U18 Premier League North
Sunderland U18 5 (Burns 14’, Hunt 16, Scott 41’, Campbell 48’, Lightfoot 90’)
Leeds United U18 1 (Njinko 61’)
Sunderland: Robertson (GK), Lightfoot, Hester (Shakespeare 59’), Hunt (C), Forsyth, Bowman, Hunter (Wilson 55’), Burns, Barker, Scott, Campbell (Matadeen 55’). Subs not used: Walton, Brown.
Leeds: Kenyon (GK), Dudley (C), Philpott, Whitehead, Hamilton, Matykiewicz, Mills, Bhaskaran (Njinko 46’), Ibrovic-Fletcher, Pickles, White (Mensah 46’). Subs not used: Wood (GK), Watson, Simo.
Referee: Glen Hart
Booked: Bowman, Hunt, Matadeen (Sunderland) Dudley, Hamilton (Leeds)
Venue: Academy of Light
Leeds United Under-18s fell to a U18 Premier League North defeat away against Sunderland Under-18s, despite Carrick Njinko’s second half goal.
Early on, the Whites threatened when Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher found space inside the hosts’ penalty area and used quick footwork to create a shooting opportunity but his effort was blocked, taking the sting out of the shot and allowing Finley Robertson to smother comfortably.
Just under 15 minutes in, Sunderland took the lead when James Barker intercepted a loose ball within Leeds’ half and set up Matthew Burns on the left edge of the box. He drilled a low shot into the near post to give the home side the advantage.
Sunderland doubled their advantage in quick succession, as a Bayley Hester corner ended at the back post and Liam Hunt placed his effort into the top left corner.
Rob Etherington’s side looked to respond as Louie Dudley accelerated down the right, beating the Black Cars’ backline after a long ball over the top. He showed neat control before drilling a low cross into the path of Ibrovic-Fletcher yet his right-footed effort was straight at the keeper.
Ollie Pickles then won possession from the Sunderland back line and fed the striker through inside the penalty area however he dragged his shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Sunderland punished those missed chances on the approach to half-time, as Felix Scott guided his shot into the bottom right-hand corner before referee Glen Hart brought the opening 45 minutes to a close.
HALF TIME: Sunderland U18 3-0 Leeds United U18
The Wearsiders continued where they left off, with Campbell finding an early opening inside the Leeds penalty area and firing his shot into the back of the net.
Campbell looked to add to his tally soon after, heading goalwards from a lofted cross but it was straight at George Kenyon who claimed comfortably.
Leeds looked to get on the scoresheet as substitute Njinko earned a corner. His delivery reached Pickles at the back post though the effort sailed over the bar.
Njinko soon made his impact off the bench, as he was slipped in by Pickles on the edge of the box. A piece of excellent footwork created space for a shot which he rifled past the keeper into the bottom left corner.
United pushed for another, with Ibrovic-Fletcher driving into the penalty area from distance but his effort was blocked by a crowd of red and white shirts.
Dudley again beat the Sunderland backline and combined up with Ibrovic-Fletcher, who set up Pickles arriving in the box however he couldn’t keep his shot down before Njinko rattled the crossbar shortly afterwards.
Sunderland completed the scoring in added time as Archie Lightfoot finished from close range, sending the ball into the roof of the net.
The Young Whites now turn their attention to May, starting at Thorp Arch against Nottingham Forest Under-18s.
FULL TIME: Sunderland U18 5-1 Leeds United U18
