Lincoln City U18’s and Tranmere Rovers U18’s played the full 120 minutes at the LNER stadium with a late flurry of goals from the hosts confirming their place in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
Lincoln City kicked off the game attacking the Stacy West stand, with a slow start with both teams finding their feet in the opening exchanges.
The first chance of the game came to the hosts as a free kick from the left was recycled to Tayo Tucker whose shot was just wide off the post.
Following that, another lull in the game was broken by Tranmere as their ability to press up the field was causing trouble for the hosts, particularly for Louis Nesbitt, who had too many bodies to deal with in the midfield and lost the ball a few times in quick succession.
City did grow into the game, earning them a couple of free kicks on the right hand side, one of which was delivered brilliantly into the box by the captain Oisin Gallagher and MJ Kamara headed it just over the bar.
Rovers drew first blood in the game though, as Sam Taylor was released in behind the Imps backline and the forward did brilliantly to beat two defenders and keep his composure to give the visitors the lead.
Tranmere grew into the game after that, peppering Isaac Allan’s goal with shots including one ambitious attempt by the opposition captain James Flight, who spotted the keeper off his line and almost caught him out from about 45 yards.
Bailey Adamson was then released in behind in the 35th minute by Kyrell Wheatley, he found the back of the net only for it to be ruled out.
Tranmere began the second half with a substitution, seeing Evan Bull coming on for Raq Khalid in goal.
But the Imps started the game stronger of the two sides with Kyrell Wheatley beating his marker on the left, unfortunately his cross could only find the first man.
Wheatley continued his bright start to the second half with another lung-busting run on the left only for the opposition full back to pull him to the ground.
City grabbed the ball at the halfway line and Wheatley was released again in a 2 versus 1 situation, his pass was overcooked though, and couldn’t find Adamson for an equaliser.
Tucker slotted the ball in for Lincoln following a superb pass through the middle by Gallagher, but for the second time in the evening the goal was ruled out because the winger was offside.
Julian Donnery took matters in his own hands and went on a mazy run and could only be brought down inside the box for a penalty. He then stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way for a Lincoln City equaliser.
City piled on the pressure with Wheatley finding joy down the right hand side again and this time he delivered a brilliant cross, only for Berko to scuff his shot.
However Wheatley’s efforts weren’t in vain, as the ball ping ponged to his feet inside the box and he made easy work of it to give the Imps the lead in the 71st minute.
The visitors earned themselves a corner in the 87th minute following a scuffed clearance by Kamara. A neat set piece routine found its way to Jack Flight’s feet and he tapped it in for a late equaliser, taking the game to extra time.
The only event of note in the first half of extra time was Berko redeeming himself, superbly finishing Tucker’s cross following yet another run by him down the left, and giving Lincoln City the lead.
A quick counter attack by City ended with Donnery being put in clean through but he couldn’t add to his tally for the day and his shot went harmlessly wide of the post.
Nathan Kabeya put the game to bed with an amazing solo goal, throwing in a couple of stepovers to wrong foot his markers and finishing with aplomb to book Lincoln City’s place in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.