Stacey West Patreon-sponsored youngster Leo Fifield scored all five goals as Lincoln City Under-18s beat Walsall 5-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Youth Alliance Cup.
The striker enjoyed a remarkable morning at Riseholme College, hitting a first-half hat-trick before adding another two after the break. His five-goal haul took his tally for the campaign to 25 in just ten matches, continuing an outstanding run of scoring form.
However, another of our players, Josh Kennealey, missed out due to a groin strain. Also, it was the visitors who struck first, Ethan Khan putting Walsall ahead after 12 minutes. However, Fifield brought us level in the 22nd minute, finishing a well-worked attacking move to begin an afternoon he is unlikely to forget.
He added his second after 37 minutes to put the young Imps in front, then completed his hat-trick a minute before the end of normal time in the first half. Walsall pulled one back through an Archi Bunn penalty in stoppage time, leaving us 3-2 ahead at the interval.
Any hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow just five minutes after the restart, when Fifield converted a penalty of his own to restore our two-goal advantage. He then rounded off his scoring in the 70th minute, claiming his fifth and completing a convincing victory.
According to Bescot Banter’s match report, Walsall arrived having won their previous three league games against Rotherham United, Salford City and Oldham Athletic. That makes the result all the more pleasing, with our youngsters overcoming an early setback against opponents who had been enjoying a good spell.
Naturally, it is particularly nice to see the player we sponsor delivering such a memorable performance. Five goals in a game is a tremendous achievement at any level, and Leo deserves plenty of credit for firing the young Imps into the last eight.