U18s Report: Derby County 5-1 Leeds United

U18s Report: Derby County 5-1 Leeds United

Whites beaten away from home.

U18s Premier League North

Derby County 5 (Ebiowei 13’ 39’ 88’, Ibrahim 36’, Richards 87’)

Leeds United 1 (Thomas 18’)


Derby: Evans (GK), Brailsford (c), Kelly, Fapetu, Christie, Robinson, Sebagabo, Trialist, Brown, Ibrahim (Carlos Richards 84’), Ebiowei. Subs not used: Nicholas- Davies, Roberts, Dixon, Hawkins.

Leeds: Christy (GK), Diboe (Richards 66’), Toulson, Spencer, Ferguson, Dawber, Wilson (Andreucci 60’), Buchan (Bradbury 45’), Thomas, Coleman (c), Carole. Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Douglas.


Venue: Moor Farm

Referee: R. Eley


Leeds United Under-18s were beaten 5-1 by a strong Derby County side at Moor Farm in their latest U18 Premier League North match.

It was all set up to be an even game with both teams coming into the game level on points and looking to bounce back from their recent defeats.

Leeds started the game strongly, with the first real chance falling to Luca Thomas when Jay Buchan delivered a great ball into the box, but his effort only found the gloves of the opposition goalkeeper.

The fast start that Leeds made carried on when Morten Spencer was able to play a good ball into Thomas, whose curling effort was saved well by the Derby keeper again.

It was Derby who got the breakthrough in the game against the run of play. Malcolm Ebiowei produced some fantastic skill down the right-hand side to reach the by-line and struck home a good strike at the near post, to give the Rams an early lead.

Scott Gardner’s side reacted well and were able to equalise shortly after going behind, through Thomas. He was played through after Cuba Diboe beat his man and slid a clever pass into the number nine whose initial shot was saved, but the rebound fell to Thomas who smashed the ball in the roof of the net.

Just as expected the game was in the balance and Derby looked to take the lead on the half an hour mark when the goal scorer Ebiowei cut inside onto his left foot and curled an effort that looked set for the bottom corner, but Harry Christy produced a superb save to tip it round the post.

The second goal for Derby did come after 37 minutes when Ola Ibrahim picked up the ball on the left-hand side and cut in on his right foot to strike his effort into the top right corner.

Derby extended their lead moments after going back in front. Ebiowei drove the ball from his own half to the edge of the Leeds box where he was brought down.

From the resulting set-play, Ebiowei stepped up himself and curled a magnificent shot in the top corner to give Derby a two-goal lead going into the break.

HALF TIME: Derby County 3-1 Leeds United

A big second half was needed for Leeds who made one change at the interval. Buchan was replaced by Lui Bradbury whilst Derby remained unchanged.

The first big chance of the half came when Keenan Carole beat his man down the right-wing and cut a ball back to substitute Bradbury, whose strike was frustratingly deflected onto the post.

The pressure was growing from the home side and Christy was forced into action after a looping ball found Ebiowi at the back post who hit a strike at goal, but United’s keeper was equal to it.

With five minutes to go Leeds were forced to go down to ten men after Connor Ferguson went off injured, and all three Leeds changes had been made earlier in the game.

Derby quickly made the most of the extra player when a long ball was flicked onto the continually dangerous Ebiowi, who was one on one with Christy, but he passed the ball to substitute Richards who tapped it in to make it four.

With two minutes to go Ebiowi tricked his way past the Leeds defenders and struck a close-range effort in the near post which put the game to bed and in doing so secured his hat-trick, after being a thorn in the Leeds side all afternoon.

The defeat means that Adam Robinson’s side go above Leeds into sixth in the table, whilst the Whites have dropped to 10th in the league. Gardner’s side take on Manchester City in their next fixture at home.

FULL TIME: Derby County 5-1 Leeds United

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