Sam Tillen was delighted with the impact made by substitutes as an impressive second-half performance saw the young Imps bridge a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 on the road against Mansfield Town.
City found themselves two goals down at the break but got back into the game through a goal from Trialist C before super-sub Kian Sagoo entered the fray and got Tillen’s side level with a calmly taken goal. Tillen was delighted with the character shown by his squad to fight back.
He said: “I thought it was fantastic character from the boys to go 2-0 down and to keep plugging away, working hard and we ended the game in the ascendancy.
“We had some really good chances in the second half, we were on the front foot, and I thought the organisation from a defensive standpoint was sound.”
Despite the attacking returns City earned in the second period, it was also an impressive defensive display and young central-defender Kenzie Oliver stood out in the Imps’ backline.
Tillen said: “It’s fantastic because we’re giving Kenzie a lot of football and experience at the moment, he’s only U15 and he’s now playing regular U18’s football and sometimes even facing U19 centre forwards.
“For him to be exposed to that, it’s a real test for him and I thought he came out of that with flying colours especially defensively, he handled himself really well physically.”
City U18: Taylor, Eyres, Wilson, K. Oliver, Don-Duncan (Huggins 68'), Inyama (Sagoo 68'), Kennealey, Trialist A (Jubb 90"), Trialist B, Trialist C, Mande (Preston 46'). Subs (unused): Shaw
Goals: Trialist C, Sagoo