County secured a late, late 2-1 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup on Saturday, as goals from James Barry and Che Gardner saw the young Hatters over the line.
Callum Scruton had a great chance to give County the lead early in the game. The defender’s looping header at the far post proved just too high for Trialist and landed the wrong side of the upright.
The home side came forward and looked dangerous. Riding two challenges, the Lincoln City midfielder let fly from the edge of the box, but his curling effort was guided harmlessly wide of Kane Bove’s goal.
A fine save from Bove kept the score level. The hosts’ right back bundled his way through the County back line and found himself through on goal, where his powerful, close range effort was somehow palmed away by Bove.
County found the breakthrough with a perfectly executed counter attack. Luke Partington intercepted a loose pass on the halfway line and drove forward, where he found Lee Williams on the overlap. The ball found its way back to Partington, who slid a pass into the path of Barry, where the midfielder stroked the ball into an empty net.
Looking for a second, County came forward once again. Kingston Fligg won the ball in midfield and set Williams away. The forward launched an effort from distance, but the strike kept rising, just travelling over the bar.
The hosts were given a lifeline through a penalty before the half. An intricate piece of play by Lincoln saw the froward race through on goal, but a mistimed challenge by Barry saw the referee point to the spot. Bove, who had a commanding first 45, dove to his left and palmed the ball behind for a corner.
HALF-TIME: Lincoln City 0-1 County
A resilient County defence was eventually broken down after the break. A swift attack down the right wing saw a looping cross into the box, where the oncoming midfielder planted a header into the bottom corner.
Lincoln looked to turn the screw and pushed to go ahead. A neat pass through to the home side’s forward saw a clear cut chance, but Bove denied once again, this time with his feet.
Williams could have given County the lead in spectacular fashion. Barry released the forward down the right, who turned two defenders inside the box, before seeing his left-footed strike tipped away to safety by the goalkeeper.
In the dying moments, County found a winner. An awkward bouncing ball in the Lincoln half wasn’t dealt with, where Gardner was waiting to pick the pocket of the defender and slide a composed effort underneath the goalkeeper.
FULL-TIME: Lincoln City 1-2 County
County XI: Bove; Partington, Trialist, Scruton, Walker, Hillary; Fligg, Johnson, Barry; Redshaw, Williams.
Subs: Fowles, Gardner, Martinsen, Watson.
