It was a memorable weekend for Leeds United as four of our teams across the weekend recorded important league victories!

In the Premier League, Anton Stach’s late thunderbolt sealed a dramatic win at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest, breaking the deadlock in the closing stages and sending the away end into raptures behind the goal.

The free kick sealed an opening day triumph for the Whites and a first win at that ground in top-flight action since 1971. It was also a maiden clean sheet on debut for England international goalkeeper James Trafford and Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović.

“I think first of all, it is so important to get good start,” goalscorer Stach said. “It is such a difficult away game. I think the game was really tight overall, it was a lot about duels and winning second balls, and of course it is really nice that we won the game at the end.

“I have missed it so much, playing in front of the fans, in front of our fans. Also here, on an away game, it is so nice to be back.”

The following day, Leeds United Women continued their excellent start to the FA WNL Division One North season with a commanding 3-0 triumph at Chester-le-Street Town Ladies.

Sharpshooter Amy Woodruff made it five goals in her first two matches of the new term, netting a hattrick in the North East with two composed finishes and a glancing header!

Simon Wood’s side have collected six points from the opening double header after previously dismantling Thornaby Women 7-0 at the BD Community Stadium.

Discussing her trio of goals, the forward said: “I am pleased with the hattrick but more pleased with the three points. We carried the momentum on from last week.

“Overall, a good performance this week. The second half we changed a lot and getting that second goal just calmed it down a bit. The third goal put it to bed.”

It was a Sunday of collecting match balls for United as at Thorp Arch, Under-21s attacker Carrick Njinko netted three of his own in an enthralling 4-3 victory over West Bromwich Albion.

The youngster’s opening two efforts were fine low finishes from the edge of the area into the bottom corner, before teammate Jacob Render put it on a plate for Carrick’s third!

Render was also on target in style, arrowing a powerful drive from distance into the top corner as Scott Gardner’s team came out on top of a seven-goal thriller.

Grinning after his man of the match display, Njinko told LUTV: “It was a good game. We wanted to start the season off with three points and I got a hattrick to go with it!

“The first one had a few people in front of me but I created space to get the shot off in the bottom corner. Same with the second one, really. I had to wrap it around and keep it under players. And the last one comes from Render’s work – he put it back to me for an easy finish.”

Rounding off a superb weekend for the club were Rob Etherington’s U18s who beat Wolverhampton Wanderers U18s 2-1 on Saturday, in a game that could have seen the hosts add more goals to the tally.

Efforts from Logan White and Thomas Stockton either side of the break proved enough for the Young Whites, who bounced back well from an opening day defeat against Everton.

How does this week look?

The men’s first team return to the City Ground just three days after the weekend’s visit for our EFL Cup Second Round tie against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening.

Then, Sunday promises to be a day full of action with three teams in action. Daniel Farke’s side host Brentford in the first Premier League encounter at Elland Road this term.

Also that day, Leeds United Women travel to Chorley Women. Prior to that one, Simon Wood’s squad begin their League Cup campaign by visiting Halifax Women on Thursday evening.

Rounding off an action-packed Sunday, our U21s travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool in the Premier League 2, the day after the U18s meet Manchester City away from home.