Premier League Cup
Stoke City U21 0
Leeds United U21 0
Stoke: Clothier (GK), Iddrisa (Achu 74’), Giani, Otegbayo, Thompson, Kelly (C), Fearn, Morrison, Makavore (Walker 46’), Newall, Martin (Nzau 59’). Subs not used: Knight (GK).
Leeds: Starting XI: Cook (GK) (Kenyon 84’), Lane (McDonald 64’), Philpott, Howard, Enahoro-Marcus, Howson, Vincent, Pickles (C), Njinko (Render 78’), Chambers, Alker. Subs not used: Whitehead, Mensah, Trialist.
Venue: Newcastle Town FC | Referee: Dean Watson | Booked: Morrison, Fearn (Stoke) Lane (Leeds) Sent off: Cook (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-21s got their 2026/26 campaign underway with a 0-0 draw away to Stoke City Under-21s in the Premier League Cup.
The Whites headed to the home of Newcastle Town FC for the cup fixture, ahead of a National League Cup opener against holders Boreham Wood the coming Tuesday.
Almost immediately after kick off, a driven corner from the right was attacked right in the goalmouth by Carrick Njinko, his snap-shot forcing an excellent save from Caleb Clothier in the Stoke goal.
Soon after, Njinko nearly broke the deadlock again as his strike from Sam Alker’s low cross lacked the power to trouble Clothier.
Following the early action, the fixture quietened with neither side really able to find a clear-cut opportunity.
However, just before the half an hour mark, Louie Philpott was first to a loose ball in the box but could only find the base of the post and the ball rebounded to safety.
Jonny Howson then tried his luck from range as he broke through the centre of the park before striking just wide from the edge of the area.
Harvey Vincent was next to attempt to find the opener as he rose highest from a corner but headed narrowly over the bar, right before Sam Chambers also got his head on a cross and glanced just wide of the far post, finalising first half action.
HALF TIME: Stoke City U21 0-0 Leeds United U21
The first opening of the second period also fell the way of the Whites, after some really neat football around the edge of the hosts’ box allowed for Philpott to find room for a shot, but his powerful effort cleared the crossbar.
Stoke reacted well, however, as they grew into the half and forced some smart defensive intervention from Leeds, but responding to this, the Whites made their first change of the evening, bringing Josh McDonald on for Freddie Lane.
Njinko got first to a loose ball in the box as the game progressed, wriggling into room for a shot but under pressure from his marker, he couldn’t get adequate power to trouble the ‘keeper.
This was the centre-forward’s final action of the game as he was replaced by Jacob Render a handful of minutes later, another change in an attempt to break the deadlock.
After a change in goal, substitute ‘keeper George Kenyon was immediately called into action, as he showed tremendous reflexes to prevent an opener in the dying stages.
Deep into added time, Louis Enahoro-Marcus proved a hero as he dramatically cleared the ball off the line, which was the final opening of the game as Dean Watson blew the final whistle shortly after.
FULL TIME: Stoke City U21 0-0 Leeds United U21
