EFL Trophy
Oldham Athletic 4 (Chilvers pen 27’, Drummond 53’, Hawkes 67’, Payne 68’)
Leeds United U21 2 (Mills 32’, Njinko 51’)
Oldham: Wilson (GK), Pett (C), Fondop, Chilvers, Drummond (Hammond 62’), Sutton, Fawunmi (Hawkes 62’), Tahir (Anderson 90’), Temple, Payne, Hill. Subs not used: Hudson (GK), Monthé, Hughes, Johnson.
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Egan-Riley, Enahoro-Marcus (Matykiewicz 83’), Lienou, Lane, Pickles (C), Cresswell, Philpott (Njinko 46’), Vincent, Mills, Chadwick (McDonald 63’). Subs: Cook (GK), Render, Hodja, Alker, Balmer.
Venue: Boundary Park | Attendance: 601 (150 away) | Referee: Callum Jones
Despite an impressive opening hour, Leeds United Under-21s fell to defeat against Sky Bet League Two side Oldham Athletic in the EFL Trophy.
Goals either side of the break from Callum Mills and Carrick Njinko had put Scott Gardner’s side ahead after falling behind early on, until the hosts showed their experience to turn the tie on its head.
Having opened their Group G account with a memorable 4-3 victory over Barnsley, the Whites began the encounter at a blustery Boundary Park having to defend. Louis Enahoro-Marcus was well placed to hack a dangerous delivery away from danger.
After soaking up the early pressure, an incisive move released Harvey Vincent down the right flank who drove into the area and saw a powerful low effort deflect narrowly beyond the upright, before the hosts dealt with the resulting corner.
The Latics then went close, calling Rory Mahady into action for the first time after a quarter of an hour. Mike Fondop found space in the area and drilled towards the bottom corner which was blocked by the out-stretched boot of the Scotland youth international.
With the two teams trading opportunities turn by turn, a looping Freddie Lane cross was acrobatically hooked towards goal by Alfie Cresswell. The volley nearly troubled the retreating Aston Wilson but, luckily for the Oldham keeper, it landed on the roof of the net.
Nearly 25 minutes in, an arrowed long-distance effort from Kai Payne crashed off the woodwork with Kane Drummond unable to bundle home the rebound for the home team. The League Two side did open the scoring shortly afterwards from the spot, however, through Noah Chilvers after a foul in the penalty area.
The Whites responded almost immediately and it was Mills who continued his fine form in the competition with a close-range header! After netting a hat-trick in the previous tie at Oakwell, the versatile attacking midfielder was well placed to flick a deflected Harvey Vincent cross into the back of the net!
Leeds almost completed the turnaround approaching the break and it was very nearly a repeat of the leveller. Vincent swung a ball in from the right which Mills attacked but this time the 18-year-old was unable to guide a volley on target.
HALF TIME: Oldham Athletic 1-1 Leeds United U21
Gardner’s side emerged from the interval with one change to the personnel and an alteration to the system. Forward Njinko replaced left-back Louie Philpott, seeing Jayden Lienou move to the flank.
Just six minutes into the second period, the substitution proved an inspired one. Fantastic play down the left involving Mills released his teammate though with his back to goal, Njinko still had it all to do. A fine piece of skill later, the attacker span away from his marker and lashed beyond Wilson!
Similar to the opening half, the lead was a short lived one. Kane Drummond responded seconds after the restart, lifting a deft chip over the onrushing Mahady.
With the game having grown into an open-ended affair with both teams throwing bodies forward searching for the fifth of the night, a second change from the dugout introduced Josh McDonald into the action, looking to use the Scot’s pace on the break.
Skipper Ollie Pickles was then well placed to hack a loose ball to the edge of the area but unfortunately for United, there was Josh Hawkes to drive a powerful first-time effort into the back of the net.
The Latics doubled their advantage in quick succession. Hawkes this time turned provider, releasing Payne who showed good composure to beat Mahady and put daylight between the sides.
Oldham went close to extending their advantage when Zain Tahir beat the offside trap and raced into the penalty area however the keeper stood his ground and made an important intervention to deny the full-back.
Searching for a lifeline back into the encounter in the closing stages, McDonald twisted and turned his way into the middle from the left flank but lashed wide of the far right after being put under pressure by two retreating blue shirts, before the full-time whistle sounded.
With both United and Fleetwood level on three points after two matches, the Whites can still progress to the knockout stages should they beat the League Two side when they meet at Highbury next month.
FULL TIME: Oldham Athletic 4-2 Leeds United U21
