U18 Premier League North
Leeds United 2 (Thomas 26’, Snowdon 90+2’)
Sunderland 2 (Watson 24’, Waters 83’)
Leeds: Ombang (GK), McGrath, Godden, Coleman (Buchan 62’), Moore (C), Mullen, Thomas (Spencer 83’), Allen (Bradbury 90+3’), Andreucci, Snowdon, Carole. Subs not used: Grainger, Toulson.
Sunderland: Bond (GK) (C), Irons, Bainbridge, Cain, Bell, Williams, Dowling, Middlemas (Bourke 85’), Moore (Waters 74’), Jones, Watson. Subs not used: Cameron, Jones, Salkeld.
Venue: Thorp Arch
Referee: M. Wright
Booked: Irons, Bainbridge (Sunderland)
The points were shared between Leeds United Under-18s and Sunderland Under-18s after an entertaining encounter at Thorp Arch. Both teams came into the match looking to return to winning ways after recent tough fixtures.
Leeds got off to a good start, enjoying plenty of possession and worked their first chance just six minutes into the encounter. Luca Thomas played a smart reverse pass to Ben Andreucci, putting him through on goal, but he could only put the effort agonisingly wide of the post.
The visitors were creating very little and didn’t appear to be troubling Daryll Ombang in the Leeds net, but they took the lead against the run of play on the 24th minute. A miss placed pass at the back allowed Tom Watson to drive forward into acres of space, he did just that and then struck home despite the best efforts of Ombang to keep it out.
Leeds hit straight back though just minutes later courtesy of the in-form Thomas. A lovely cut back from Joe Snowdon set up Thomas just inside the area, his powerful left footed strike found the bottom corner leaving ‘the keeper with no chance. That made it 10 goals in 10 games now for the Leeds forward.
Thomas nearly doubled his goal tally for the afternoon just a few minutes later. Keenan Carole did well to win possession back on the halfway line and to set Leeds on the attack, he played Thomas through on goal, but his chip went just over the bar this time.
The Black Cats came close to taking the lead again on the stroke of the half time whistle. A lofted cross towards the back post found Sam Irons all alone but his headed effort cannoned off the cross bar into the path of Will Cain, who then blazed over from close range.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-1 Sunderland
The away side started the second half the better of the two teams and had a good chance to take the lead early in the half. Ethan Moore cut the ball back to Will Dowling who was in a dangerous area, but his strike went over the bar.
The Whites had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 52nd minute. Jeremiah Mullen stepped out from defence, carried the ball forward and slipped Andreucci through on goal, but once again his effort just went the wrong side of the post.
Minutes later, Andreucci had another chance to put Leeds in-front. Snowdon’s close-range shot was saved well by the ‘keeper but it was parried back into the path of Andreucci who shot again, but his effort hit the wrong side of the post and went wide.
Ombang produced a stunning fingertip save to keep Leeds level with 20 minutes left. A mistake at the back led to Harrison Jones having the ball in plenty of space 25 yards from the goal, he went to lob Ombang, but at full stretch the stopper managed to tip the ball onto the post and wide.
Sunderland took the lead with just seven minutes left of normal time. Jones played a ball across to substitute Jake Waters, and his first-time effort found the bottom right corner.
The Whites never gave up the fight as they continued to flood players forward and their risks were rewarded in the dying moments of the game.
A long ball from Morten Spencer set Scott Godden away down the left-hand side, he beat his man and cut it back to Snowdon who saw his first-time effort nestle into the top right corner to bring the scores level at two apiece!
This result pushes Leeds up to 9th in the Premier League North, ahead of their clash against Wolves this coming Saturday.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-2 Sunderland