U18 Premier League North

Leeds United 1 (Pirie 90+5’)

Newcastle United 1 (Ferreira 10’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Billett (Bird 46’), Richards, Toulson (C), Creswell, Lopata-White, Gorman, Chadwick, Brown (Pirie 62’), Chambers, McDonald. Subs not used: Pickles, Render, Wood.

Newcastle: Harrison (GK), Shahar (O’Donovan 63’), Bryant, Munda, Watts, Craggs, Ferreira (Wooster 84’), Powell, Neave, Palmer, Sanusi (Brayson 62’). Subs not used: Janusz, Milmore.

Venue: Thorp Arch

Referee: A. Williams

Booked: Richards, Gorman, Chambers, Bird (Leeds), Munda, Ferreira, O’Donovan (Newcastle)



Leeds United Under-18s continued their unbeaten start to their Premier League North campaign at Thorp Arch, after a last-minute equaliser from substitute Lewis Pirie.

It was the visitors who started the contest the brighter of the two, with the first big chance of the game coming in the fourth minute.

Matheos Ferreira found himself free on the edge of the box and managed to get a shot on goal, from which Rory Mahady could only parry to the feet of Sean Neave, who blazed over from point blank range.

After a bright start from the Magpies, they did take the lead 11 minutes in. Anthony Munda won the ball back and broke away on the counter, he slipped it through to Ferreira who was in acres of space, he then took the ball into the box and slotted it into the corner.

The game then settled down and Leeds began to start playing more of their football. Finlay Gorman and Josh McDonald were causing problems for Newcastle’s back line, but the Whites were just lacking that cutting edge in front of goal.

Newcastle had a great chance to double their advantage at the end of the half when Trevan Sanusi delivered a deep cross to Rory Powell, who then had time to bring the ball down, but his shot was blocked brilliantly by Alfie Creswell.

That was that before the interval, meaning the Whites had work to do in the second half at Thorp Arch if they were to take anything from the game.



HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Newcastle United

Leeds came out and started the second half well and had their best chance of the game up to this point, in the 54th minute.

Gorman and Joe Richards worked well down the right-hand side, the ball dropped to Rhys Chadwick and he hit a left footed shot towards goal which went just over the bar.

Newcastle so nearly doubled their advantage just moments later, though. Darren Palmer picked up a loose ball and drove at the heart of the United defence, he then worked himself into a great goal scoring position inside the box and let a strike off at goal but Creswell was there again to block, preventing Palmer from scoring.

Leeds kept on pushing and came closest to an equaliser again with just one minute of normal time left to play. Gorman whipped in a delightful corner, McDonald jumped the highest in the centre of the box, but he glanced his header agonisingly wide of the post.

As the points looked like they were heading north to Newcastle, Leeds we’re awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of added on time, after Sam Chambers was tripped just inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot.



Fresh on from the bench, Pirie stepped up to take the penalty and he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. That was his first goal for the Whites and earned his side a well-deserved point.

This result leaves Leeds third in the U18 Premier League North table and next up, they make the journey to Manchester City next weekend.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-1 Newcastle United