U18 Premier League North
Leeds United 4 (Brown 28’, Vincent 38’, McDonald 66’, 78’)
Liverpool 1 (Danns 85’)
Leeds United: Mahady (GK), Toulson, Cresswell, Bird, Lopata-White, Richards, Chadwick, Vincent, Render (Chambers 64’), Brown (McDonald 58’). Subs not used: Baird (GK), Matykiewicz.
Liverpool: Morana (GK), Davidson, Gyimah, Omoruyi (Furner-Gill 45’), Pinnington (Morrison 57’), Trueman (Laffey 69’), Koumas, Onanuga, Danns, Ahmed. Subs not used: Misciur, Pitt.
Booked: McFadden (Leeds), Morrison, Davidson (Liverpool)
Venue: Thorp Arch
Leeds United Under-18s played their first home game of the new season on Saturday Afternoon at Thorp Arch. Scott Gardner’s side made it back-to-back wins in convincing style to open the season.
In the opening stages of the game, it was a close contest with both sides not being able to take control or create any clear chances
However, after the 20-minute mark, the Whites settled into the game and started to apply pressure on the away side, with some smart passages of play.
At half an hour had been played, Leeds finally made their pressure count! A slick passing move down the left-hand side saw Harvey Vincent cut a pass back to the six-yard box, then Llyeton Brown smartly turned his defender and placed his right-footed shot in the bottom corner to give his side the lead!
After the first goal, the Whites dominated and quickly made it two! This time the provider turned to the goal scorer.
Alfie Cresswell played a great ball to the right-hand side, then fullback Joe Richards took his time and drilled a low cross to the back post where Vincent was in acres of space and was able to guide it home from close range.
After adding a second, the hosts took a two-goal advantage into the break following a strong first-half display.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Liverpool
The first chance of the second half fell to Brown again, after a long ball over the top, he weaved in and out but his shot went straight to the keeper’s hands
Both teams had a flurry of substitutes and it was one of the Leeds changes that had an instant impact.
Josh McDonald hit a wonderful curling right-footed effort into the bottom right corner, after some tight and intricate play on the edge of the box. The goal meant that the Whites had a three-goal cushion with 25 minutes to play.
Despite the Dominance from the home side, with 10 minutes remaining, Max McFadden was sent off after receiving two quick yellows.
The one-player disadvantage didn’t stop Leeds being in the ascendency though, as they added a fourth moments later.
A smart ball in behind the Reds’ defence saw McDonald on the end of it, he then took it past the onrushing keeper and tapped it into an empty net to get his second of the afternoon.
With little time remaining, Liverpool did pull a goal back from the penalty spot. Jayden Danns calmly placed the spot kick into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit.
This was the last of the action and the home side claimed all three points in their first home match of the season at Thorp Arch. With the confidence flowing, the Whites take a trip to the North East to face Sunderland next week.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 4-1 Liverpool
