Lincoln City | Team | Youth | Youth | Youths Secure Home Success

Youths Secure Home Success

Posted on: Sun 28 Feb 2010

Lincoln City U18s swept to a 3-1 victory over Burton Albion in Saturday morning's Football League Youth Alliance match at Christ's Hospital School.

The young Imps had fallen behind to a penalty on the stroke of half time, but a stirring second half showing secured the three points.

A James Wilson penalty brought the game level before a predatory Rob Brewer strike on 72 minutes. Then a late header from substitute Arran Brookbanks completed the scoring.

The match had begun cagily, with a youthful Imps line-up seeking to match an Albion side which included several formidably powerful players.

Within the first 20 minutes Wilson and Barker received tickings off from the referee, and Enstone deposited the Burton number 10 Minshull onto his backside as City refused to be overawed.

On 24 minutes a looping header from Sowe seemed to have given Albion the lead. But his celebrations were cut short as the keen-eyed referee spotted that the ball had in fact gone onto the roof of the net, then rolled down the back of the goal.

City hit back when Josh Barker burst forward and hit a booming shot over the bar, then tested the goalkeeper with a long range free kick.

On 31 minutes Brewer tapped in for City only to be thwarted by the linesman's flag.

Then on 34 minutes City's box-to-box midfielder Barker had to be carried off with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Karl Cunningham. A precautionary X-ray will determine the extent of any damage.

With half time nearing, a loose tackle from Danny Coupland on Albion's number 9 led to a penalty kick. Minshull thumped the ball past Draper to give his side the lead.

And seconds before the interval Coupland was booked for another late tackle, this time Monk hit the resultant free kick into the defensive wall.

But City emerged from the break with a renewed vigour. Although on 53 minutes Draper had to be alert to keep out a shot from a tight angle, the complexion of the game changed as the young Imps took control.

Winger Sam Turner, whose ability to glide past defenders makes him a joy to watch, became much more influential. He was involved in the build up to the equaliser, which came about when Cunningham jinked into the box and was upended on 59 minutes.

James Wilson rolled the penalty into the bottom left corner, after Coach Grant Brown had loudly vetoed Enstone's attempts to take the kick.

City took the lead on 72 minutes when Brewer pounced on a slack pass and coolly knocked the ball over the stranded goalkeeper.

Then a minute later the resurgent Coupland combined with Turner down the wing, but the latter's cross was just over the head of Wilson.

City continued to threaten and from the other flank Cunningham headed over Thomas' pinpoint cross on 83 minutes.

On 86 minutes the victory was secured when, with his first touch after coming on, Arran Brookbanks glanced a header in from Wilson's delivery.

By this stage the Imps were rampant, with Wilson, Turner and Nathan Adams combining to devastating effect. Brookbanks may even have grabbed another goal, but headed over after Adams had picked him out.

Deep into injury time Jack Davies was yellow-carded for kicking the ball away, but the young Imps finished as worthy winners.

Imps: Nick Draper; Danny Coupland (Elliot Green 78), Greg Enstone, Jack Davies, Jack Thomas; Sam Turner, Josh Barker (Karl Cunningham 34), Frazer Cobb, James Wilson; Nathan Adams, Rob Brewer (Arran Brookbanks 86)
Subs not used: Kerry Nicholas (gk), Jake Gibson

Dan Mooney