Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 0 (Chadwick 75’)

Tottenham Hotspur U21 0

Leeds: Cook (GK), Lane, Lienou, Pickles, Howard, Matykiewicz, Cresswell (C), Crew (Philpott 90’), Vincent (Mills 54’), Ibrovic-Fletcher (Mensah 78’), Chadwick. Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Dudley.

Spurs: Bloedorn (GK), Furnell-Gill, Logan (Malachi Thomas 86’), King, Arganese-McDermott (C), Craig, Lehane (Muslika 77’), Kyerematen, Wilson, Black (Beggs 76’), Sowunmi (Adewole 64’). Subs not used: Archer (GK).

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Referee: Kavan Hurn

Booked: Cook, Lienou (Leeds) Arganese-McDermott (Spurs)

A second-half Rhys Chadwick strike proved enough for Leeds United Under-21s as they beat Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the Premier League 2.

Still deadlocked heading into the final quarter of an hour, the midfielder was well placed to drill a Jayden Lienou cross home to hand Scott Gardner’s team a well deserved victory.

Having made one change to the side that faced Sunderland last time out away from home – a debut for Australia youth international Robbie Cook in goal – play got underway on a blustery evening at York with an electric tempo as both teams attacked from the off.

Within moments, Alfie Cresswell almost latched onto a searching Harvey Vincent pass down the right flank but the ball skidded through to Spurs keeper Carey Bloedorn before the captain could pounce.

Vincent was again involved shortly afterwards, linking up with Freddie Lane who drilled a dangerous delivery into the middle which was hacked away by a retreating visiting defender.

Tottenham offered a threat on the break, however, and would have taken the lead if not for a sublime reaction save from Cook to deny James Wilson from point-blank range.

Eventual match-winner Chadwick was first to call Bloedorn into meaningful action. The attacking midfielder raced in behind to meet a Lienou flick and forced a strong intervention from a narrow angle by the Spurs stopper.

An innovative Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher effort nearly handed the Whites the lead. Vincent, who had been lively on the wing, crossed low for the forward who backheeled towards goal which Bloedorn stooped to gather.

The North London outfit went close to opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time following a scramble in the area yet the United defence stood firm before referee Kavan Hurn temporarily brought a halt to proceedings.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur U21

Unchanged at the interval, the Whites were forced to defend early on in the second period as Tottenham raced out of the traps. An Elisha Sowunmi driven strike from distance forced Cook into a diving save low to his right.

Again an end-to-end affair, a corner kick then was only half cleared into the path of the onrushing Ollie Pickles on the edge of the area who lashed a powerful effort wide of the upright.

First activity from the dugout introduced midfielder Callum Mills into the action in place of the hard-working Vincent in a change to the forward line.

Cook’s impressive debut continued and, just before the hour mark, the Australian did well to get behind a fizzing Rio Kyerematen drive and parry clear.

Pickles, having gone close earlier, then set his sights from 25 yards out, seeing a right-footed shot that had Bloedorn scampering across his goal bounce agonisingly past the far post and behind.

The Whites grabbed the opener with 15 minutes of normal time remaining! Charlie Crew had initially done brilliantly to wrestle back possession and release Mills who in turn found Cresswell.

The skipper laid the ball off to Lienou and after a dangerous low cross into the middle, Chadwick was on hand to fire beyond the keeper and into the bottom corner.

A second change quickly followed as Ibrovic-Fletcher made way for Kenneth Mensah, bringing fresh legs into what was becoming an attritional encounter towards the close.

Spurs should have levelled proceedings as the ball fell fortuitously for Wilson five yards out but, with the goal gaping, the striker blazed over the crossbar.

Gardner’s side saw the rest of the match out to pick up a well-deserved Premier League 2 victory and return to action on Friday evening as they face Southampton away from home.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur U21