U18 Premier League North
Leeds United U18s 4 (Lane 24’, Pirie 45+1’, 77’ pen, Pickles 69’)
Newcastle United U18s 5 (Brayson 5’, Watts 12’, Neave 32’, 35’, 85’)
Leeds: Baird (GK), Firth (Mensah 76’), Billett, Pickles, Matykiewicz, Hamilton, Lane, Brown (Whitehead 89’), Boast (Njinko 60’), Morris, Pirie. Subs not used: Wood, Howard.
Newcastle: Anderson (GK), Tika-Lemba (Old 81’), Craggs, Johnson, Watts, Finneran (O’Donovan 73’), Wooster (Mills 73’), Alabi, Brayson, Neave, Ferreira (Miley 93’). Subs not used: Jones.
Venue: Thorp Arch
Referee: Waqar Ahmad
Booked: Firth (Leeds) Wooster (Newcastle)
A frantic affair at Thorp Arch took place on Saturday between Leeds United Under-18s and Newcastle United Under-18s, with the game seeing nine goals scored. A determined performance from Rob Etherington’s side saw them come back from a deficit of three, but a late goal winner from the away team allowed them to take all three points on the day.
The opening five minutes saw the visitors break the deadlock early on through striker Joe Brayson. A high press saw the number nine catch Whites goalkeeper Alex Baird off guard, slotting in for an early lead.
Seven minutes later the lead was doubled with Newcastle defender Logan Watts getting on the end of a deflected flick on from a free kick, at the back post. A simple finish followed, to solidify a strong start from the away side.
Despite the setback early on, the Whites reacted well, gaining more control of possession whilst putting pressure on the Newcastle back line and it appeared to have paid off when Lewis Pirie found the net at the 20 mark, before it was ruled out for offside. An expertly executed move which seemed to spur up the home side.
Minutes later and the hosts halved the deficit, as Freddie Lane shot from distance, finding the bottom right corner after a surging run from midfield. A fierce shot which Newcastle number one Will Anderson could only watch go into his net.
The match was then extremely open with both sides being stretched in midfield, leading to spaces opening in the defences at either end.
Just after the 30-minute mark, it was the away side who took advantage of the space in behind as Sean Naeve struck in Newcastle’s third of the afternoon. A well-timed run creating a one-on-one with Baird, where he found the bottom left corner.
Neave found the net again three minutes later. A well worked passage of play left himself free at the back post to slide in a simple shot, thus giving the travelling side a comfortable lead heading into half time.
However, the Whites’ resilience never deterred through the opening half, as just before referee Waqar Ahmad blew up to conclude the first 45, Pirie ended the half for the hosts on a high.
He dispossessed Newcastle defender Watts on the edge of the box and struck powerfully, underneath Anderson in goal. A goal-line clearance which fell back to Pirie left him with another chance to strike, reigniting hope for the hosts of a comeback.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U18 2-4 Newcastle United U18
Leeds started the second half with intent and motivation, looking to continue their search of a way back into the match, after a frantic opening 45 minutes at Thorp Arch.
Two goals behind, but still full of energy and determination to fight back, the Whites were creating chances and putting the Newcastle goal under threat.
After successive efforts on goal and chances coming regularly, eventually, Oliver Pickles found the net just before the 70 minute mark and brought his side within one goal of reaching what had seemed to be an unlikely comeback.
A long passage of play which Jack Morris was at the heart of, who was finding significant joy in between the away sides midfield and back line, allowed Joe Billet the easy job of passing to Pickles who weaved between the Newcastle midfield with a surging run, leaving him space to strike into the right side of the goal with the ball hitting both posts and going over the line.
All momentum was in the hands of the home side who were aiming to create a memorable comeback. Penning the Magpies in their own half for the majority of the remaining game, chances fell to Pickles and Pirie which came close to an equaliser.
The relentless pressure paid off for Leeds as an instant impact from Etherington’s substitute Kenneth Mensah meant his fresh legs took the visitors back line by surprise, dispossessing left back Luke Craggs and playing through Carrick Njinko who was taken down in the box, meaning referee Ahmad pointed straight to the spot.
Pirie stepped up from 12-yards out with composure, side footing the ball into the bottom left corner sending Anderson the wrong way, to bring the match back onto level terms.
With three points up for grabs for both sides the tempo sky rocketed once more, with chances landing for either team. One ball over the top was the deciding factor of the tie with the visitors nicking a goal with five minutes to play. Once again, Neave was on the receiving end of the long range pass, taking it down well and netting for his hat-trick.
The final five minutes saw an onslaught of chances for the home side with the last falling to Jack Morris who came agonisingly close and would’ve levelled for Leeds again, if it wasn't for a fine stop from Anderson in goal.
The referee concluded the action at Thorp Arch with the Whites suffering a defeat, despite a fine display of character and fight for the full 90 minutes, against a strong Newcastle side.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U18 4-5 Newcastle United U18
