Chris Kennealey has been telling everyone who will listen that the Under-18s are packed with promise right now. On a chilly night at Sincil Bank, we got a chance to see for ourselves.
After dismissing Bolton Wanderers in the last round, no mean feat, Sam Tillen’s side came up against Wrexham, TV Cameras and all. Wrexham have been writing headlines for a couple of years now, but as winters embrace firmly grasped the assembled crowd, a narrative featuring the Red Imps, not the Red Dragons emerged.
The headline for the young Imps would almost certainly be the inclusion of Zane Okoro, who has featured for the seniors this season, but both Denny Oliver and Charlie Parks also started, and both have been involved in the first team. It was a first chance to get a good look at Dakara Wifa, scorer of plenty of goals for the young Imps this season. Of course, it was also a chance for another young face or two to jump out and make their names known to supporters.
I couldn’t see how many supporters there were there, but the GBM Stand was open (you and I probably still know it as the Coop or Linpave). I’d wager there were more than 500, perhaps more than attended the senior game away at Morecambe the night before. It was really important, in my eyes, for these young players to have a crowd to perform to. The Bolton game was a big win, but under the lights on your home pitch, with a majority of the supporters cheering you on, it would be an amazing experience.
It looked like it was early on as well, as the Imps tore into their opponents with the ferocity of an (illegal) fox hunt, tearing apart their prey. Wrexham looked shell-shocked as Okoro, Wifa and Daniel Vanderpuye, a front three of sorts (the first two behind the towering figure of the latter) probed for an early goal. It came quickly – nine minutes, to be exact. I’m not sure if Wrexham had a touch before the ball went in the net, such was the early dominance.
The goal came from a neat short corner which caused some panic, and as a loose ball fell to Wifa, he smashed it home at the Stacey West end to give the Imps a 1-0 lead.
The game died down a little after the first goal, with the early threat City had shown being dealt with a little better by Wrexham. They didn’t get a strong foothold in the encounter, but they did begin to threaten. At the back, both Charlie Parks and Lewy Oliver dealt well with any counters. Both have a nice turn of pace, and rarely was the goal of Jaden Taylor troubled. As a young keeper, he looked like a dot in the huge goal, but he commanded his area well, handling and coming for crosses with comfort.
In the middle of the park, Denny Oliver did stand out, and it’s easy to see why he and Zane have had first-team squad experiences. Denny reminds me a bit of Erhahon in the way he plays, holding the midfield and looking to spread passes wide. I really liked the two wing-backs as well, Kelly Fombad and Carter Ford. Both drove forward hard in the same manner as the Imps seniors do, and it was easy to see the similarities between our senior team’s style, and the Under 18s. I’m told Carter Ford is an attacking midfielder, only playing wing-back due to injuries, but he made it look a lot like his natural position.
The game did peter out a little as half time approached, but Okoro gave it the kiss of life just before they went in for the break. The floodlights might literally have lit up the great stage that is Sincil Bank, but Okoro’s wonderful finish shone a metaphorical light on the event, and in truth, it killed the game off. Had Wrexham gone in at 1-0, there’s every chance they’d get back into it, but Zane’s strike rammed a dagger through the Dragon’s heart. 2-0 City, half time arrived and it felt a lot like game, set and match.
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