U18 Premier League North
Leeds United U18 0
Manchester United U18 8 (Scanlon 10’, 47’, 75’; Mantiato 30’, Musa 37’, Ibragimov 41’, 68’, 74’)
Leeds: Grainger (GK), Firth, Billett, Pickles, Matykiewcz, Hamilton (C), Lane, Brown (Howard 80’), Boast (Njinko 80’), Morris, Pirie (Render 67’). Subs not used: Wood (GK), Whitehead.
Manchester United: Byrne-Hughes (GK), R Munro (C) (Plunkett 77’), G Munro, Mills, Armer, Fletcher, Mantiato (Lusale 62’), Thwaites (Bailey 62’), Musa (Obi-Martin 61’), Ibragimov, Scanlon. Subs not used: Murdock (GK).
Venue: Thorp Arch
Referee: Jack Churchill
Booked: Armer (Man Utd)
A youthful Leeds United Under-18s side fell to defeat against Manchester United Under-18s at Thorp Arch.
Ahead of kick off, both captains laid poppy wreaths as the players came together for a moment’s silence before Remembrance Sunday.
For the first ten minutes of the game, the visitors tested the Leeds defence but eventually broke the deadlock when a great delivery from Bendito Mantiato made its way to James Scanlon who drilled home on the volley.
Despite falling behind, Leeds were still trying to be creative and almost drew level shortly afterwards. Jack Morris received the ball from Lewis Pirie after some great link up play with midfielder Oliver Pickles, forcing Cameron Byrne-Hughes into a good save.
Rob Etherington’s youthful side frustrated the away side as Manchester United looked to extend their lead, but the visitors did grab a second on the half-hour mark.
Gibraltar international Scanlon drove down the left on the break, picking out the run of Mantiato who finished confidently at the back post.
The Red Devils grabbed a third after they were awarded a penalty when Mantiato was brought down inside the area. Victor Musa calmly converted by sending the keeper the wrong way and placing it into the bottom left corner.
Just before half time, a delivery from Jimmy Thwaites found its way onto the head of Amir Ibragimov to extend the lead.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-4 Manchester United
Shortly after the break, Godwill Munro got on the scoresheet, drilling a well struck effort beyond Owen Grainger.
Not to be deterred by the scoreline however, the Whites still ventured forward and went close through Oliver Boast.
In space behind the defence, the forward drew a fine save from Byrne-Hughes just after the hour mark.
The visitors extended their lead when substitute Chido Obi-Martin played a fine ball across goal for Ibragimov to finish at the back post.
Ibragimov got his hattrick in the 74th minute with another finish at the far post, before Scanlon was well placed to profit on a deflected shot and grab another goal.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-8 Manchester United
