With the football season drawing to a close, April proved to be another successful month for our loanees in England and the Republic of Ireland.
Imps duo Sam Long and Sean Roughan continued their development with SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side Drogheda United picking up seven points from as many games in April.
An important 2-0 win over Dublin-based UCD on 15th April saw a clean sheet for the young goalkeeper and defender. This provided a platform for the Drogs to secure an impressive point against league leaders Derry City in a 1-1 draw three days later.
Sam Long was named Man of the Match for his performance in the fixture versus the Candystripes.
Leyton Orient loanee Theo Archibald looked to close his season on a high after scoring three goals in five games as well as recording two assists in April. This brings the winger’s total for the season to eight goals and eight assists.
The O’s claimed nine points from five games with Archibald on the pitch and now host Tranmere Rovers at Brisbane Road on Saturday 7th May in their Sky Bet League Two finale.
Elsewhere in the English pyramid, Charley Kendall was finding the back of the net for Eastbourne Borough. The forward who signed for the Imps in January before re-joining the Sports on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign scored four goals in six games last month, including a brace against Welling United.
Kendall will now look to continue his fine form as Eastbourne face fellow promotion hunting side Dartford this weekend. The forward will then turn his attention to the National League South play-off quarter-finals the following week.
Also in non-league action, Jovon Makama continued to receive regular minutes for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity.
The forward who recently signed a new long-term deal with the Imps was on the scoresheet in Trinity’s final game of the season, a 2-1 away win over Whitby Town. Along with Elicha Ahui and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg, he has been pivotal in helping the Holy Blues secure a comfortable mid-table finish.
Freddie Draper featured once for Tom Shaw’s side during April as they drew 1-1 with South Shields at the Gainsborough Martin & Co Arena. The young forward, who had his playing time limited due to a shoulder injury, was able to take positives from the season as he picked up the Imps’ Academy Player of the Year at City’s End of Season Awards night and was shortlisted for the EFL Scholar of the Year.
Finally, 18-year-old defender Hayden Cann finished the season with three consecutive wins for Lincoln United. Cann made a total of 15 appearances for the Whites and played a massive role in helping them to avoid relegation.
