Under-18s Premier League North

Leeds United 3 (Carole 1’, Allen 16’, Thomas 59’) 

Manchester City 8 (Dickson 13’ 82’, Adam 21’ 92’, Katongo 27’, Barrington 63’, Mebude 83’, O’Reilly 94’) 

Leeds: Christy (GK), Diboe, Ferguson, Coleman, Buchan, Toulson (Richards 45’), Thomas, Allen (Wilson 45’), Joseph (Andreucci 45’). Subs not used: Ombang, McGrath.

Man City: McNamara (GK), Galvez, Katongo (Alleyne 90’), I. Smith, Lewis, O’Reilly, Susoho, Adam, Ndala (Barrington 62’), Dickson (Smith 88’), Mebude. Subs not used: Murray-Jones, Whittingham.

Venue: Thorp Arch 

Leeds United Under-18s were well beaten by top of the table Manchester City on a wet afternoon at Thorp Arch. Both sides came into this game on contrasting runs of form, Leeds having not won in six and City winning their last five Premier League North games. 

Scott Gardner’s side got off to a flying start, Keenan Carole putting the whites 1-0 up inside the first minute. Leeds pressed high and forced Man City into a mistake at the back, this left Carole one-on-one with the ‘keeper and he slotted it home past Josh McNamara.  

Just short of the 15-minute mark, City found an equaliser. Rico Lewis worked hard down the right-hand side to deliver a cross, which found its way to Will Dickson, who was there to convert from eight yards out.  

Leeds reacted well to conceding and were straight back in front. Left-back, Connor Ferguson, found himself high up the pitch and was brought down on the edge of the penalty box by Adedire Mebude. Charlie Allen stepped up to take the free kick, and his magnificent curling effort found the top corner, leaving McNamara rooted to his spot. 

January signing Mateo Joseph was presented with a golden chance to mark his debut with a goal and to put Leeds 3-1 up, he was played through by Allen, but his low effort was saved well by visiting goalie McNamara to keep the score at 2-1 to Leeds. 

In what was a frantic opening, Manchester City equalised in the 23rd minute. A loose pass frin the Whites gave City midfielder Josh Adam the chance to go through on goal, he rounded the ‘keeper and finished to level the score again, this time at 2-2.

The Sky Blues then started taking more control of the game and made it 3-2 on 30 minute. When they took a short corner to Joel Ndala, he delivered a cross towards to the back post and Jadel Katongo calmly back heeled the ball into an empty net. 

In what had a been a first half full of chances and goals at Thorp Arch, the scoring had been completed in the opening 45 minutes with the table toppers going in a goal ahead.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U18s 2-3 Manchester City U18s

Leeds made three substitutions during the half time break. Joseph, Allen and Dan Toulson were all replaced by Ben Andreucci, Marley Wilson and Joe Richards. 

After an aggressive start by the hosts, the first big chance of the half fell to visitors after good play by Dickson once again, as he went to take it around Christy in the Leeds goal. He then back heeled it to Ndala who saw his effort was blocked well by Leeds skipper, Cian Coleman. 

Luca Thomas continued his recent fine goal-scoring form to equalise for Leeds just before the hour mark. Lui Bradbury and Andreucci both saw their efforts saved but the ball eventually fell back to Bradbury who showed composure to finish well from close range.

In response to United's equaliser, City made a substitution and brought on Luca Barrington for Ndala. Barrington had an instant impact on the game, scoring a lovely solo goal. He glided his way through the defence and slotted the ball past Christy to make 4-3, still with half an hour or so of the match to go.

Following a sustained spell of pressure, Dickson made it 5-3 to the away side with a little less than 10 minutes to play. Leeds committed bodies forward searching for an equaliser, which left them open at the back and a long ball over the top put Dickson in on goal and he tucked it past Christy. 

City were then relentless and they found their 6th goal a minute later. Mebude charged down a clearance and that presented him with an open net to put his side firmly in control, with a three-goal advantage.

Ben Wilkinson’s side added two late goals in stoppage time. A powerful strike from outside the box by Adam made it 7-3, and with the last kick of the game Nico O’Reilly made it 8-3 when he was set up by Mebude for a chance he couldn’t miss from four-yards out. 

The next fixture for Leeds is at home against Derby County next weekend where they will be aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League North.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U18s 3-8 Manchester City U18s