 1-0 up through Simon Coy but ended up losing 2-1, for this game Noel partnered Dave Allsop at centre half and collected all the votes in the Man of the match voting. The following two weeks we lost again, one in the league, 1-0 at Birchwood then 2-1 to Manor Utd in the Ron Eaglen Cup, Ady with the goal. A chance to get back on the winning trail came the next week when Aubourn visited, we won 4-2 with Martin getting two and Ady the other two. Our last game in 1991 was at home to Cherry Colts and we lost 2-0.
The first game in the new year was on the 19th January at home to 3rd placed Smith Claytons, in which we came back from two down, with Noel & Ady earning us a 2-2 draw
On the 2nd of February, Maz made his first appearance of the season as a sub following his lengthy lay off with his broken leg, we got a very rare result against rivals Greenbank, winning 6-1 at home, Mick, Martin, Simon, an own goal & 2 from Ady sealing a great victory. The following week we fought back from 3-1 down at Woodhall Spa to clinch a 3-3 draw, two for Mick & one for Simon. On the 16th Feb, another comeback, from 1-0 down to win 5-1, away at Waddington, Simon, & two a piece from Ady & Martin.
We were now half way through a 7 game unbeaten run, with the goals flying in. Jamie had settled in as the 'Makelele' of the team, Noel continued at centre half & Martin was playing just behind the front two. Scothern were the next side to be put to the sword, in a 5-2 victory at their place, two for Ady, one from Mick & two rarities from Dave Allsop. After 3 away games it was back to the Hartsholme, with FV Jerusalem visiting, and after going the usual goal down, bounced back to win 7-2 !!. A hat trick for Martin & Ady, plus one from Simon.
And so to Aubourn, where we returned with our highest score in the last 25 years, it is hard to imagine, but we went a goal down, but goals from Paul Richardson, Martin, Dave Allsop, four goals for Ady & a hat trick of 3 penalties by Jamie, secured a 10-1 win. The only downside is that we lost Martin with a broken ankle, the Aubourn injury hoodoo had struck again.
It was now the 29th March, & we suffered our first defeat of the New year, losing 1-0 at home to Ship Inn.
The season seemed to peter out from here on in, we lost 3-0 away at league leaders Sleaford Legion, on the following Wednesday a Paul Richardson goal gave us a point in a 1-1 draw with Birchwood then on the Sunday we returned to the Leisure Centre & we lost 2-1 to Wild Life, Paul scoring again. Another mid week defeat came in a 2-0 result at home to Waddington, (brightened up by Maz's playing return) then a 3-3 draw at Cherry Colts, Dave Smith & Mick the goal scorers. The final game saw us lose 1-0 away at Greenbank, with Dave 'The Cat' Allsop in goal !!
We finished just below half way in the league, in what was a very up & down season, the only real plus side was that we had smacked in 64 goals !! (21 goals in 3 games against Aubourn) Ady was top scorer with 23 goals, but could have easily got more on reflection, as he didn't score in the first 7 games then didn't hit the net in the last 7 games !!!!!
