Lincoln City U18s made it three victories on the bounce with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Carlisle United U18s at the Gen2 Energy Elite Performance Centre.
After a mixed campaign, the young Imps are finding form as the season nears its conclusion.
Imps Impress
After a trialist-filled side edged past Bradford City on Saturday, only three trialists remained in the team for yesterday’s clash. But one of those, Trialist C, was named as Leo Fifield on Carlisle United’s Academy Twitter. From a free-kick just outside the penalty area, he whipped it over the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner to open the scoring, continuing his hot streak infront of goal.
🔢 Tillen’s XI. pic.twitter.com/4UTSQayMUD
— Lincoln City Academy (@LCFCAcademy) March 31, 2026
A set-piece at the other end caused the Imps some issues, with an overload at the back post. Fortunately for the home side, Alex McDonough couldn’t keep his header back across goal in play. City had clear daylight after half an hour following an excellent team move. Starting with a ball inside from Freddie Wilson, Mason Jubb combined with Fifield, powering an effort into the far right corner to double his and the Imps tally.
The final 15 minutes of the half belonged to Carlisle, as they looked to find a way back into the game. Captain Simon Rigby had the ball in the net, but the offside flag had long gone up, before Isaac Shaw was forced into a smart stop from Jack Porter following a Cumbrian corner. Lincoln had the final opportunity of the half when Josh Kennealey and Ollie Eyres combined to keep Sam Worth on his toes.
Carlisle Fight Back, But Lincoln Hold Firm
That save looked even more important when Reuben Towers halved the deficit minutes into the second half. He ran through the Imps’ backline before powering the ball home, but that joy was short-lived. Almost immediately, City went up the other end and restored their two-goal advantage. Kennealey crossed the ball for Fifield, who was on a hat-trick, but Worth looked to have kept the ball out despite strong appeals from those in red and white. However, Jubbs made no mistake on the rebound, firing the ball home for his second goal in as many matches.
That looked to have killed off the Cumbrians’ fightback until Shaw produced a good save, only for Tai Bell to fire over with the goal gaping. And the Young Imps made their visitors pay once again, with Donald Inyama making an immediate impact off the bench. He finished a smart set-piece from the edge of the penalty area low into the corner, despite the best efforts of Worth to keep it out. However, Carlisle themselves quickly pulled another goal back, as Bell capitalised on some suspect Imps defending to reduce the arrears.
That was virtually the last action of the half, with United doing little in the way of completing an unlikely comeback. Substitute Aaron, unmarked in the area, headed wide, while Towers thundered against the side netting. Fifield came close to completing his hat-trick in the closing stages, but was denied by a man in blue on the line.
After a busy period, the young Imps face a break from action before the final month of the season commences at Burton Albion next Saturday.
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