U18 Premier League North
Sunderland U18 4 (Campbell 13’, 42’ pen; Thompson 44’, Pollock 57’)
Leeds United U18 3 (Njinko 11’, White 56’, 76’)
Sunderland U18: Jones (GK), Dolan-Dent, Bowman (Bartle 64’), Thompson, Pollock, Forsyth (Nelson 18’), Okoro, Brown, Campbell (Priestley 87’), Burns (C), Shakespeare (Obasohan 90’). Subs not used: Gibson (GK), Quinn.
Leeds United U18: Wood (GK), Walker, Philpott, Whitehead (Thompson 70’), Megson, Howard (C) (M Mensah 45’), White, Bhaskaran, Njinko, Alker (Bennett 81’), Mexes (K Mensah 58’). Subs not used: Banks (GK), Balmer, Ibrovic-Fletcher.
Venue: Academy of Light | Referee: Ryan Moore | Booked: Nelson, Thompson (Sunderland)Whitehead, Philpott| Sent-off: Megson (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-18s fell to a narrow defeat after a high-scoring meeting with Sunderland Under-18s at the Academy of Light.
Logan White grabbed a brace to continue his scintillating goal scoring run and Carrick Njinko netted but it wasn’t to be for Rob Etherington’s young Whites.
In blustery conditions, the first sight of goal came within seven minutes as Njinko looked to catch Sunderland keeper Josh Jones off his line from just inside the Sunderland half. His effort beat the stopper but travelled the wrong side of the post.
After a brilliantly timed Jacob Howard tackle, a diagonal ball from the back line switched the play out to the left into the path of Silva Mexes. Louie Philpott provided an overlapping run, as Mexes played the ball into his path. The full-back whipped a cross into the six-yard box where Njinko was perfectly positioned to head home!
Sunderland looked for an immediate response and found one through Lewis Campbell, after he was slipped through one-on-one by Alfie Pollock and fired beyond the oncoming Oliver Wood.
Keen to retake the lead, Sam Alker lofted the ball into the crowded penalty area. Howard rose the highest but unfortunately he couldn’t direct his header on target.
Approaching the break, referee Ryan Moore pointed to the spot after Black Cats forward Campbell was brought down inside the penalty area. The striker got to his feet and drilled into the back of the net.
A hectic opening period continued right until the whistle sounded as Sunderland worked the ball around the Leeds press. After a cross from the right, it bounced to Harvey Thompson who was there to volley in through a crowd of bodies.
HALF TIME: Sunderland U18 3-1 Leeds United U18
Leeds settled much earlier into the second half and almost scored an identical goal as their first. Loui Whitehead played a delightful long diagonal ball wide to Mexes, where the combination of him and Philpott again was able to produce a cross into a dangerous area, only this time it was cleared by a red and white shirt.
Another opportunity presented itself as White stood over a free kick. His right-footed effort curled up and over the three-man wall, finding the top right corner and beating the diving Sunderland keeper.
The Whites looked to use the momentum but again the hosts produced an immediate response as a low-driven cross from Oscar Okoro was met by Pollock in the centre of the box who did the rest, restoring their two-goal cushion.
White then went close to producing another moment of magic to help bring his side back into the game. His quick feet were able to beat his man and send a cross into Alker who saw a volley saved well by Jones.
With just under 15 minutes remaining, there was a feeling of déjà vu for Leeds as White stepped up for a free kick in a similar position to where he scored his first one. This time he arrowed a shot to the far corner, wrong-footing Jones and making the score 4-3, sending his side on the hunt for that levelling goal.
Despite throwing everything at the Mackems, Etherington’s team were unable to find a fourth and earn a share of the spoils as the full-time whistle sounded. Leeds return to action next weekend by hosting Derby County.
FULL TIME: Sunderland U18 4-3 Leeds United U18
