Under-18 Premier League North
Leeds United U18: 0
Manchester United U18: 2 (McEvoy 49’, Gabriel 85’)
Leeds United: Kenyon (GK), Dudley (C), Balmer, Whitehead, Hamilton, Simo, Njinko, Bhaskaran, Ibrovic-Fletcher, Callum Mills, Stockton (Bennett 83’). Subs not used: Wood (GK), Jacob M. Watson, Bridge, Heywood.
Manchester United: Bryne-Hughes (GK), Helafu, Albert Mills (C), Jacob Watson, Plunkett (Overy 55’), McEvoy, Brown, Shah (Thwaites 71’), Bradbury (Nkoto 71’), Gabriel, Ajayi (Emsden-James. 86’). Subs not used: Heath (GK).
Referee: Joshua Thompson
Booked: Kenyon, Balmer (Leeds)
Venue: Thorp Arch
Second half goals from Jay McEvoy and JJ Gabriel secured all three points for Manchester United Under-18s as Leeds United Under 18s fell to a 0-2 defeat at Thorp Arch.
It was a fast start from the visitors, who created an opening inside the first three minutes when Gabriel found space on the edge of the Leeds box. His effort, however, failed to travel far after being blocked bravely by Joshua Hamilton.
George Kenyon was called into action four minutes later, as Noah Ajayi cut in from the left onto his right foot and whipped a shot towards the near post. The Leeds goalkeeper reacted well, getting across to palm the ball and take the sting out of the effort before gathering comfortably.
Leeds responded through Joseph Baskaran, who accelerated down the right and stretched the Manchester defence, allowing Carrick Njinko to drive into open space before a desperate tackle from Jariyah Shah brought Njinko down on the edge of the box.
The winger stepped up to take the resulting free-kick and curled an effort around the wall, forcing Cameron Byrne-Hughes to dive to his right and deny the Yorkshire side the opener.
Intricate passing from the Whites in midfield later allowed Njinko to be played through down the right flank. A burst of pace took him beyond Dante Plunkett and into the box, where he produced a low driven cross across the face of goal, with no Leeds shirts on hand to apply the finishing touch.
On 26 minutes, Callum Mills produced some clever footwork on the edge of the opposition's penalty area to create space for a shot, which deflected into the path of Njinko out wide. Cutting inside onto his left foot, his effort towards goal was blocked by a wall of red shirts.
The visitors looked to respond through Ajayi, whose shot was blocked before the rebound fell to Gabriel, with his follow-up effort striking an opposing defender and eventually looped into the arms of Kenyon.
The best chances for both sides came as half-time approached, with Njinko bursting down the right wing and eventually seeing his cross blocked to send the ball looping into the air.
It was Leeds captain Louie Dudley who reacted first, sending a first-time volleyed cross towards the back post where Thomas Stockton was waiting, but he could only guide his effort over the crossbar.
At the other end, Jacob Watson stepped forward from the defence into midfield and slipped Gabriel through on the half-turn, leaving him one-on-one with Kenyon. However, the forward’s shot flew over the bar.
It was a strong first half display from the young Whites as referee Joshua Thompson brought the opening 45 minutes to a close, with both teams goalless.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U18 0 – 0 Manchester United U18
Leeds started the second half brightly and created the first opening as Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher worked into space on the edge of the box before finding Njinko on the right. His effort, which looked destined for the bottom left corner, was blocked by Watson.
Moments later, it was defence into attack for the Red Devils as Yuel Helafu picked up a loose ball and drove forwards down the right flank before setting up McEvoy on the edge of the area. The midfielder arrowed a right-footed effort into the bottom left-hand corner to give the visitors the lead.
The visitors continued to apply pressure soon after with Ajayi unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that looked to be heading for the top corner, but Kenyon produced an excellent save by stretching out his right hand to turn the effort behind for a corner.
Ajayi remained a constant threat, delivering a cross into the box that found Junior Brown who guided his header goalwards, only to see it strike the woodwork and ricochet away from danger.
In the final ten minutes, the visitors doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after Gabriel was brought down in the penalty area, following a mistimed challenge.
The Leeds goalkeeper initially produced a superb save low to his left to deny Gabriel, but the forward reacted quickest to the rebound and converted at the second time of asking.
Leeds pushed to halve the deficit late on, as Liam Balmer found space at the back post, but he was unable to keep his effort down as it sailed narrowly over the bar.
Rob Etherington’s side will now look ahead to their next fixture, with a midweek clash against Middlesbrough U18s onWednesday.
FULL-TIME: Leeds United U18 0–2 Manchester United U18
