Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City continued their preparations for the new League One campaign with a comfortable victory over Harrogate Town.
The Imps named a strong starting lineup for this friendly, with new signings George Wickens, Tom Bayliss, Tendayi Darikwa and JJ McKiernan in the eleven.
Goals from Dylan Duffy, Sean Roughan, Freddie Draper and Rob Street gave City a convincing victory. But what can fans take from this pre-season outing?
Tendayi Darikwa is an excellent free transfer. Lincoln City fans may have been concerned after the departure of fan favourite Lasse Sorensen to Huddersfield Town earlier in the summer. On yesterday’s showing, they needn’t have been.
He may be 32 years old and the elder statesman of this City squad but the former Burnley defender looks an excellent acquisition.
Darikwa looks quick and athletic and is eager to get forward to influence the game. He was encouraged by manager Michael Skubala to play high up the pitch whenever his side gained possession.
Harder challenges will come but this signing looks like a smart bit of business from the club.
Jovon Makama would benefit from some game time on loan. This is not a slight on Makama, who tried to influence the game against the League Two outfit.
Instead, it is more of an idea to ensure his career continues to develop. With Ben House, Rob Street and Freddie Draper in the squad, a loan move where he could play regularly would help the 20-year-old improve and get used to the rough and tumble of lower-league football.
You don’t have to look far to see the benefits a good loan move can have, with fellow Imps’ striker Freddie Draper enjoying spells in Ireland and with Walsall. The youngster went to Drogheda United in the League of Ireland, scoring eight times before being recalled and heading to League Two with the Saddlers, scoring on ten occasions.
City has an abundance of midfield talent. Two new signings, Tom Bayliss and JJ McKiernan started in midfield with Ethan Erhahon with both having some good moments with the ball.
Bayliss looked to have struck up a decent partnership with left wing-back Dylan Duffy, with the latter providing a dangerous overlap on more than one occasion.
The former Shrewsbury Town player also seems to be the man who will look to cause problems for the opposition with his set-piece deliveries.
On the opposite flank, McKiernan and Darikwa attempted to link up a couple of times but without the success of Bayliss and Duffy.
When everyone is fit, the Imps have strength in depth in the midfield area with McKiernan and Bayliss adding to Erhahon, Connor McGrandles and Ethan Hamilton. A fully fit squad will provide Michael Skubala with a brilliant selection headache!
Ethan Erhahon will take some replacing! Rather than ‘Things We Learnt’ this should read ‘Stating The Obvious!’
Saturday’s outing wasn’t a swashbuckling display where he drove his team on, even misplacing a pass, but he showed in patches just how important he is to his team.
Erhahon is excellent at breaking up play, playing short passes to keep possession and starting forward moves.
Lots of his work has perhaps gone unnoticed, certainly during his first months at the club, but he is so vital to Michael Skubala’s team. Many Imps will have come to terms with the fact he will leave at some point but if it were to happen now, so close to the new campaign, finding a replacement would be almost impossible.
Rob Street showed lots of composure. Having taken a stern telling off from Erhahon, along with Freddie Draper for not doing their defensive work, Rob Street went on to show two moments of calm.
Initially, it was the tenacity and chasing down that his Scottish teammate had been encouraging that gave Street the chance to drive into the Harrogate box and set up Draper for the third goal.
Adam Jackson played a ball down the Lincoln right before the striker nipped in and dispossessed Marty Foulds. Having taken control of the ball, the 22-year-old could have attempted to find his strike partner early but instead, he waited for the right moment and laid on an easy finish for Draper.
Street would later find the back of the net himself after the ball found its way to him following a ricochet on the edge of the box. The finish wasn’t instant and he had enough time to think about his effort rather than taking it instantly. He controlled the ball, steadied himself and stroked the ball beyond James Belshaw in the Harrogate goal.
For a striker who is not yet known for his goal-scoring, having only scored nine senior goals, the finish was composed and clinical.
This was a good test for Skubala’s side and one in which plenty of positives can be taken as the league opener with Burton Albion draws ever closer.
Be the first to comment