The women’s team finally got their second game of the season on Wednesday against a strong Preston team. The game started with the hosts having a lot of the ball and the better chances but it was Lincoln who took the lead, a counterattack started with the ball being played out to Lily who managed to turn and start an attack with our flank players working hard to support. The ball fell to Scarlett who struck the ball from the outside of the area into the bottom corner!
The team started to get a bit more possession in the next five minutes but it came from this that the opposition got the equaliser, the Imps were playing out from the back with the opposition high pressing they won the ball back and punished the mistake with a calm finish into the corner making it 1-1. This was followed by the visitors taking the lead with some great play by Preston’s Number 8 showing some individual brilliance to beat players and fire a shot into the bottom corner to put the visitors 2-1 up.
The next goal would be an important one as it changed the momentum of the game, a great challenge by Lucie stopped an opposition attack and set Lincoln on the way, Scarlett played the ball through to Lily who calmly volleyed the ball above the keeper into the net to bring us back level! The next 10 minutes the Imps took control being patient when needed to win possession and then we looked like scoring every time we went forward! Lily added another to her tally before Maddi went on a fantastic solo run only to be denied by the woodwork, the ball dropped down to Lily who completed her hattrick with another first-time finish.
The next goal was the pick of the bunch Lucie won the ball back from an opposition goal kick playing the ball into Scarlett who patiently plays it back to Iona, a first time pass back to Scarlett gives her space and from a distance she hits the ball dipping the goalkeeper to put the Imps 5-2 up! The Imps back 3 of Alisha, Maddi and Iona were cutting out attacks before they had the chance to start really putting the pressure on the opposition defence which again started the play to another goal. Alisha wins us possession playing the ball into Leah who slots the ball past the on rushing keeper. We had time for one more before halftime with another hattrick Scarlett receives the ball from a great through pass from Leah she makes no mistake with the finish which puts the team 7-2 up going into the break.
The half restarts and similar to the first half it is the visitors who have the majority of possession and the chances, the game then evens out with both teams trying to play through the thirds creating a great game to watch. Preston score the first goal of the second half 15 minutes in with the opposition number 10 picking up the ball beating a player and then firing the ball into the top corner! A great finish to bring the visitors back into the game. Again Lincolns resilience is tested but the players remain focussed and the next goal finishes the chances of a comeback. Morgan works hard to win possession back she then finishes a 1vs1 to give her the goal she deserved for the work rate. The imps then start to step up the play again with Alisha starting the attack into Maddi for her to get on the score sheet with a long-ranged effort. The next two goals replicate each other both with the same player finishing the corner, Leah completing her hattrick with two headers.
Final score 11-3 to the Imps!