The U18s drew 1-1 at York City in their latest Football League Youth Alliance fixture of the season.
First year scholar Frazer Cobb reports:
Lincoln City youth team travelled to York on the back of one impressive win against a strong Hull City side and an unfortunate loss to Chesterfield. York City on the other hand had previously lost 9-5 to Rotherham the week before, and they were looking to get back on track this week. With both sides looking to improve the Lincoln Youth were anticipating a strong challenge.
The conditions were windy with rain expected later on during the day. A good pitch was inviting for the young Imps as they were eager to play their strong passing game. The youth team consisted of a few players that had come back from injury including Josh Barker who started in the centre of midfield and Tom Thacker who was on the bench for defensive cover. The back was unchanged apart from right back where Kieran Heap came in for Daniel Coupland. The midfield consisted of Frazer Cobb and Josh Barker in the centre with Sam Turner and Bobby Brewer on the wings. The attacking line involved Arran Brookbanks and James Wilson with Nick Draper in goal.
From kick-off captain Jack Davies won the toss and decided to switch sides so that the wind was in the Imps' favour. The first 15 minutes of the game was dominated by Lincoln City, with the midfield connecting well with the front line. The two wingers Turner and Brewer were causing havoc down the flanks and the opposition full backs struggled to stop the constant crosses. York City were getting increasingly frustrated by the strong defence of Lincoln with both centre backs Elliot Green and Jack Davies dealing with the York forwards and preventing the threat on goal.
Halfway through the first half a misplaced pass gave possession to York City who spread the ball to the left wing. York's left winger then cut inside and went pass two defenders and looped the ball over the keeper, punishing the Imps for loss of possession.
Due to the goal Lincoln City started to lose composure and lost their grip on the game. The game play became more scrappy with long balls and players scrapping for the seconds. By this time the rain had started to fall and conditions became rather slippery and the ball was fizzing off the ground.
Half-time came and the young Imps were 1-0 down. The instructions at half-time from head coach Grant Brown were to get closer to our opposition, press higher up the pitch and start passing again. From the whistle the youth team went out and corrected their mistakes and stuck to the instructions given.
The passing improved and the ball was kept far better. The constant possession and the high pressure wore York City down. The forwards were a constant threat with both Brookbanks and Wilson holding the ball up and troubling the York defensive line. Barker and Cobb were controlling the play and tempo with passing.
Connor Robinson from the U16s came on for the returning Josh Barker. York only managed a few chances in the second half, but good positioning from 'keeper Nick Draper saw him command the threat and come out better than the York City striker in the heavy challenge.
Soon after Brown made the decision to bring Brookbanks and Coupland off, putting Turner up front. Then came the pivotal moment four minutes from time when a ball down the channel found Turner who smacked the ball in the back of the net from the edge of the box.
A few minutes later the final whistle blew and Lincoln City youth team had got the draw that they battled for and if there was longer left in the game would have probably gone on to win.
Team: Draper, Heap, Thomas, Cobb, Davies, Green, Brewer, Barker (Robinson 67), Wilson, Brookbanks (Coupland 70), Turner. Subs not used: Nicholas, Smith, Thacker.
