U18 Premier League North
Middlesbrough 2 (McCabe 21’, Lennon 83’)
Leeds United 1 (Wilson 71’)
Boro: Simpson (GK), Samuels (Kiasungua 75’), Costello, Taiwah, Wallace-Ming, Woolston, Traore, Bridge, MacCarthy (Howells 16’), McCabe, Lennon. Subs not used: Connor, Grant.
Leeds: Ombang (GK), Toulson, Cresswell, Buchan, Dawber, Coleman, Chaplin, McFadden (Brown 69’), Wilson (Vincent 89’), Thomas, Douglas. Subs not used: Baird, Bird.
Venue: Rockcliffe Park
Booked: Bridge, Howells, Samuels (Middlesbrough)
Leeds United’s Under-18s were narrowly beaten away at Middlesborough on Saturday in the U18 Premier League.
The first chance of the game came just after the 10 minute mark when Cian Coleman played a slide pass to Max McFadden, who took a neat touch and whipped his effort goalwards but the Boro ‘keeper palmed the effort away.
Ten minutes later, the hosts took the lead after a quick counter attack. Max Howells drove forward at the Leeds defence and then turned smartly to cut the ball back to Law McCabe, he hit a left footed strike into the top corner giving the home side the advantage.
The Whites tried to get a goal back when Coleman was next to run at the Boro defence. He played McFadden through on goal, who hit a first-time strike from a tight angle, but Cameron Simpson saved with a strong right hand.
This was to be the last of the action in the first half which meant the home side went into the break with a one goal advantage.
HALF TIME: Middlesborough 1-0 Leeds United
After the interval the home side started strongly and had an early chance. Howells picked the ball up on the left-hand side and weaved his way through the Leeds defence making space to unleash a strike at goal, but Darryl Ombang saved well.
In the 70th minute Scott Gardner’s side pulled one back through Marley Wilson. Coleman won the ball back on the edge of the area and played a pass out wide to Luca Thomas, who whipped a first-time cross towards the back post where Wilson was there to tap it in, with his outstretched leg.
Minutes later, the home side retook the lead. The ball was whipped into the box and found Charlie Lennon. He took a touch past the defender and hit a strike goalwards, but Ombang was equal to that effort. Despite the great save the rebound fell back to the winger who tapped the ball into the back of the net.
In the closing moments of the game, the Whites had a flurry of chances. The first came when Coleman played Heaton Brown through one-on-one but the keeper stood tall and saved well with his feet.
Then, moments before the final whistle, McFadden lofted a corner into the box which saw Thomas leap the highest and get a great connection with his header, but the ball rattled the crossbar to deny the striker.
This was the last piece of action which meant that the Whites were narrowly defeated away from home. Gardner’s side now look towards next week’s Premier League Cup clash against Crystal Palace at Thorp Arch
FULL TIME: Middlesborough 2-1 Leeds United
