Under-18s Premier League North
Leeds United 0
Derby County 6 (Ebuka 8’, 27’, 29’, 43’, Eames 74’, 90’)
Leeds: Wood (GK), Lane (Firth 46’), Billett, Pickles, Matykiewcz, Hamilton (C), McDonald, Brown (Whitehead 76’), Boast, Pirie (Morris 61’), Render (Njinko 61’). Subs not used: Woolfrey (GK).
Derby: Price (GK), Doyle, Gordon, Agustien, Banks (C), Osayande, Corry (Richards 76’), Mintus, Ebuka (Green 63’), Eames, Oguntolu. Subs not used: Connell-Webster (GK), Rees, Canoville.
Venue: Thorp Arch
Referee: Gavin Scott
Booked: Lane, Pirie, Billett (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-18s were heavily beaten on home turf, after a convincing victory for Derby County Under-18s. Four goals in 43 minutes for Derby’s prolific striker, Charles Ebuka, was key to a dominant performance from the travelling side.
With Derby only dropping points in one game this season it was always going to be a challenging afternoon for the Whites. The game got underway and in the first five minutes, both teams were trying to settle into the game by building their attacks.
Derby’s quick defence allowed them to jump on every opportunity there was to win the ball back and play in their attackers, but the home back line dealt with the pressure well in those early stages.
The Rams really started to pick up the pace and after just eight minutes they broke through, then after a corner kick from Dermaine Agustien, the ball fell to the feet of Ebuka who scored to get his first of the afternoon.
For the next 20 minutes, Derby continued to put Leeds under pressure but there were a few chances to equalise. The biggest of which was from Josh McDonald, who found himself on the edge of the box with a half volley attempt that was blocked on the line.
In the 27th minute, Derby pounced on an error at the back, which allowed Ebuka to get his second as he calmy took it round the keeper and scored.
Just two minutes later and the ball was in the back of the net again. It was Derby’s main man Ebuka who got his hat-trick, via an impressive outside of the foot volley into the top left corner.
Ebuka could’ve got his fourth straight after kick-off if it wasn’t for a brilliant block from Freddie Lane to put an end to the Derby attack, and allow Leeds some time to recover from the constant pressure.
More chances came for the Whites in the last 10 minutes of the half as Lane did brilliantly, finding himself with the ball out on the right-hand side, beating his man and putting in a great delivery. All it needed was a touch to bring the Yorkshire side back into the game, but the chance was gone.
With two minutes left of the half, Ebuka grabbed his fourth after Isaac Gordon squared the ball from the left-hand side, allowing him to score with a brilliant first-time finish and sending the visitors into their dressing room with a commanding lead.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-4 Derby County
No changes for either side at half time and the second half got underway, and for the first 15 minutes of the half, Leeds had multiple chances to get on the score sheet but struggled to take them.
Jacob Render struck the post as Leeds continued to go in search of a route back into the match. Some positive play down the right from Josh McDonald saw him beat three players and pass it through to Lane. Again, Derby dealt with the pressure well and held strong.
The away team stepped it up once more. Owen Eames was winning the ball back a lot and creating clear chances to make it five, but a change in Derby strikers meant they weren’t as clinical.
The fifth goal did eventually come as Eames got his first after again winning the ball back and finding himself one-on-one with Oliver Wood, to slot it into the bottom right corner.
With just seconds to go until the final whistle, Derby got their sixth and final goal of the match after Eames was one-on-one again with Wood, taking his time to then shoot at the near post and get his second.
FULL-TIME: Leeds United 0-6 Derby County
