U18 Premier League North

Leeds United 1 (Toulson 46’)

Newcastle United 1 (Cooper 15’)

Leeds United: Ombang (GK), Diboe (Dawber 54’), Ferguson (Richards 46’), Chadwick, Toulson, Buchan, McFadden, Crew (C), Thomas, Brown, Chambers (Brockie 64’). Subs not used: Mahady, Lopta-White.

Newcastle United: Harris (GK), Powell, Charlton, Harrison, Thompson, Powell, Palmer, Bailey, Munda, Cooper, Parkinson. Subs not used: Brayson, Craggs, Neave, Ross, Watts.

Venue: Thorp Arch

It finished all even on a wet afternoon at Thorp Arch on Saturday. Newcastle took an early lead in the game but the home side managed to level just after half time, and that was to be the last of the goals meaning the points were shared.

The Magpies started the game strongly and in the opening five minutes nearly had a breakthrough. A long ball over the top found Anthony Munda, who played a low cross that found Darren Palmer in the middle but his low shot was saved well by Darryl Ombang.

Around 10 minutes later the away side did get the breakthrough. After a quick breakaway, Lucas Cooper played the ball out wide on the left to Ben Parkinson, he then slid in Cooper who hit a first-time left-footed strike into the bottom corner to give Newcastle the lead.

Straight after the goal, Scott Gardner’s side looked to respond. A misplaced pass from the keeper fell to Luca Thomas, he took a touch out of his feet and looked to dink the keeper, but the backpedalling stopper tipped the long-range effort away for a corner.

On the stroke of half time, Leeds came close to an equaliser. After Thomas picked up the ball on the left-hand side and beat the defender, he whipped in a low and hard cross that Aidan Harris palmed away but the rebound hit off Max McFadden and went narrowly wide.

With the referee blowing his whistle for the break, this was to be the last of the first-half action and the home side went in a goal behind.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Newcastle United

The second half couldn’t have started better for the home side as the Whites found an equaliser moments after kick-off. Dan Toulson picked up the ball in Newcastle’s half and unleashed a right-footed strike from 35-yards, which looped over the keeper and into the top corner to level in spectacular style!

As the second half progressed Leeds were putting more pressure on the visiting defence. Thomas cut inside from the right and struck a low driven shot to the bottom corner but Harris produced another superb save to deny the striker.

Moments later, Thomas was at the heart of another Leeds attack. This time the striker weaved past the Newcastle defenders and played a ball across the face of the goal toward Devon Brockie but Rory Powell put in a superb sliding tackle to deny the substitute.

In the dying moments of the game, Leeds had a penalty shout when Lleyton Brown turned inside the box and his effort struck the defender, but the referee turned away the handball appeals.

This meant that the score remained level as the referee blew for full-time at Thorp Arch. Gardner’s side now sits 5th in the table ahead of their clash with Manchester United, in two weeks’ time.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-1 Newcastle United