Brown scores only goal in reserves win
By Nathan Jackson
February 27 2008
Nat Brown scored the only goal of the game to give City reserves a 1-0 victory over their Sheffield United counterparts. It was fair from a thrilling game though. City had two trialists and a loanee playing and it could be easily seen as they often gave the ball away. The Imps will also have Ayden Duffy to thank for several vital saves.
Lincoln lined up with a very strong starting XI. Ayden Duffy kept his usual place in goal with Adie Moses, Nat Brown, Jamie McCormack and trialist Aaron Brown in defence. Liam Bull, Owain Warlow, trialist Bruno Holden and loanee Alex Morfaw in midfield with Ollie Ryan and Dany N’Guessan up front.
Sheffield United, who were sporting a lovely fluorescent yellow kit, lined up with Jamie Annerson, Adam Chapman, Travis Binnion, Jordan Eagers, Maxime Chanot, Sam Wedgbury, Nicky Law, Lee Hendrie, Dean Oliver, Liban Abdi and Keith Quinn in their starting XI. Kyle Walker, Marc Furnis, Matt Lowton, Aymen Tahar and Goran Slavkovski on the bench.
City kicked off the game with Ollie Ryan and Alex Morfaw seeing their pass booted out by Bull. Good defending from Moses prevented Abdi from a run on goal by seeing the ball out for a goalkick. City were starting the game nervously and were struggling to keep hold of the ball for more than 2 or 3 passes. Good work between Ryan and Holden almost opened up the United defence, but a last minute interception prevented N’Guessan a run on goal.
A good Duffy save from Quinn saw United’s first real chance on goal. He palmed it out for a corner which ended in Chapman blasting well wide after good work again from Quinn. City were still nervous and United were well on top, keeping the ball without really getting anywhere near the goal.
Quinn put a good cross into the box but no-one was there to take advantage for the visitors. Warlow and Ryan combined for the latter to give Holden a chance on goal, ut the keeper was too near to it and easily smothered the ball. City’s first spell of keeping the ball well saw Ryan shoot just over from the edge of the box.
Lee Hendrie created a chance for Eager, the defender’s shot being palmed wide by Duffy when it seemed destined for the net. City counter attacked from the corner but it came to nothing as Holden headed straight to the opposition before N’Guessan knocked it out of play.
Persistence from N’Guessan saw City enjoy another spell of possession and eventually City forced a throw high up the field, a throw in that City failed to make the most of as Sheffield United went on the attack again. Much like City they were having trouble keeping the ball. It was turning into a midfield battle, with the ball rarely exiting the middle third of the pitch.
Abdi outpaced Aaron Brown but his cross was deflected straight into the hands of Duffy. United were caught offside following a good move from Law and Chapman saw Abdi stray behind the defence. Abdi then gave away a free kick for handball, which City duly wasted. City forced their first corner when Ryan flicked on a Moses ball and Holden forced the defender to put it behind. United counter attacked from this and Oliver shot just wide from 25 yards.
Good work from City down the right and Ryan forced a free kick. Warlow whipped it in and it was cleared easily and United forced a corner from the counter attack. It was whipped in and Moses deflected it onto the side netting for another corner. They wasted this one also as Ryan was fouled to give the Imps a free kick. Great work from Ryan saw him put a ball out to Warlow on the left, the Welsh winger could only find a United defender with the cross though.
A good clearance from Aaron Brown came straight back at Duffy as Quinn’s drive was parried straight into the path of Hendrie. It was a virtual open goal but Duffy recovered well to save the scoreline from reading 1-0 to United. Good defending prevented Holden a chance on goal after Morfaw and Warlow had linked up well.
Duffy saved well following a counter attack, Oliver forcing the save after good work from Hendrie. Bull wasted the final chance of the first half when he blazed over from 6 yards out following a patient build up from a corner.
The second half began in the same manor as the first with neither managing to get a foothold on the game. Ryan won a free kick for the hosts and Warlow took the kick and Nat Brown opened the scoring when he pounced on a defensive mistake to prod the ball into the empty net from just a few yards out.
Quinn wasted a good chance when his cross went straight into the hands of Duffy. City counter attacked and Holden won the ball to leave City 3 on 1 against the goalkeeper. He shot first time and it went well wide. Abdi was replaced by Slavkovski for the visitors. Within a minute Law blasted over from close range.
The half continued without many chances and it was a further 18 minutes before Quinn wasted a chance. King came on for N’Guessan for City. The subs made little impact as it stayed 1-0, although Slavkovski did force Duffy into a save from close range. Bruno forced a corner but United countered and won their own, Duffy claiming well from the centre.
Tahar came on for Oliver for United. Mowfar injured Wedgbury but the United man played on. Hendrie wasted a golden chance for the visitors when he broke free from the City defence, but he wasted the chance by trying to re-run around the defenders and Duffy claimed it comfortably. King won free kick for City but Warlow wasted it by hitting it straight at the keeper.
Kyle Walker came on Jordan Eagers. Gary King blazed over from 25 yards before Liam Bull’s shot was deflected behind after he broke through one-on-one. Pembleton replaced Bruno Holden and then Kern Miller came on for Nat Brown.