Premier League 2
Leeds United U21 1 (Chadwick 21’)
Newcastle United U21 3 (Neave 2’, McArthur 29’, Parkinson 51’)
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley, Ferguson (Pickles 58’), Toulson, Lopata-White (C), Mullen, Vincent (Lane 76’), Cresswell, Chadwick, McFadden (Douglas 58’), McDonald. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Pirie.
Newcastle: Harris (GK), Powell, Charlton, Munda (Stanton 76’), Heffernan (C), McArthur, Parkinson, Harrison, Neave (Donaldson 69’), Turner-Cooke, Sanusi (Emerson 69’). Subs not used: Anderson (GK), Powell.
Venue: Thorp Arch Training Ground
Referee: Greg Rollason
Booked: Cresswell, Chadwick, Ferguson, Douglas (Leeds) Munda, Sanusi, Harris, Donaldson (Newcastle)
Leeds United Under-21s’ impressive winning streak came to an end as they were narrowly edged out by Newcastle United Under-21s in the Premier League 2, despite Rhys Chadwick’s superb first half strike from long range.
Before kick-off, captains Reuben Lopata-White and Cathal Heffernan laid poppy wreaths ahead of Remembrance Day, with both sets of players impeccably observing a moment of silence to pay their respects.
The visitors took an early lead when a Magpies’ cross wasn’t fully dealt with at the back by the Whites, falling kindly for striker Sean Neave who, from close range, rifled a powerful strike beyond Rory Mahady and into the roof of the net.
Immediately looking for a response, winger Harvey Vincent latched onto a pass and raced away down the right flank, crossing early to try and find the run of Max McFadden at the back post but good positioning from Rory Powell saw Newcastle avert the danger.
The away side had started brightly in the blinding sunshine at Thorp Arch and almost doubled their lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
An incisive pass from Trevan Sanusi had found Alfie Harrison inside the area, but as the midfielder shaped to shoot, a superb block from captain Lopata-White diverted the effort away.
Charlie McArthur was next to try his luck for Newcastle, though his audacious attempt from distance was easy pickings for Mahady in the Leeds goal.
Scott Gardner’s side were beginning to grow into proceedings however and almost levelled through the in-form Chadwick.
Vincent had again marauded into the box on the right, fizzing a dangerous delivery across the face of goal which goalkeeper Aidan Harris managed to collect amidst a number of bodies.
Chadwick wouldn’t be denied an equaliser for too long, with his spectacular long-range drive drawing United level!
Great play down the left flank saw Connor Ferguson and Josh McDonald link up well, with the latter driving into the hosts’ half. The Scottish winger found Chadwick 25 yards from goal, who lashed a sublime strike beyond a helpless Harris and into the top corner!
In the ascendency and looking to take the lead, the Whites then had appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Greg Rollason as McFadden looked to have been hauled to the ground before he could meet Louie Dudley’s cross.
Within minutes though, it would be the visitors who again went ahead, as towering defender McArthur rose highest to head home from a corner.
The services of Mahady were called upon as the visitors looked to extend their advantage before the break, saving Jay Turner-Cooke’s curling free kick before racing out to gather from Sanusi’s heavy touch at the back post.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-2 Newcastle United U21
Unchanged at the break, Gardner’s side started the second half brightly, enjoying a lot of possession as they looked to level proceedings.
Despite the Whites’ pressure however, a quick break from the visitors saw them extend their lead against the run of play.
Sanusi won back possession for the Magpies and quickly found Turner-Cooke in-field. The attacking midfielder then slid a threaded pass in behind for Ben Parkinson, allowing the forward to round Mahady and bundle home from a narrow angle.
Not too despondent after falling further behind, the hosts drove forward through Cresswell who in turn found the run of Vincent. The winger fired across Harris, with the Toon keeper clutching the effort well as Chadwick lurked at the back post.
Vincent would again be involved moment later. An electric burst of pace from McDonald saw the attacker dart into the area before cutting in back for the onrushing forward though, under pressure, Vincent was unable to find the back of the net.
McDonald was causing all sorts of problems for the visitors with his directness and trickery down the left, leaving two defenders in his wake before sliding a teasing low cross into the area which Harris did well to collect before Vincent could tap home.
Leeds were beginning to commit more players forward but still had to be cautious of the threat the Newcastle front line posed on the break, with defender Jeremiah Mullen well placed to hack substitute Johnny Emerson’s low strike away from danger.
McDonald then found the overlapping run of Dan Toulson as the game entered its dying stages. The versatile defender’s low cross deflected out to Cresswell who saw his fierce low drive blocked on the line, with substitute Freddie Lane’s follow up shot charged down by McArthur as Newcastle somehow survived.
Harris was again busy as the clock ticked over the 90-minute mark, saving superbly from the impressive McDonald before clutching Toulson’s inventive effort as the Magpies saw out the victory.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 1-3 Newcastle United U21
