U18 Premier League North
Everton U18 1 (Wren 25’)
Leeds United U18 1 (Mensah 90’)
Everton: Patrick (GK), Lambert (C), Billington, Evans, McEveley, Murdock, Stewart (Ayang 82’), Brookes, Robert (Doughty 55’), Pita, Wren. Subs not used: Gospel-Eze, Pemberton, Aduda.
Leeds: Wood (GK), Dudley, Thompson, Whitehead, Hamilton, Simo, Njinko (Ibrovic-Fletcher 46’), Alker, Morris (C) (Bennett 76’), Mills, Mensah. Subs not used: Watson, Bridge, Bhaskaran.
Referee: Ryan Aldred
Booked: Stewart, Doughty (Everton) Mills, Mensah, Ibrovic-Fletcher (Leeds)
Venue: Finch Farm Training Complex
Leeds United Under-18s earned a deserved point on the road as Kenneth Mensah’s dramatic late finish cancelled out Kean Wren’s first-half opener on Merseyside.
Under clear blue skies, Rob Etherington’s side looked to respond to Saturday’s home defeat with a positive display away from home.
The visitors endured an early scare inside two minutes when a misplaced pass was intercepted by Harry Brookes. The ball was worked to Wren, who slipped in Roy Robert but he failed to set himself and could not apply a decisive finish.
Leeds reacted well. Loui Whitehead flicked a pass into Mensah, who found space before cutting onto his right foot. His strike bounced awkwardly in front of Everton goalkeeper Seve Patrick, though the stopper gathered comfortably.
The contest quickly developed into an open encounter as Charlie Stewart advanced down the right and threaded a pass into Shea Pita inside the penalty area, only for Joshua Hamilton to produce a vital challenge.
United gradually asserted control. Samuel Alker, Mensah, Callum Mills, Louie Dudley and Carrick Njinko combined sharply, allowing the latter to cut inside onto his left foot but his attempt failed to test Patrick.
Sustained pressure followed. Alker tried an effort after a loose ball broke kindly on the edge of the area, only for his driven attempt to be blocked. Aiden Thompson then delivered an inviting cross towards the far post but Harlow McEveley rose highest to clear.
Despite the young Whites’ dominance, Everton struck against the run of play. Stewart accelerated into space and whipped a precise delivery into the six-yard area where Wren guided a header beyond Oliver Wood to open the scoring on 25 minutes.
Leeds sought an immediate response. Mensah pressed aggressively to regain possession high up the pitch and drew a foul on the edge of the area. Alker stepped up but his free kick sailed over the bar.
Before the break, the Toffees nearly doubled their advantage when Stewart and Lambert linked again on the right. Elton Simo initially intercepted the cross but Pita regained possession inside the area and created space for a shot that drifted wide of the left post.
HALF TIME: Everton U18 1-0 Leeds United U18
The second half began at a relentless tempo with Leeds immediately forcing their hosts to back track towards their own goal.
Substitute Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher combined with Thompson to instigate a high press before slipping a clever pass into Morris inside the area. His effort was turned away by Patrick who reacted sharply to narrow the angle.
Hamilton then threaded a pass into Mills and the midfielder won a corner down the right. The resulting delivery caused confusion inside the six-yard box but was eventually cleared.
Ibrovic-Fletcher was soon presented with a one-on-one opportunity, yet Lewis Evans recovered well to apply pressure, forcing a tame strike that Patrick gathered comfortably.
As the contest entered its closing stages, quick footwork from Mills drew a foul in a promising position. Alker’s low delivery targeted the near post where Hamilton stretched but could not make a clean connection.
The mounting pressure finally yielded a breakthrough. A frantic scramble unfolded inside the six-yard area and Mensah reacted quickest to prod the ball over the line and restore parity!
There was no time remaining for either side to snatch a winner and the points were shared at the final whistle. The U18s now turn their attention to their March fixtures, returning to home soil on Tuesday to face Manchester City.
FULL TIME: Everton U18 1-1 Leeds United U18
