Day 280

I made three changes to the team for today’s big game against Mansfield. Peter Bore and John Nutter came in as full backs—both Billington and Kanouté weren’t deemed fit enough. Barnes-Homer dropped to the bench, out of concern that he would again buckle under the pressure. Ben May took his place up front.

True to the gravity of the occasion, where going behind could be devastating to either side and being ahead could bring enormous pressure to hold the lead, Marques and Mansfield’s goalkeeper, Alan Marriott, were singled out as key players by the match pundits.

We were strong out of the gates, with winger Salomon Olembé setting up chances from the left on two separate occasions in the opening three minutes. We’d already managed to get off three shots and a corner by the five-minute mark.

Mansfield were still a threat, though, and they made sure we knew it. The two sides traded blows, both looking likely to score with each attack. My boys had the each, though, and they really should have taken the lead in the 35th minute. Marriott couldn’t hold May’s long-range shot. Koroma and Woods both closed in on the loose ball, which ended up at the striker’s feet. Koroma hit his shot directly at Marriott, however, spurning a golden opportunity.

Central midfielders Woods and Diagouraga provided a calming influence in the second half, slowing down the play and distributing passes around the pitch. They were winning the battle against Roberts and Randall, too.

The match swung further to our favour in the 54th minute when Koroma won possession just outside the box from the midst of three Mansfield defenders. He slipped the ball forward to May, who was unmarked on the penalty spot. May calmly slotted his strike into the bottom corner. One-nil and in control. We knew holding on would render us champions.

Mansfield playmaker Gary Roberts was subbed off in the 67th minute. We had successfully frozen him out of the game. They were clutching at straws now.

May should have killed off the game with a second goal with around 20 minutes on the clock. Diagouraga played an excellent through ball for the striker, weighted perfectly and positioned for a first-time shot. But May was caught on his heels, and responded much too slowly, giving the goalkeeper time to come off his line and smother the chance.

Deep inside stoppage time, mere seconds before the final whistle, Mansfield striker Matthew Green ran onto a long ball. He looked offside, but he had timed his run to perfection. Green showed no signs of being under pressure, calmly taking a touch, lifting his head, and lofting a shot high above the keeper’s head. It went in—a dramatic equaliser; history repeating itself. For the second time this season, Mansfield had equalised against us in the final minute. I was livid.

It didn’t matter, though, because a draw wasn’t good enough for them. We’ve won the league, with two matches to spare. Fans, pundits, and Lincoln board members hailed me for doing what seemed to be impossible. I took a team barely good enough to finish mid-table, and I turned them into champions on a nothing budget.

A fans’ spokesperson announced that I’m “undoubtedly one of the best managers around.” We’ll see if you still feel that way if I struggle to keep the team free from relegation next season. Supporters are among the most fickle beasts in all the world. One minute you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread; the next your achievements are forgotten as they chant for your head on a pike.

Despite both managing draws, Barrow and Braintree secured their relegations. The final slot looks likely to go Stockport’s way, but Kidderminster could be sucked in if Stockport win both remaining matches.

I’ll be looking to give some of the younger players a run in the last two games of the season. Now that we’re champions, it’s time to start preparing for life in League 2. And I need to look to the future.