FA Youth Cup

Coventry City 1 (Obikwu 87’)

Leeds United 4 (Bradbury 54’, Dean 63’, 90’, Wilson 68’)

Coventry: Callaghan (GK), Smith (Finney 80’), Young (Batanwi 76’), Wynne, O’Brien (c) (Manners 73’), Perry, Eghosa, Moore, Rodber, Howley, Obikwu. Subs not used: Rachel (GK), Shepherd, Siddall, Andrews.

Leeds: Christy (GK), Littlewood, Godden, Buchan, Moore (c), Mullen, Bradbury, Gray, Wilson, Allen (Dean 45’), Carole. Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Diboe, Spencer, Debayo.

Venue: CBS Arena

Referee: Ryan Dix

Booked: Obikwu, Howley (Coventry) Allen, Dean (Leeds)

Leeds United Under 18s kicked off their FA Youth Cup campaign away at Coventry City on Tuesday night, under the lights of the CBS Arena in the West Midlands. 

After the game was level at half-time, Scott Gardner’s side came out in the second 45 and put in a superb display, to progress through to the next round with four impressive goals.  

Both the Whites and Sky Blues entered the competition at the Third Round stage and were looking to progress to the Fourth Round, where they knew a tie against either Cambridge United or Oxford United away from home awaited the winner.

Scott Gardner’s side began on the front-foot and an early sighter from Charlie Allen stung the palms of the Charlie Callaghan, between the posts for the home side.  

Attacks were then exchanged at either end in what had been a relatively quiet opening to this cup encounter. Jeremiah Mullen saw a header flash wide, before Harry Christy saved well for Leeds from Justin Obikwu’s shot on goal. 

The best chance of the opening 45 fell the way of the Sky Blues. Finding space in the box, Sam Rodber’s header clipped the top of the crossbar and fortunately went over, after Shay Young’s excellent cross into the danger area. 

There was still time for a chance each before the interval, with Keenan Carole’s effort well saved at one end after Ryan Howley had forced Christy into action down the other. The teams went in level. 

HALF TIME: Coventry City 0-0 Leeds United 

Gardner opted for two changes to his side to begin the second half. Harvey Sutcliffe and Max Dean replaced Kris Moore and Allen, as Leeds went in search of a goal.

That search didn't take long. Great work down the wing from Carole created the chance as he pulled the ball back for Lui Bradbury to bend a strike into the far corner and put Leeds ahead.

One soon became two, with an equally impressive strike. Bradbury was the creator this time as his wing pull-back found Dean, who controlled the curled left-footed into the top corner to make it two. 

With Leeds now firmly on top and dominating the game, a third didn’t take too long to arrive. Jeremiah Mullen showed skill to get down the wing and his cross was perfectly placed for Marley Wilson to head into the back of the net and make it three!

To the credit of the home side side, they continued to battle and did pull one back late in the game. A cross from the right fell kindly for Justin Obikwu to slot home and create a possible nervous ending. 

But, the Whites were then in search of another and restored their three goal lead in the final seconds. Impressive throughout between the posts, Christy turned provider this time as he fired a ball over the top for Dean to run onto, control, and calmly net his second of the game.

The whistle blew shortly after and ended what had been an impressive evening for Leeds United’s youngsters and sent them into the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup.  

FULL TIME: Coventry City 1-4 Leeds United