Lead PDP Coach Tom Shaw believes his Imps side can get a result this evening despite having a number of players unavailable to them through injury and suspension.
Speaking to press before the game, the former Tamworth midfielder said: “It is a little bit of a blow to us but we’ve got some boys who are desperate for a game and they are hoping to get out there. We’ll have to reshuffle the pack a little bit because of the injuries and suspensions but we are comfortable and confident with the team we are putting out this evening.”
“I think It will give them a big boost and it is a fantastic opportunity for everybody involved, we have got two under 15’s and two under 16’s traveling with us so everybody will have a great experience. It is a reward for all the scholars for their efforts at the start of the season up to now.
“These are the days you’ve got to go out and enjoy, they are definitely the ones to remember and I have great memories from when I was young. This sort of stuff stays with you for a long time.”
The Imps faced Town in the Youth Alliance Cup earlier in the season. Lincoln came out on top winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Kyle Watkins and Jordan Adebayo-Smith.
Shaw explained how a previous meeting with tonight’s opponents has helped with his preparation: “It gave us a good look at them which helps us with preparation, we know the threats they carry and we learnt on that day how to exploit them.
“We have beat them before and come out on top so we are hoping for another result. We will be looking to do more of the same and hopefully even better.”
The 31-year-old went on to speak about how important the FA Youth Cup is for the education of young players: “It is all part of the education and how things work in football. We’ve got a pre-match meal for the first time and we will be travelling on the first team bus so those sorts of things give great exposure to what it is like in the next potential step of their journey.
“Playing in this environment is what they should be exposed to during their journey through the academy. They know how important the result is and hopefully they’ll get the reward. It is a great learning experience which will take them out of their comfort zone a little bit but it will benefit them in the long run.”
