York City U18s exited the EFL Youth Alliance Cup in the First Round following a heavy defeat at Lincoln City on Wednesday evening.
The young Minstermen reverted to their opening-day line-up, making just a single change from Saturday’s defeat at Morecambe, as Oscar Woolford took Ethan Stiver’s place.
In the fourth minute, Josh Binns fired in a cross-cum-shot which was saved by the ‘keeper.
City right-back Michael Kydd then advanced higher up the field and tried to thread a pass through to Tom Hewson, but the ball ran just beyond him and was gathered.
Lincoln took the lead a minute later with an impressive effort from Gael Mande on the edge of the area finding the back of the net.
Soon after, an early enforced change early for the Imps saw midfielder Mason Jubb replace Leo Vout in the 18th minute.
Midway through the half, York began to apply some pressure and enjoyed a spell of possession before their momentum was halted by a second Lincoln goal.
A cross towards the back post was initially crashed against the bar from point-blank range, but Josh Kennealey was on hand to follow up.
The Minstermen failed to make a set-piece count in the 34th minute, and, instead, the hosts hit their third, utilising a smart counter-attack.
Freddie Wilson picked out Kennealey with a long ball, and the winger coolly chipped the ball over Campbell White and into the net.
In the 40th minute, a high cross to the back stick was stabbed home by Wilson, before Leo Fifield capped off the half with a header to make it five.
Well on the back foot, City began the second half with a double change and went close a minute in, as Sutton Greening drifted a free-kick just over the bar.
However, the Imps did not slow down and hit two quickfire goals early in the second half. Fifield headed in for the second time, and then Kennealey completed his hat-trick with a close-range finish.
Frustratingly for the Minstermen, Fifield rounded off his own treble in the 59th minute, before Kennealey added another nine minutes later.
Tariro Darikwa moved the scoreline into double figures with four minutes to go.
Oscar Woolford gave York a late crumb of comfort in stoppage time, latching onto Charlie Webster’s cross, and sliding the ball home into the bottom corner to deny the home side a clean sheet.
Lincoln City U18s: Hetherinton-Field, Vout (Jubb 18′, Herbert 74′), Darikwa, L.Oliver, K.Oliver, Inyama (Sidhu 46′), Kennealey, Sagoo, Fifield (Male 60′), Mande, Wilson (Don-Duncan 58′).
York City U18s: White, Kydd, Beadle (Penrose 73′), Belleh (C), Hall, Ozisik (Appleyard 46′), Woolford, Turner (Webster 46′), Hewson, Greening, Binns.
