U18s Premier League North

Leeds United 4 (Spencer 7’, Thomas 15’, McGrath 50’, Joseph 52’)

Nottingham Forest 4 (Taylor 13’, Powell 49’, 54’, Osong 76’)

Leeds: Ombang (GK), Diboe, Ferguson, Spencer, Littlewood, Coleman (C), Carole (Picksley 53’), Snowdon, Joseph (Buchan 60’), Thomas, McGrath. Subs not used: Baird, Andreucci, Godden.

Forest: Bott (GK), Abbott, Powell, McDonnell (C), Hammond, McAdam, Collins (Thompson 60’), Perkins, Osong, Nadin, Taylor (Koppac 75’). Subs not used: Aker, Barker, Whitehall.

Venue: Thorp Arch

Booked: Collins, Thompson (Forest), Picksley (Leeds)

Leeds United’s Uner-18s were held to a draw at Thorp Arch, in an enthralling game against Nottingham Forest Under-18s.

The Whites were looking to continue their good form having picked up seven points in their last three games, whilst Forest were also on a good run of form, setting up an exciting game.

The encounter got off to a frantic start when Dale Taylor found himself free in the box and cannoned his header off the woodwork for Nottingham Forest, inside the opening five minutes.

Shortly after, it was Leeds who opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes. It was a bizarre goal as Morten Spencer whipped in a corner that looped over everyone, including the keeper, and straight into the back of the net to give the whites an early lead!



Forest quickly struck back through Dale Taylor, though. The striker finished off a counter-attacking move when he picked up the ball 25-yards out and curled a great strike into the top corner leaving the ‘keeper with no chance.

The fast-paced start continued when Scott Gardner’s side responded minutes after going level. This time it was Luca Thomas who curled a superb effort into the top corner, finishing off a well-worked move and keeping his impressive scoring streak going.

Moments before the break, Leeds goalkeeper Darryl Ombang produced a magnificent save. Jack Nadin shifted the ball onto his right and hit a great strike towards the goal, but Ombang tipped it over at full stretch to keep the Whites in the lead going into the break.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest

After the break, the game continued in its enthralling style when Mateo Joseph rolled his defender in the box and hit a low-driven shot which struck the post.

Despite the fast start from the Whites, it was the visitors who levelled things up once again five minutes into the second half. Josh Powell made a darting run down the right-hand side and Detlef Osong played Powell through, who then cut in on his left and hit a low shot into the back of the net.

A minute later the Whites retook the lead again though, through Ronnie McGrath! The winger found himself all alone at the back post and was able to get on the end of Spencer’s low cross to give Leeds the advantage back at Thorp Arch.

Spanish forward Joseph then put Gardner’s side further in front with a two-goal cushion. After a long ball over the top found McGrath, he played a slide pass into the striker, who placed his shot calmly in the bottom corner of the net to make it four.



The two-goal lead didn’t last long though in this entertaining encounter, as Powell got his second of the game. The Forest player found himself in space down the right-hand side and Osong played a ball through for Powell to finish in a similar style to his first.

Aaron Koppac came on for the visitors and had an instant, winning his side a penalty. Osong stepped up for Forest and hit his spot-kick low in to the bottom corner to draw Forest level at four-all.

Deep into added time Leeds defended a flurry of Forest corners excellently to claim a point in what had been a thoroughly entertaining match.

The well-fought point lifts the Whites into 5^th in the league and keeps them unbeaten in four games, ahead of their trip to Manchester United next week. Whilst for Forest, the draw means they stay 12^th in the league.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 4-4 Nottingham Forest