U18 Premier League North
Blackburn Rovers U18 4 (Clanford 10’, Cryer 46’, Lister 55’, Joseph 90’)
Leeds United U18 1 (Njinko 42’)
Blackburn: Holt, Pitt, Low, McIlroy, Kelley-Quinn, Walls (Fletcher), Clanford, Lister (Ball), Cryer (Joseph), Mansbridge, McCoy (C). Subs not used: Decandia, Krajewski.
Leeds: Cook, Dudley (C), Philpott, Whitehead, Hamilton, Watson, Njinko, Alker (Bhaskaran), Mills, Stockton (Bennett), Mensah. Subs not used: Woolfrey (GK), Bridge, Heywood.
Referee: Ciaran Williams
Booked: Cryer (Blackburn) Philpott (Leeds)
Venue: Blackburn Rovers Football Academy
Leeds United Under-18s fell to defeat away at Blackburn Rovers Under-18s despite being level at the break courtesy of Carrick Njinko’s goal.
It was on the 10-minute mark when the hosts drew first blood. Harry Lister found Charlie Clanford in the box and his first time shot from close range gave the home team the lead.
Up until that point, Leeds had struggled to get any momentum in the match but the goal seemed to kickstart the visitors.
For the rest of the opening half, United had the better of the chances and much more of the ball. After 24 minutes, Callum Mills had a shot smartly saved, then moments later Thomas Stockton was denied a great opportunity by a perfectly timed sliding challenge in the area.
Stockton then had the best chance to get Rob Etherington’s side level so far, closing down the Rovers ‘keeper and blocking his clearance. The ball fell back to the forward but he could not get enough curl on his shot from a tight angle on the left and it slid agonisingly wide of the far post!
Leeds then finally levelled proceedings approaching the break. Louie Philpott picked up the ball and drove into the opposition box.
His shot headed towards the bottom right corner and, although saved by Blackburn’s Harry Holt, the stopper could only watch as Njinko reacted first to the loose ball and tucked it away to restore parity in Lancashire.
HALF TIME: Blackburn Rovers U18 1-1 Leeds United U18
The second half began even quicker than the first with Blackburn going back ahead just 20 seconds after the restart. Leeds lost possession and Thomas Cryer finished well into the bottom left corner of the goal to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
This time, Leeds could not find a reply and Rovers extended their advantage after 55 minutes. A high ball dropping out of the sun left the Whites’ defence unsighted and Lister managed to use this advantage, running in behind and curling an effort into the back of the net.
Leeds, to their credit, did not down tools and kept knocking on the Rovers’ door but just could not find a way to get a goal back.
This led to Blackburn killing the game completely in the closing minutes when United had thrown more players forward in search of a goal.
A cleared high ball fell to the feet of target man Valentin Joseph who raced through one-on-one with keeper Robbie Cook and made up for hitting the post minutes earlier by slotting a shot into the bottom right of the net.
Etherington’s team are back in U18 Premier League North action next weekend with a trip to Teesside to face Middlesbrough.
FULL TIME: Blackburn Rovers U18 4-1 Leeds United U18
