U16 Blacks 25/26 - Lincoln United

U16s Blacks vs Lincoln United

Before the game, we spoke about the importance of being defensively solid, keeping a clean sheet, and being brave enough to dominate the ball. For the first two periods, the boys did exactly that — we controlled possession well and showed confidence in our build-up play. However, we found it difficult to progress the ball into the final third and get in behind their defensive line to create clear chances. Up to that point, Lincoln looked quite predictable and were mainly dangerous from set-pieces.

The game completely changed when the referee made an unfair decision to send off Rio. It was a moment that should never have happened and, unfortunately, it killed the flow of the game as we had to play with ten players for the final 30 minutes.

Despite that setback, the boys showed fantastic discipline, character, and desire to keep competing right until the final whistle. Playing a man down is never easy, but their effort outstanding.

I’m extremely proud of everyone’s performance — both individually and collectively. Even in unfair circumstances, the lads showed real class, maturity, and a positive reaction, which says a lot about their mentality.