In game one of a doubleheader at the LNER Stadium on Saturday 24th September, Lincoln City U18s took on Huddersfield U18s in what proved to be a fiercely competitive match. The Imps beat the Terries 4-2 with the pick of the goals coming from Tayo Tucker.
Huddersfield dominated the first ten minutes of the game. Early on, Ajay Weston nearly latched onto a through ball from Hakeem Sandah but is just unable to connect.
Lincoln City began to grow into the game and the first piece of drama occurred in the twelfth minute after Tayo Tucker went down seemingly inside the area. A free kick is awarded, a decision from the referee that was followed by players and fans uniting to show their discontent at the decision. Harry Dale stepped up to take the freekick, but his tame effort was hit straight at the keeper.
A truly bizarre moment from Huddersfield provided Lincoln City with a golden opportunity to take the lead. Huddersfield defender Tom Iorpenda handled the ball in the box after being confused on whether the keeper had already taken the goal kick. Julian Donnery stepped up and eventually converted after his initial spot kick was saved. The home side took a deserved lead.
Kyrell Wheatley had an impressive first half and one of his piercing runs nearly ended in Donnery grabbing his second goal of the game, but he was unable to convert.
Lincoln looked to be in control but then Huddersfield hit back in dramatic fashion They equalised on the thirty fifth minute mark and in truth it was completely against the run of play. A corner led to a mix up in the box and it rebounded off a Lincoln player which directed it just past the fingertips of Sam Green.
Photo: Harry Vidgen
That equaliser gave Huddersfield newfound energy and just before half-time they went ahead. A sweeping move finished quite brilliantly by Dylan Helliwell. A sweetly struck half volley executed to perfection from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner puts the away side ahead. Lincoln City went in with much to do at half-time.
Lincoln City came out the traps in the second half looking reinvigorated, the team talk seemed to have done the trick. Tayo Tucker started the half well, and he nutmegged a player on the byline, but he couldn’t quite get his cross through as it was knocked out of play. The resulting corner ended in MJ Kamara heading just wide. You could feel Lincoln City taking back control of the game.
In the sixty first minute a moment of magic from Tayo Tucker levelled the game up. Driving past two defenders with frightening ease, he then expertly placed it into the top right corner to send the Imps faithful crazy. A sensational effort.
Lincoln City then took the lead just three minutes later. Skipper Harry Dale stepped up to convert a brilliant free kick. The home side had completely turned the game around in the second half.
Around the seventieth minute mark, rain started lashing down onto the pitch as Lincoln City looked to put the game to bed. That chance fell to them in the seventy fifth minute and Julian Donnery took it as ferocious closing down from substitute Bailey Adamson forced the Huddersfield defence into a mistake.
A poor pass was pounced on by Tucker who slid it through to Donnery who drilled it across the keeper and into the bottom right corner of the net to record his second goal of the game. Sweetly struck and Lincoln City extended their lead to two. Game over.
In the closing stages Julian Donnery nearly sealed his hattrick but this time his shot was smartly saved by the Huddersfield keeper.
A resilient showing from the home side in the second half as they walk away deserving winners at the LNER Stadium.