Premier League 2

Burnley U21 1 (Campbell 45’)

Leeds United U21 2 (Dudley 28’, Gray 64’)

Burnley: Forshaw (GK), Balogun (Blackie 62’), Pimlott, Williams, Ashton (C), Campbell, McCoy, Leuluai (Veevers 70’), Ryan (Pouani 70’), Clark, McMahon-Brown. Subs not used: Chester (GK), McEvilly.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley, Lienou, Cresswell (C), Enahoro-Marcus, Howson, Douglas, Chadwick (Brockie 84’), Gray, Pickles, McDonald (Bird 68’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Lopata-White, Pirie.

Referee: Richie Watkins

Booked: Ashton, Pimlott (Burnley) Bird (Leeds)

Venue: Turf Moor

Leeds United Under-21s returned to winning ways with a deserved 2-1 victory over Burnley Under-21s at Turf Moor.

Level at the break after Louie Dudley’s opener was cancelled out on the stroke of half time, Harry Gray continued his rich vein of form with a clever backheel just after the hour mark to take all three points back across the Pennines!

Scott Gardner made one change from the side that faced Ipswich Town last time out, recalling the experienced Jonny Howson to the starting XI, as well as a welcome return from injury for Scotland youth international Josh McDonald.

Rory Mahady’s services were called upon in the early moments on a showery Lancashire evening, making a sublime reaction save to tip Kamarni Ryan’s close-range header away from danger.

After weathering the Clarets’ early pressure, a deft pass over the top by Rhys Chadwick was then brought down expertly by Gray, racing into the area.

The in-form striker laid it into the path of the onrushing Ollie Pickles who saw a fierce low strike charged down by Hamzat Balogun, before McDonald’s follow up effort was saved well by Lewis Forshaw.

The game had started at an electric tempo and Mahady again proved his worth for the Whites, standing tall to gather Kian McMahon-Brown’s chipped shot after being played through one-on-one.

Immediately down the other end, tenacious play from Pickles wrestled back possession deep inside the hosts’ territory, releasing Gray. Marauding towards goal, the 16-year-old’s left-footed drive was blocked by a retreating Burnley defender.

The opener arrived just before the half-hour mark with Gray again at the heart of the action. Initially, the striker brought down the ball on the left flank.

Cutting inside, the attacker floated an inviting delivery towards the back post with Dudley doing the rest, heading beyond Forshaw and into the back of the net!

Searching for a quick-fire response, an incisive break from the home side released Ryan into the box, forcing a sublime save from Mahady’s outstretched boot.

Despite the Whites dominating the remainder of the opening period, Murray Campbell levelled proceedings on the stroke of half-time with a close-range glanced header.

HALF TIME: Burnley U21 1-1 Leeds United U21

Gardner’s side emerged from the break unchanged, keen to retake the lead on what was becoming an increasingly sodden Lancastrian evening.

Though it was Burnley who almost gained the advantage early on as Ryan saw a curling effort cannon off the underside of the bar after the forward latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the United penalty area.

Approaching the hour mark and leading a Leeds attack shaping to shoot, Chadwick instead whipped a clever delivery into the path of skipper Alfie Cresswell who forced an important intervention from Forshaw.

Chadwick was again involved moments later and this time the pressure told! The midfielder’s threaded pass released Connor Douglas down the right.

Crossing low, the dangerous cut-back deflected off Albert Blackie and into Gray’s path who, with his back to goal, produced a fine piece of skill to inventively flick home!

Determined to make amends down the other end, a powerful low drive from the substitute seemed destined to restore parity though the retreating Pickles had other ideas, somehow clearing the ball over the bar from the goalline!

With 20 minutes of normal time remaining, Douglas had a great opportunity to put daylight between to the teams. Through one-on-one thanks to a sublime Pickles pass, the attacker was denied impressively by Forshaw.

Cresswell was next to go close, dragging a fizzing drive agonisingly beyond the far post with Dudley flashing a powerful effort from distance narrowly wide moments later.

The Whites saw out the dying minutes professionally until referee Ritchie Watkins’ full-time whistle sounded, ensuring a second victory of the Premier League 2 season for Gardner’s side!

FULL TIME: Burnley U21 1-2 Leeds United U21