Premier League Cup
Leeds United U21 3 (Cresswell 8’, Njinko 26’, 33’)
Stockport County U21 1 (Huddleston 49’)
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Lane, Balmer (Vincent 67’), Lienou, Matykiewicz (Egan-Riley 67’), Enahoro-Marcus (C), Mills, Chadwick, Njinko (Hodja 46’), Cresswell, White (Alker 82’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Philpott, Pickles.
Stockport: Gospel-Eze (GK), Rydel (Lennon 79’), Huddleston (Lewis 90’), S. Gardner, Ilara, Mingi (Tesse-Nana 61’), Astles, Maher, Jones, C. Gardner (Dialundama 60’), Marshall (C). Subs not used: Lewis, Buckley, Caldwell, Stott.
Venue: Nethermoor Park | Attendance: 312 | Referee: Declan Bourne | Booked: Lienou, Enahoro-Marcus, Matykiewicz, White (Leeds) Jones, Huddleston (Stockport)
Leeds United Under-21s recorded a solid 3-1 win over Stockport County Under-21s in the Premier League Cup on Friday, thanks to Alfie Creswell's opener and Carrick Njinko's brace, all in the first half.
Scott Gardner named a much-changed starting XI from the one that was narrowly defeated by Tamworth three days prior, with only Louis Enahoro-Marcus retaining his place and being handed the armband.
Returning after making his Scotland Under-21s debut during the international break, Rory Mahady saw plenty of the ball in the opening stages as the Whites sought to break through a stubborn Stockport press.
After breaking down the visitors’ left flank, Logan White was hacked down, and the opener came from the resulting set-piece…
Rhys Chadwick swung in an exceptional ball to the far post, where an arriving Louis Enahoro-Marcus forced a pass across the centre of the box, allowing Cresswell to volley into the back of the net through a crowd of bodies and break the deadlock!
Following the opener, the match became scrappy. A couple of yellow cards were dished out for late challenges before the heavens opened and the Whites began to regain control of possession.
As the game reached the 24th minute, Stockport saw their first opportunity fall to Che-Daniel Gardner, who dragged a half-volley wide of the target from just outside the area.
However, Leeds responded well, as just two minutes later, Njinko extended the hosts’ advantage!
Our number 9 was first to a fired ball across the face of goal from White, beating the ‘keeper and finding the back of the net!
Moments after the restart, Njinko came close again, firing just over the bar after regaining possession high in the Stockport half.
The forward’s hard work paid off again six minutes later, as he picked up the ball on the edge of the box and broke towards goal, sitting down a defender in the process before firing emphatically into the far corner!
Hunting a fourth before the break, Chadwick swung an inch-perfect cross to the back post, where White was lurking. He spotted Njinko on the goal line and attempted to pick him out, but a Stockport defender intervened to deny the forward his hat-trick.
Another purposeful run from White down the left flank almost caught out Goodness Gospel-Eze as his cross looped towards goal, but the visitors’ ‘keeper was able to palm over his crossbar.
From the resulting corner, Chadwick found himself unmarked and directed his header towards goal.
Gospel-Eze was beaten, but a defender on the line prevented Leeds from extending their advantage to four, and after three minutes of added time, the referee blew for half-time.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 3-0 Stockport County U21
Almost immediately after the restart, Cresswell was found with lovely threaded pass in-behind and forced a crucial last-ditch stop from the ‘keeper to prevent the midfielder from netting a brace.
From the resulting passage of play, Oliver Huddleston won the ball high in the Leeds half and fired into the top corner to reduce the deficit.
Stockport caught the Whites out again as they pushed for a fourth, launching a quick counter after a free-kick in which Alfie Jones was played one-on-one but blazed over the bar under pressure from Mahady.
White was able to get a shot away as Chadwick delivered a corner to the near post and it was flicked to our number 11, but his volley was always rising over the bar.
Just after the 60th minute, Jayden Lienou stepped out from centre-half after rolling past an attacked, before prodding out to White to his left. The winger took a touch before shooting towards goal, but Gospel-Eze was equal to his strike.
Getting involved immediately after his introduction, Harvey Vincent broke down the right wing before crossing, but his pass was wayward and evaded a white shirt.
As the clock ticked closer to full-time, the clash slowed, neither side seeing a real clear-cut effort on goal.
In the final eight minutes, a flurry of corners for Stockport were well-defended by Leeds, nullifying any late comeback attempts.
The Whites responded well once again, as Chadwick found himself in space inside the area, but the visitors’ stopper was equal to his strike and caught well.
This proved the last chance of the game, as Declan Bourne blew the full-time whistle following three additional minutes.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 3-1 Stockport County U21
