Lincoln City lost to the Sunderland AFC U21 & Development side by 2 goals to nil in front of a rather disappointing crowd of 474 (11 visitors) last night. A spirited display was negated by a first half goal from Scott Harrison and a Liam Agnew decider at the death.

For the benefit of Black Cat visitors, first the teams & schemes and then the unbiased match report. thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs

V

H/T 0-1

Scorers: Harrison (26) Agnew (88)

Att 474 (463 Imps 11 visitors)

Ref: Drysdale

The Teams & Schemes

Farman

Sheridan Foster Boyce Newton

Power Fofana

Yussuf Fairhurst Dixon

Wright

****

substitutions

62 mins Connor on for Dixon. 70 mins Tomlinson for Yussuf,75 mins Nolan and Rowe on for Fairhurst and Wright

The bench

GK Smith 16 Nolan, 9 Rowe, 11 Tomlinson, 16 Robinson 15 Thomas

Strjyek,

2 Cartright, 5 Harrison, 6 Bardsley, 3 Ferguson,

4 Gorrin, 8 Laing

10 Knott,

7 Watmore 11 Mitchell

9 Lynch,

substitutions

60 mins (X 4) Agnew on for Laing, Lawson on for Watmore, Honeyman on for Lynch, Holland on for Gorrin. 72 mins (X 2) Burke on for Strjyek, McNamee on for Cartwright

The bench

13 (GK) Burke, 12 Honeyman, 14 Agnew, 15 Holland, 16 McNamee, 17 Lawson, 19 Oliver, 20 Laidler, 27 Egan

To the game fellow football fans to the game……………..

The Imps were bright and inventive against a well-organised Sunderland side clearly showing the advantage of Premiership fitness and conditioning in the heat. A shot-shy start saw both sides probing without any threat until good work from Yussuf earned a corner. Power sent long and biggest of the big lads Bohan Dixon headed just wide.

The Imps shaded the packed midfield duel, eager to get the ball out wide to utilise the pace of Dixon and Yussuf. Both looked dangerous, with the Imps in the ascendancy until a free-kick gave the Black Cats the upper hand in matters. A well-worked routine, in a dangerous position some 25 yards out saw play-maker Knott fashion a fabulous floated ball for Harrison to bundle home at the back-post. The marking could have been better but the delivery and execution was first rate from the Premiership development side.

The Imps continued with their lively and attractive passing game-plan to dominate. A move down the right saw Sheridan outwit the visitors to cross Yussuf’s sweet half-volley flew agonisingly wide. A super flick from fit again Fairhurst, from a Power cross, brought a super save from Stryjek.

The second half saw more of the same as The Imps continued to dominate until Kevin Ball made a quadruple substitution on the hour, with Agnew on for Laing, Lawson on for Watmore, Honeyman on for Lynch and Holland on for Gorrin. Dixon also made way for Connor Robinson for the Imps. The pace and threat of Lawson and Holland from deep almost led to a second. Lawson unlocked the defence with a peach of a ball, but Farman superbly saved Holland’s goal-bound effort.

Yussuf again showed good pace to get beyond two, but drilled wide. He did the same with another half chance, thanks to good work from Connor Robinson, relishing another run-out. Moments later the loudest roar of the night, saw the introduction of new-signing Tomlinson, who looked strong to nip in and hold off two but Bardsley was wise to that one and snuffed out the snap-shot. The Black Cats made goalkeeping and defensive changes to close out the game with Burke on for Strjyek and McNamee on for Cartwright, respectively, with 18 minutes to go. Simmo responded with Nolan and Rowe on for Fairhurst and Wright. Together with new-signing Tomlinson, a prowling Tom of our own. we looked big, strong, quick and very useful against the confident young Black cats. Lesser opposition should prove far less frustrating one would hope.

Despite the approach play and some very encouraging flashes from Rowe, Wright and Tomlinson, the Black Cats looked dangerous and vibrant on the counter. Agnew sealed a somewhat flattering 2-0 win in fortuitous fashion with just two minutes on the clock. A sweet though-ball from Honeyman, struck him, to strand the out rushing Farman, allowing Agnew to round him and slot home the decider. Farman made amends moments later with a marvellous save from a deft Holland chip. Ross Holland looks a clever little player and his introduction along with Carl Lawson & George Honeyman, certainly edged this one.