Lincoln City U18s returned to winning ways on Saturday morning, with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Chesterfield at Robert Pattinson School.
A whirlwind start saw the young Imps three goals to the good inside the first half an hour. Then it took a determined second half display to foil a spirited comeback attempt from the visitors.
Coach Grant Brown said afterwards: "We always look to start games quickly, at a good tempo." This appeared something of an understatement as City raced into the lead after just 1 minute 20 seconds.
Team captain Nathan Adams burst down the right wing and hit a pinpoint cross which was cracked off the crossbar. In the ensuing goal-mouth scramble, Jake Gibson was on hand to thump the ball into the net.
With Chesterfield struggling to assert themselves in the early stages of the match, the second goal duly arrived on 8 minutes. More good play down the right from Thompson and Adams resulted in the latter flashing in another dangerous cross. This time Josh Barker had made a lung-bursting run into the box and he doubled City's advantage.
As the first half progressed, the young Spireites began to look more threatening. Kern Miller was enjoying a feisty tussle with the burly striker Burrow, while Chesterfield's Jim Adcock began pulling the strings in midfield.
The diminutive winger was ordered to leave the field to stem his bleeding as early as the 7th minute. Then when he returned in a numberless shirt he promptly had the ball blasted in his face from close range.
But he was a plucky competitor, and served notice of his intentions when he danced round City's defence on 12 minutes. His fierce cross-shot was deflected in, only to be ruled offside. 4 minutes later he threatened again but his shot was blocked.
On the half hour mark the Imps won a corner and Rob Brewer prodded in Gibson's excellent delivery for his side's third goal.
But 7 minutes before the break Chesterfield got one back. It was that man Adcock who scored after Kerry Nicholas had done well to parry an effort from Smith.
Things might have got worse for the Imps on 40 minutes had Kern Miller not hooked away the danger, after sprinting back half the length of the pitch.
The second half was perhaps less impressive for football purists, but on the muddy pitch some dogged hard work from the young Imps saw them hold off their opponents.
City were indebted to Kerry Nicholas on 58 minutes, as the young keeper denied Burrow with a superb reflex save. 5 minutes later Chesterfield winger Smith looked to be seriously hurt after a fair tackle - it is to be hoped his knee injury is not as bad as it looked.
A significant weapon in Chesterfield's armoury was the long throw of Chris Tingay and he menaced the Imps backline throughout the second half. After 79 minutes one such throw fell to Wright, whose powerful shot may have taken a touch off Burrow on its way past Nicholas.
Grant Brown was a relieved man after the final whistle: "Chesterfield are a good, strong side with a lot of second years playing. For us to go three nil up - and it possibly could have been more - was a great start for us.
"In youth football goals change games and they got one back just before half time. We were wary that they had a good comeback the week before against Burton Albion.
"But I'm delighted with the performance. It's our first win for a little while so it's a nice feeling."
Meanwhile, the Youth Coach was also glad for centre back pairing Kern Miller and Greg Enstone to pick up another 90 minutes after recent injuries: "The two young lads Jack Davies and Graham Hutchison have done well, but Miller and Enstone bring us a bit of strength, experience and know-how. So it was good to have them back."
Brown also highlighted the contribution of two of his squad's younger members: "A couple of the U16s played today: Reece Thompson did very well, he was a threat, particularly in the first half. And I thought Sam Downey played with a lot of discipline in the second half."
Imps: Kerry Nicholas; Kieran Heap, Greg Enstone, Kern Miller, Jack Thomas; Reece Thompson, Josh Barker, Sam Downey (Jack Davies 78), Jake Gibson; Nathan Adams (James Wilson 72), Rob Brewer (Arran Brookbanks 62)
by Dan Mooney
