U18 Premier League North
Liverpool U18 1 (Bradshaw 36')
Leeds United U18 3 (Mills 19’, Lane 43’, Vincent pen 55’)
Liverpool: Hall, Cisse (Evers 68’), Williams, Airoboma, Enahoro-Marcus (Owen 46’), O’Connor, Bradshaw, Ayman (C) (Ahmed 60’), Sonni-Lambie, Onanuga, Martin (Lonmeni 46’). Subs not used: Bernard (GK).
Leeds: Kenyon (GK), Lane, Firth (Brown 76’), Whitehead, Watson, Hamilton (Simo 66’), Vincent, Pickles (C), Mensah (White 60’), Mills, McDonald (Morris 76’). Subs not used: Wood (GK).
Venue: Liverpool Academy
Referee: James Garsrud
Leeds United Under-18s picked up three points on the road in the U18 Premier League North, after an impressive display on Merseyside saw the Whites beat Liverpool Under-18s 3-1.
Rob Etherington’s side dominated from the off and would have took the lead after just two minutes, if not for a fine block on the line from Prince Cisse to deny Kenneth Mensah’s goalward effort.
The mounting pressure told when a pinpoint delivery from Joshua Hamilton picked out the run of Callum Mills who volleyed superbly beyond Bailey Hall and into the back of the net!
The Reds, who had struggled to gain a foothold in the early proceedings, then went close to levelling, though Josh Sonni-Lambie fired an effort narrowly wide of George Kenyon’s far post.
There was nothing the Leeds goalkeeper could do to prevent the equaliser eventually coming, however, when Joe Bradshaw headed Oliver O’Connor’s in-swinging corner home.
Rob Etherington’s side deservedly retook the lead moments before the break courtesy of Freddie Lane. The versatile wide-man linked up well with full-back Will Firth before taking a touch and drilling a powerful effort past Hall from the edge of the area!
HALF TIME: Liverpool U18 1-2 Leeds United U18
The Whites emerged for the second half unchanged, looking to extend their tally as they searched for a second win in three matches.
Warning signs were there immediately when a weaving run from Josh McDonald created an opportunity for Harvey Vincent, forcing Hall into a smart low stop.
A great chance then presented itself to put a healthy cushion between the two teams as Vincent was sent tumbling inside the area, leaving referee James Garsrud with no option other than to point to the spot.
Up stepped the winger himself to take the penalty kick, showing great composure to confidently strike straight down the middle and grab his side’s third of the afternoon!
Activity from the bench then saw Logan White, Elton Simo, Jack Morris and Lleyton Brown all introduced into the action, with United defending well whilst also searching for their fourth; White would go close but was unable to steer a bouncing ball on target from close range.
As the game entered its closing stages, two chances came for Liverpool’s Sonni-Lambie, the first drawing a sublime save from the outstretched boot of Kenyon, with Leeds seeing the encounter out to take home all three points!
FULL TIME: Liverpool U18 1-3 Leeds United U18
