U18 Premier League North
Leeds United U18 2 (Morris 23’, Mills 90’)
Burnley U18 5 (Lewis 40’, Derbyshire 49’, King 55’, Scanlon 76’, Okonkwo 90’)
Leeds: Cook (GK), Dudley (Bridge 62’), Philpott, Whitehead (Stockton 73’), Simo, Hamilton, Njinko, Alker (Bhaskaran 73’), Morris (C), Mensah, Mills. Subs not used: Wood (GK), Matykiewicz.
Burnley: Edwards (GK), Da Costa (Murtesa 82’), Wilcock, Stanley, King, Savage (C), Scanlon (Fong 82’), So, Derbyshire (Okonkwo 76’), Lewis (Moris 71’), Pouani. Subs not used: Grimshaw (GK).
Sent-off: Philpott (Leeds)
Referee: Benjamin Duffill
Venue: Thorp Arch
Leeds United Under-18s lost out to Burnley Under-18s today on league duties, despite excellent goals from Callum Mills and Jack Morris.
Although forced to defend for most of the first quarter of the match, with goalkeeper Robbie Cook making multiple diving saves, it was Leeds who opened the scoring.
Louie Philpott picked the ball up inside his own half, beat his man and made an excellent run to the edge of the Clarets’ box before laying the ball to Morris.
The attacking midfielder got the ball out of his feet and placed a low shot perfectly into the bottom right corner of the goal, putting the hosts ahead.
Immediately following an attack that should have seen Leeds double their lead, Burnley found an equaliser.
Attacker James Lewis turned after receiving the ball inside the Whites’ box and got a shot away that found its way into the bottom left of the goal, bringing the visitors level.
Neither side were able to take the lead before referee Benjamin Duffill brought the opening period at Thorp Arch to a close.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U18 1-1 Burnley U18
The visitors scored two more goals within ten minutes of the match restarting, completing the turnaround and taking the game away from the hosts.
First, Braidin Derbyshire fired the ball in from close range after Leeds lost possession in their own penalty area. Defender Corey King then made it 3-1 to the visitors, scoring a powerfully headed goal after finding space attacking a corner.
Burnley got their fourth after 76 minutes as Cook was unable to prevent Gibraltar international Luca Scanlon’s close-range volley inside the six-yard box.
After this, the game slowed until the 90th minute when Leeds pulled one back with Morris doing well on the flank, getting the ball across to Mills who cut in onto his right foot, leaving his man on the floor, and firing into the top right corner to make it 4-2.
The hope of a comeback was short-lived, though, as Philpott was sent off for blocking a Burnley shot on the goal-line with a hand.
The visiting side got their fifth as Destiny Okonkwo put his penalty powerfully into the bottom left corner, beating Cook who had dived the right way.
Rob Etherington’s side will return in the New Year, beginning with a clash against Manchester City on home soil and an FA Youth Cup tie with Swansea City.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U18 2-5 Burnley U18
