The Imps Under 18’s progressed into the third round of the FA Youth Cup after a convincing victory over South Shields at Sincil Bank.
City’s youngsters dominated the game against their counterparts from the North East throughout but Jordan Adebayo-Smith was the headline maker as he went home with the matchball. The scoring was opened when Duncan Idehen’s nodded home midway through the first half before Adebayo Smith’s triple. Shields pulled two goals back late in the game but City were good value for their win and are rewarded with a trip to West Bromwich Albion in round three.
Ellis Chapman had the first real opportunity of the game as he latched onto a pullback from Jordan Adebayo-Smith inside the Shields’ box, but his side footed effort went over the top. Adebayo-Smith’s pace was causing all sorts of problems as the visitors struggled to contain City’s number 11 as the home side made most of the running in the opening ten minutes of the game.
The crowd in Sincil Bank were treated to a competitive game, but it continued to be City who had the territorial advantage although chances in front of goal remained relatively limited. A neat link up down the right between Josh Woodcock and Charlie West was close to creating a headed chance for Adebayo-Smith but it was headed away at the back post. Shields were to have their first bite at the cherry through William McAmley as he latched onto Michael Colquhoun’s flick, the Shields number seven lashing an effort goalwards but Matty White made a tremendous diving stop deflecting the ball wide.
Chapman curled a teasing cross through the heart of the Shield’s box which somehow wasn’t turned home, but it resulted in a City corner. Jon Smith played in a deep centre and Duncan IDEHEN leapt highest despite being marked by two defenders to nod home the opener.
Adebayo-Smith almost made it two for The Imps, the City striker smashed an effort on the turn from the edge of the area which Jacob Bromley managed to just tip over the top before Chapman fired an audacious attempt which narrowly went over the frame of the goal from the quickly taken corner.
Tim Akinola attempted to double City’s lead from 25 yards, his shot was deflected on its way to goal but Bromley managed to read the deflection and dive to his right to save. However, the second goal was to come from the ever dangerous Adebayo-Smith as he hit a low effort into the bottom right corner and it was no less than The Imps deserved.
Shields almost pulled a goal back just before half time, a cross from the right was met by Sam Hodgson who ghosted in behind City’s defence but the number ten couldn’t lift the ball over White and into the goal as the travelling army of visiting supporters collectively held their heads in their hands.
Half Time
The Imps 2 South Shields 0
The visitors almost pulled a goal back quickly in the opening throes of the second half, Hodgson skipping in from the left before curling a low effort which almost took the paint off White’s left-hand post.
The game reverted to what had been a familiar pattern as Gianluca Bucci made a purposeful burst down the left but had his heels clipped, the free kick came in from the left and it was cleared but the second ball was played back into the danger zone, it was headed back across goal to Adebayo-Smith who swept home confidently from close range for his second of the game.
Shields looked for a way back into the tie as McAmley showed pace and trickery to get away down the right hand side, winning a corner for the visitors. The ball into the box was dropped almost under the crossbar with White having to punch the ball away to safety under pressure.
The resistance of the visitors was shortlived though as Adebayo-Smith netted his third of the game as he raced through onto a long ball to finish past the onrushing Bromley as the ball went in off the upright. Jon Smith soon forced the Shields’ keeper into a save and Sartorius was also denied by Bromley as the Imps went looking for a fifth goal.
Shields did give their travelling group of supporters something to cheer when they netted two goals in almost as many minutes to give them late hope, Hodgson netted from close range, meeting a low cross from McAmley before Callum Carney scored a wonderful free kick on the corner of the box giving White no chance. However, the visitors were to end all hopes of a late fightback as Bailey Judson was shown a straight red for a robust challenge on Woodcock. City almost scored a fifth in the final moments of the game as Tim Akinola intercepted a ball across the Shield's backline before dancing his way into the area and firing a shot, it went across goal but went agonisingly wide, it would have been just reward for his performance.
Full Time
The Imps 4 South Shields 2
The Teams
The Imps
1 Matty White
2 Josh Woodcock
3 Gianluca Bucci
4 Duncan Idehen
5 Tim Akinola
6 Kyle Watkins
7 Charlie West
8 Ellis Chapman
9 Elliott Sartorius
10 Jon Smith
11 Jordan Adebayo-Smith
Substitutes
12 Josh Burns (83’ for Idehen)
13 Ross Woolley
14 Tobias Liversidge
15 Alex Wonham
16 Max Gee
Goals: Idehen 22’ Adebayo-Smith 37’, 56’, 68’
Booking: Idehen 29’ Sartorius 46’ West 77’
South Shields
1 Jacob Bromley
2 Emeraude Yembe
3 Joe Lockey
4 Joshua Elcoate
5 Jordan Patterson
6 Adam Onarbay
7 William McAmley
8 Oliver Scott
9 Michael Colquhoun
10 Sam Hodgson
11 Dominic Minchella
Substitutes
12 Ben Errington
14 Joshua Croft (46’ for Onarbay)
15 Stephen Black
16 Callum Carney (66’ for Scott)
17 Bailey Judson (10’ for Minchella)
Booked: Lockey 60’ Colquhoun 71’
Goals: Hodgson 75’ Carney 77’
Red Card: Judson 79’
Referee: Sam Kane
Assistants: Dan Cobbett & James McNee
Attendance: 442
