The women’s academy travelled to Manchester last week to play at the well known blue community pitch against Manchester CITC.
The academy in its first season has given the players fixtures against well-known clubs and experiences they will remember, this is another for the list. The game started with the Imps showing the occasion and some nervous bits of play, but the players soon settled into the game. An equal match with City keeping the ball well but not creating many clear chances and the Imps looking good in possession and countering well. The hosts took the lead with a close-range finish and ten minutes later an unfortunate deflection kept the player onside, the goalkeeper or the reacting defenders could not stop the hosts from doubling the lead.
The imps could have downed tools but instead remained focussed and kept pushing to get back into the game. The defence of Alisha, Iona, Kelsey and Maddi kept compact and was keeping the Man City chances down to a minimum with us winning the ball but then keeping it to counter-attack. The chance we were waiting for was coming with Leah having a header from a corner go over. Which started a change in momentum with Morgan, Lily and Izzy starting to get more opportunities to get at the City defence. Finally, an Imps press as City was playing out from the back resulted in Lily winning the ball high and playing the ball into the empty net. The score now at 2-1 Lincoln looked to score again but could not create a clear chance and the teams went into halftime 2-1 down.
Half time was a chance for the players to regroup and go out with a bit of confidence as they were still in the game, a switch of formation and the players having ownership meant we went out with a plan to get back in the game. Jess came on and the change of formation played into the Imps hands. After a few minutes of adapting to the formation, the Imps started to take control and really pushed Man City for an equaliser.
Fifteen minutes passed and the Imps kept up the pressure with the midfield three Scarlett, Leah and Becca continuing their brilliant performance from the first half to play a massive role in cutting out Man City’s midfield and keeping the pressure on the hosts. The next ten minutes turned the momentum and the game. The Imps pressing for an equaliser started to create chances, the ball fell to Leah well outside the box, she created space to shoot and fired the ball but it came back off the crossbar! The attack had left us 3vs3 at the back of the pitch with a long ball straight away wide creating a 1vs1 race through on goal. The defence managed to delay the attack but the ball came out and was fired into the net by City, a huge blow for the players who now seemed to know today wasn’t going to be their day.
The final phases of the game was more of the hosts relaxing with a two-goal lead and keeping the ball well. The result was put to bed with the hosts adding a fourth before the final whistle.
A deserving overall win for the Manchester team but a performance to be proud of by the Imps! Fine margins and lacking a bit of luck at key moments in the game, meant we exit the cup!
Amy Kay
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