City secured progression through to the knockout stages of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy following an impressive victory against Manchester City’s U21.
Freddie Draper and Bailey Cadamarteri were on the scoresheet in the first-half before Rob Street and JJ McKiernan opened their Imps accounts as did 17-year-old Zane Okoro on his full professional debut.
City started the game on the front foot, with Street getting get down the right and putting a few teasing crosses into the box but they were cleared away before any contact could be made on the ball.
Okoro won the ball back on the left hand side before McKiernan delivered a ball into the area which Freddie Draper headed past the young Citizens ‘keeper with his effort bouncing off the post and in.
Okoro drove into the box, beating his man but fired an effort just wide of the post.
Jamie Pardington, on his Imps debut, was called into action when Nico O’Reilly tested him from range.
City forced an error from the visitors in the final third but McKiernan’s effort was collected by Max Hudson.
Cadamarteri doubled City’s lead just a few minutes before half-time, his header connecting with Jack Moylan’s corner from the left.
Draper had the ball in the net after a ball was whipped in from Moylan but the assistant had his flag up for offside.
Street extended the Imps’ lead early in the second-half going round the ‘keeper after substitute Sean Roughan won the ball back high up the pitch.
Street raced through on goal and squared it to Okoro but he couldn’t guide his effort past Hudson.
Okoro was the next City player on the scoresheet, Roughan squared the ball to the 17-year-old who fired his effort from the edge of the area into the bottom right corner on his full professional debut.
Dom Jefferies beat his man on the right, pulling the ball back to McKiernan who fired home his first goal for the club with an impressive effort into the top right corner from outside the box.
Ben House had a headed effort saved after a teasing ball into the box from McKiernan. Hamilton then sent a long ranging pile-driver just over the bar.
Imps: Pardington, Darikwa, Cadamarteri (McGrandles 73’), McKiernan, Jefferies, Duffy (Roughan 45’), Gallagher, Moylan (Hamilton 56’), Street (House 64’), Draper (Makama 45’), Okoro. Subs not used: Wickens, O’Connor.
City U21: Hudson, Henderson-Hall (Divine Mukasa 86’), Samuel, Simpson-Pusey (Gray 45’), Wilson-Esbrand, O’Reilly, Alfa-Ruprecht (Oboavwoduo 67’), Heskey, Dickson (Brooklyn Nfonkeu 88’), Okeke, Lawrence (Naylor 67’). Subs not used: Brooklyn Nfonkeu Feuba, Divin Mubama, Fin Grigg
Official: Aaron Bannister
Attendance: 3,055