Sam Tillen was impressed with the way his team fought out in tough conditions to earn a 1-0 win away against Notts County on Saturday.
The Imps took the lead in the 22nd minute thanks to a stunning volley from midfielder Donald Inyama but the team still had to battle hard for the remainder of the 90 minutes to stay in front and keep a clean sheet.
The young Imps had to remain strong on a tricky pitch and Tillen praised his side for getting the job done and sticking to the basics.
He said: “I'm really pleased with the lads; it’s the last game before Christmas so for them to go into the break on a high is really nice.
“It was a difficult pitch, difficult conditions so we had to be a bit pragmatic in the way we played but I felt we dealt with it and competed very well and scored an exceptional goal.
“The game isn’t always going to be aesthetically pleasing but the lads found a way to get a result by doing the basics right and getting over the line.”
As well as taking three points, Tillen’s side was also able to earn a clean sheet which he believes they fully deserved.
He added: “It’s a nice way to come out of the game with a clean sheet, I thought we defended well, we looked very organised and then when called upon Jaden Taylor made a few very good saves. So, it’s nice for the lads because their hard work deserved a clean sheet.”
Defender Lewy Oliver featured, coming off the bench for the first time since his injury - Tillen was pleased for him and spoke about his importance to the team.
He said: "It was great to have Lewy Oliver back we know he’s a good player and to have him back on the pitch is great.
“He had a couple of setbacks on the way, but he’s been very diligent and worked very hard to get in shape and back on the pitch so hopefully he can hit the ground running in January.”
Donald Inyama was proud to play an influential part in the Notts County - the midfielder scored the only goal of the match when he struck a volley from outside the box.
He said: “I just saw the ball looping down and my eyes lit up, the shot just felt destined, so I thought why not smash it?
"I just hit it with the outside of my boot to hopefully get a bit of curl and thankfully it went in. It was a very good feeling.
“It’s huge to get a win just before the break, you always go into the next part of the season with a positive mindset and attitude so three points really gives us a springboard to push forward into the next phase of the year.”