Premier League Cup

Leeds United U21 3 (Chadwick 64’, Mullen 67’, Richards 74’)

Stockport County U21 1 (Adshead 57’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley (Hamilton 89’), Bird (McDonald 67’), Toulson, Lopata-White (C), Mullen, Vincent (Ferguson 46’), Cresswell, Douglas (Snowdon 46’), Chadwick, Richards. Subs not used: Baird (GK).

Stockport: Metcalfe (GK), Okeke, Hillary, Williams-Lawless, Atkinson, Watson, Adshead (Dialundama 71’), Johnson (C), Kouam (Redshaw 46’), C. Gardner, S. Gardner (Fowles 81’). Subs not used: O’Shea (GK), Okoligan.

Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Booked: Lopata-White (Leeds) Watson (Stockport)

An inspired second-half fight back from Leeds United Under-21s saw the Whites record an impressive victory over Stockport County Under-21s in the Premier League Cup.

Behind early in the second half, Rhys Chadwick’s stunning free kick brought Scott Gardner’s side level, before goals from Jeremiah Mullen and Joe Richards sealed the three points at the LNER Community Stadium.

On a chilly evening in York, the visitors had the first sight of goal, after Marcus Kouam linked up well with the Hatters’ skipper Cody Johnson down the right flank.

The midfielder’s initial cross was cut out well by Leeds’ captain Reuben Lopata-White but fell kindly for Saul Gardner, though his first-time effort sailed well over Rory Mahady’s crossbar.

As play resumed, it was the Whites’ turn to attack, thanks to Harvey Vincent’s bursting run which saw United break over half-way.

The winger found the overlapping run of full-back Louie Dudley who in turn crossed for Connor Douglas, but the forward was unable to guide an early strike on target.

With fifteen minutes on the clock, Douglas made no mistake as he met Vincent’s delivery to sweep home into the corner on the volley, only for the assistant’s flag to up for an offside earlier in the move.

A great run and incisive path from Richards then played Douglas through inside the area. Fine footwork saw the forward leave a blue shirt in his wake, before he was sent tumbling under a clumsy challenge by Jack Atkinson, though experienced Premier League referee Thomas Bramall waved away the appeals.

Despite both sides enjoying a lot of the ball and looking to create openings, the teams’ defences stood firm and limited the attackers to very little before the half-time whistle sounded.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 0-0 Stockport County U21

The start of the second 45 signalled the return to action for Joe Snowdon, after the forward picked up an injury in pre-season. He was joined by Connor Ferguson, as Gardner shuffled the pack looking for the opener.

It was superb tenacity from Ferguson that saw the left-back maraud into the visitors’ territory, darting past a number of blue shirts before being brought to ground on the edge of the area.

Chadwick and Snowdon stood over the ball but it was the substitute who struck, powering a fierce effort which stung the palms of Max Metcalfe in the Stockport goal.

Despite the Leeds pressure, Jamie Crowther’s County side took the lead after Daniel Adshead latched onto Saul Gardner’s pass and drilled a low strike beyond Mahady and in off the far post.

Keen to make an immediate response, Chadwick was then felled in a similar position to the previous free kick but claimed the ball as he set his sights on goal.

That decision would prove to be an inspired one, with the attacking midfielder curling a sublime strike over the wall and into the corner, beyond the despairing dive of Metcalfe!

Instantly on the front foot, the Whites would have taken the lead within moments if not for the Hatters’ keeper, on hand to make a superb low save to his right to deny Snowdon’s shot from the edge of the area.

The reprieve would only short however when, from the resulting corner, defender Mullen rose highest to power home Chadwick’s dangerous delivery and put Gardner’s side ahead!

Two became three with just over 15 minutes to play when a fine flick from Chadwick played Richards through on goal and, with just Metcalfe to beat, the versatile player drilled confidently into the far corner to seal proceedings!

Stockport had an opportunity to reduce the deficit when Che Gardner latched onto a loose pass on the edge of the area, only to be denied by a fantastic sprawling save by Mahady, to the applause of his Whites’ teammates.

Further chances for Dan Toulson and Snowdon came as the match entered its closing stages, with Gardner’s side finishing a superb second half impressively.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 3-1 Stockport County U21