Our Under-21s were held by Bolton Wanderers in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Thorp Arch on Monday afternoon.

Casper Sloth's first-half double gave Paul Hart's side a two-goal advantage, but a hat-trick from Bolton's Kaiyne Woolery saw the visitors mount an impressive comeback to edge themselves ahead.

Souleymane Doukara soon pulled United back on level terms from close-range, and that proved to be the final goal of a keenly-contested encounter.

Hart named four first-teamers in his starting line-up for the Professional Development League 2 clash, including a return from injury for midfielder Tommaso Bianchi. The Italian completed just over an hour as planned, while Doukara, Sloth and Kalvin Phillips also featured.

Full-back Tyler Denton took the captain's armband in the absence of the suspended Lewie Coyle, who was shown a straight red card in the U21s' previous outing a fortnight earlier at Watford.

Sloth, a regular for the U21s this term, got our youngsters off the mark with a composed finish just seven minutes into the game, racing through on goal to slot beyond former United goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

The Danish midfielder then netted his second of the afternoon, firing underneath Rachubka on the 23rd minute from a similar position, after being played through by Doukara.

Both Phillips and Frank Mulhern forced fine saves from the Bolton shot-stopper, before Woolery pulled one back for the visitors at the opposite end, finding the bottom corner after being picked out by Jon Ceberio’s through ball.

Ceberio then forced Bailey Peacock-Farrell into a strong save to beat away his ferocious long-range effort as Bolton ended the first half strongly.

They made a flying start to the second period, too, with Woolery levelling proceedings within just a minute of the restart following a defensive mix-up.

Rachubka twice denied Leeds from retaking the lead, including a sprawling save to keep out Doukara’s goalbound curler, before Woolery notched his third with a low strike to cap a powerful run and put Andy Hughes’ side ahead.

Doukara soon hit back, though, pulling United level on 78 minutes with a close-range finish to ensure the spoils would be shared.

Hart said: "Emotions varied from disappointment to elation. We started off very well, played some great stuff and went 2-0 up - we were really on top and probably should have had three.

"We didn't defend very well to allow them to get back to 2-2, and again they took the lead. But to come back from that - a real kick in the stomach - it showed a lot of courage.

"I thought we could have nicked it in the end. I felt our intensity left us midway through the first half and we had to fight for it back."

Under-21s team vs Bolton Wanderers: Peacock-Farrell, Purver, Skelton, Vann, Denton, Sloth, Phillips (Lyman 63), Bianchi (Parkin 63), Stokes, Mulhern, Doukara. Subs not used: Grimes, McDaid.