 Though his final appearance for the club, on 5 November 1938, did produce a goal, in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United's reserve team that ensured Chesterfield's reserves stayed top of the Central League.Ponting then signed for Lincoln City of the Third Division North, and made his debut on the following Saturday.In his only season with the club before the outbreak of the Second World War put a stop to League football, Ponting was their leading scorer, with 19 goals from just 26 League and FA Cup games, despite not having played his first game for Lincoln until mid-November, some two-and-a-half months after the start of the season.