Lincoln Red Imps make second half comeback to lift Pepe Reyes Cup

Seven home-grown players lined out in the Pepe Reyes Cup as Lincoln Red Imps faced St Joseph’s, with four representing the league champions and three last season’s runners-up.

It was to be the domestic debut for both head coaches at their respective clubs. For the Blues, Javier Muñoz already had experience in the domestic league, having played for Europa and managed Lincoln Red Imps in the past. However, having signed for St Joseph’s this summer, it was his first domestic match in charge of the Blues — ironically against the team he had managed to the title in recent years.

At the other end, Pavón was making his domestic debut, with this the first time the Algeciras-born coach had managed a club in Gibraltar. It was not, however, his first match as head coach, having been at the helm throughout the summer as Lincoln reached the play-off stage of the Conference League.

His first challenge was to manage a side through Thursday’s first-leg play-off defeat and into a cup final on Sunday, with the second leg of the European tie just days later on Thursday.

The Spanish manager had opted throughout the European campaign to start his first eleven with two home-grown players, with Britto, Torrilla and Jolley all playing their part and coming into matches at different stages. While players with vast international experience had been doubts due to injuries, their presence in Sunday’s starting line-up highlighted that the decision not to use them had been based more on squad rotation and the preferred first eleven than on fitness concerns.

Similarly, players such as Kike were also given an opportunity to feature, with Lincoln fielding a changed side from that which had played on Thursday in the defeat at the hands of Larne.

The Pepe Reyes Cup, although a prestigious trophy, was one whose main value lay in bragging rights, while also providing the two main opponents with an opportunity to test each other at the start of the season without the risk of dropping points in what is expected to be another league title challenge between the two.

For Lincoln, however, with the Conference League play-off looming over their heads, the focus had somewhat dulled the cup’s place on their list of priorities this season. Having lost against Larne on Thursday, their eyes were firmly focused on how to mount a comeback in the second leg if they were to remain in European club competition this season.

St Joseph’s, on the other hand, having been knocked out of the Conference League, were now focusing their attention firmly on the domestic season, with Champions League football their objective. Their biggest stumbling block in achieving this was the very club they were playing against. A positive result in the Pepe Reyes Cup was seen as a morale boost towards their challenge for the title after having fallen short once again last season, although it was no guarantee of success.

Although Lincoln had started strongly, it was St Joseph’s, who themselves had made many changes, who struck first. A corner played across goal saw Ferron get the final touch in front of the goalkeeper as the latter went down in an attempt to block the ball. It squeezed past Lopes and Rutjens for the opening goal after 12 minutes.

It was a high-intensity affair, with tensions running high before a respectable crowd filling the better part of the main stand.

The match was officiated by Seth Galia, the young referee who had been the focus of commentators’ remarks that had led to calls for the broadcaster of Gibraltar FA TV to be removed. Although those calls did not lead to action, statements of apology were issued prior to the start of the season.

Galia was to show the first yellow card to Evan De Haro for obstructing the ball from a free-kick being taken quickly — ironically by his national team-mate Torrilla.

Lincoln pressed forward in search of an equaliser, with the Blues forced to defend deep.

Although the Red and Blacks had made changes, fielding what was closer to a domestic league side than the European first eleven used against Larne, this was predominantly the team many expected to see in league action, where at least three home-grown players are required.

St Joseph’s, having taken the lead, were content to settle into a defensive posture, protecting their half and waiting for opportunities to regain possession and counter. With the first half-hour played, Lincoln Red Imps had still not found a route through to properly test Banda.

Galia was soon to show the Blues captain a yellow card after he was forced to pause play to attend to the player, who appeared to be injured. When requested to leave the field, the player argued with the referee. The new rules now being enforced are designed to clamp down on time-wasting through feigning injury.

It was not until the 28th minute that Banda was called into action. A shot from Idrissi forced him to palm the ball over the crossbar.

Idrissi, who had been sent off against Larne, was making his return for the cup final knowing he would not feature in the second leg of the Conference League play-off.

This was also to be Ethan Jolley’s first match against his former club, St Joseph’s. The player, along with Fobi, was spoken to by the referee after the two became involved in a minor confrontation.

In the 34th minute, it was former Lincoln player Marco Rosa who struck wide.

St Joseph’s, when in possession, did little to slow down the pace, instead advancing their lines and pressing their opponents back into their own half.

The match, although merely a season-opening cup final with no European football bonus or major financial gain attached to it, was very much a precursor to the rivalry expected between the two clubs bidding for the title this season.

It was not until the 40th minute that Lincoln posed a real threat inside the Blues’ penalty box, although some strong defending blocked their route to goal.

The fouls and physicality of the match continued into the latter stages of the first half, with no love lost between the two sides as the bitter rivalry continued to show itself on the field.

Just two minutes of added time were given, with the numerous fouls that had littered the match not viewed as having caused too many delays in play. The half-time break arrived with St Joseph’s leading by the solitary goal.

The second half saw Lincoln make changes, among them the introduction of Nano and Toledano. The opening minutes saw the Red and Blacks take a more offensive approach, while the Blues looked to absorb the pressure.

A run down the right saw Idrissi squeeze a through ball to Toledano, who, with a quick change of pace and a driven effort from a tight angle along the ground, beat Banda to set the tone with an equaliser.

The changes made by Pavón were to prove effective almost immediately. Toledano, who was the league’s top goalscorer last season with Mons Calpe, continued his domestic scoring streak with his new club.

St Joseph’s forced Santana into a save at his near post in the 53rd minute as they attempted to bounce straight back.

However, it was Toledano again who, with the next move, broke through St Joseph’s defence before cutting the ball back into the path of Kike. The latter sidestepped his marker before sending the ball crashing into the roof of the net to complete Lincoln’s comeback.

St Joseph’s pressed forward, with two corner deliveries cleared by the defence as the match reached the hour mark. Kingsley then forced Santana to stretch to ensure his goal was covered, with the St Joseph’s player striking with power as the ball drifted just inches over the crossbar.

Muñoz was to make changes as he sought to alter the dynamics on the field. Lincoln were now setting the pace, while Bakari and Coombes were introduced.

Pavón was not to stand still either, taking off Jolley and Idrissi and bringing on the quick-paced Esterling and Mason.

Mason’s first intervention came within a minute of coming on. Taking on defenders down the right, the former Mons Calpe player played the ball into the path of Kike with a side-footed pass. The striker latched onto it before blasting past Banda for Lincoln’s third.

Once again, Pavón’s changes had made an immediate impact.

The pressure exerted by Lincoln forced a mistake from the St Joseph’s defence, conceding a corner and maintaining the Red and Blacks’ pressure inside the Blues’ half. Another corner in the 70th minute, delivered by Mula, proved too long, with St Joseph’s regaining possession.

A hurried shot or cross from Kingsley was sent into the side netting as the Blues looked to close the gap.

However, St Joseph’s were finding themselves outpaced and stretched as they chased back, with Lincoln using their pace effectively.

Ferron was to force Santana into a good stop after finding space for a volley in the 74th minute.

St Joseph’s maintained their momentum forward momentarily and again called on Santana to intervene as a free-kick was floated into the goalmouth.

Regaining possession, Lincoln Red Imps, after a couple of unsuccessful quick breaks, slowed the pace down as they looked to remove some of the urgency with which the match had been played. This closed the spaces and stalled St Joseph’s build-up play while allowing Lincoln to keep possession for longer periods.

With ten minutes still to play, tiredness began to emerge among the players, with several pauses for cramp on both sides. The pace of the 90 minutes was starting to take its toll under the summer heat.

After a string of weekend matches which had seen all four league fixtures finish in draws, this was the first official competitive domestic match of the 2026/27 season to produce an outright winner within 90 minutes.

Lincoln Red Imps had dealt the first dent to the Blues’ armour this season, while at the same time boosting their morale ahead of Thursday’s second-leg Conference League play-off against Larne.

The end of the match was to see a unique moment when Lincoln Red Imps captain Bernardo Lopes, spent his first moments celebrating talking and shaking hands with youth and junior players who had worked as ball boys during the match before joining his teammates and lifting the trophy.