Lincoln City U18s surrendered a three-goal lead to draw with Burton Albion U18s, after leading 3-1 with 86 minutes on the clock.
The Young Imps were still ahead in stoppage time, but were forced to settle for a point after the Brewers equalised with virtually the last kick of the game.
After a more familiar side defeated Carlisle United U18s in an entertaining fixture 10 days ago, five trialists were named in the young Imps starting XI. There was a familiar face returning to the bench too, as Dan Vanderpuye was named in the matchday squad, after previously being on trial at Sheffield Wednesday at the end of March.
As has become the norm in recent weeks, set-pieces caused plenty of issues for both sides. Unfortunately, there is no such data for the Youth Alliance League, but it would be interesting to see where the Imps rank in both boxes from dead-ball situations. A training ground routine saw Trialist D, previously named by Carlisle United’s social media as Leo Fifield, peel off his marker to receive a low cross from a corner. However, the visitors’ defence were alert to this, and were out to block the opportunity.
Burton won a corner of their own moments later, when a combination of Freddie Wilson and the returning Jaden Taylor kept the ball out of the home goal. There was an early introduction for Lewy Oliver, who came on to replace Trialist C following an injury sustained when he cleanly won a tackle. After that alteration, Lincoln looked to increase the tempo, with Josh Kennealey forcing the visiting goalkeeper into a save after a run from halfway.
However, the Brewers’ shot-stopper had no reply when Kennealey gave the young Imps the lead after the half-hour mark. The ball fell to him on the edge of the penalty area, making no mistake with the finish, low into the bottom right-hand corner. Kennealey should have doubled his tally before the half was out, heading back across goal from close range but missing the target. City went even closer before the interval, when an excellent right-sided delivery saw an acrobatic clearance deny Mason Jubb a certain goal.
From Elation To Despair
Burton had barely offered anything in the opening 45 minutes, but ended the half with a couple of half-chances. Buoyed by that, they began the second period on the front foot, with former Imp Miles Henry firing over when he should’ve hit the target against his former employers. The Brewers went close again before City’s Trialist E put wide in an end-to-end start to the second period.
And while Burton had more of the ball in those early exchanges, as the first-team have proved, possession doesn’t count for anything unless you’re productive with it. And sure enough, ten minutes into the second period, Fifield continued his hot touch infront of goal. It was a lovely Imps move, culminating with the trialist sweeping home from a cut-back to double their advantage.
Fifield grabbed his second brace in as many games when he was the fastest to react from an Imps corner, bundling the ball home from close range. While the scoreline looked to be beyond the Brewers’ reach, they were given a lifeline in the final quarter of an hour. Trialist A gave away a penalty, and the visitors’ number nine tucked the ball into the corner, just beyond the reach of Taylor.
A grandstand finish awaited after Burton, who looked dead and buried at 3-0 down, scored again with three minutes of normal time remaining. And sure enough, they nicked a point right at the death, finally making the most of a set-piece. With their goalkeeper up, chaos inside the penalty area saw a yellow and black shirt head the ball back across goal and send the Brewers into pandemonium.
Lincoln barely had time to restart the game before the referee brought the game to a close. Nevertheless, it was some improvement from the heavy defeat against the same opposition three months ago. City’s U18s are scheduled to be on the road at Bradford City and Chesterfield next week, as they look to return to winning ways.
You must be logged in to post a comment.