FA Youth Cup Fourth Round

Brighton & Hove Albion 0

Leeds United 4 (McFadden 21’, 60’, Wilson 66’, Cresswell 76’)

Brighton: Ferdinand (GK), Lee, Mills, Simmonds, Vickers, Albarus, Moulton (Oriola 72’), Knight, Howell, Gorman (Bashir 82’), West. Subs not used: Mackley, Mansell, Fuller, Belmont, Nti. 

Leeds: Grainger (GK), Billett, Richards, Crew, Toulson (C), Cresswell, Lane (Pirie 78’), Chadwick (Pickles 83’), Wilson, McFadden, McDonald (Render 69’). Subs not used: Baird, Dudley, Morris, Wamba Simo. 

Venue: AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre

Referee: Isaac Searle

Booked: Crew (Leeds)

In the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round, Leeds United Under-18s travelled away from home, taking on Brighton & Hove Albion Under-18s. 

Rob Etherington’s side put in an excellent display to comfortably defeat their south coast opponents, to set up a tie with Sheffield United away from home in the Fifth Round. 

Both teams overcame away ties in the Third Round to reach this stage of the competition, with the Whites defeating Norwich City at Carrow Road, and the Seagulls overcoming Harrogate Town on their trip north.  

The game saw quite a slow opening at the AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre, with just two early efforts coming on goal, both from the hosts. Harry Mills had two shots on goal, neither of which caused much danger. 

With the first meaningful attack, Leeds took the lead. Freddie Lane crossed superbly to the back post, where Max McFadden volleyed home first time, into the back of the net. 

Marley Wilson, Josh McDonald and Rhys Chadwick would then all have efforts on goal as the game approached the break, but none of them could extend the scoreline. 

The Whites had controlled much of the half but when the whistle went to send the teams back to the dressing rooms, it was still all to play for, with Etherington’s side just one-goal ahead. 

HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Leeds United

Out for the second half, neither side made any changes, as the teams that began the match each looked to find a way through to the next round. 

On the hour mark, Leeds would double the lead, and again it was McFadden finding the net with a back post finish. 

The goal owed much to the work of Josh McDonald though, who had brilliantly beaten multiple players on the wing, cut into the box then laid the ball off to Chadwick, who struck the crossbar, only to see McFadden turn home the rebound with a composed finish. 

Just six minutes later and the hard-working Wilson would then make it three. Another effort off the crossbar, this one from Lane, bounced for Wilson to control, pick his spot and find the bottom corner!

The Whites weren’t finished and showed a clinical nature. Having scored twice, McFadden turned provider this time when he crossed to the back post, finding Alfie Cresswell who leapt highest to head home a fourth! 

Changes then followed from each bench as the game edged towards its conclusion, but there were no further changes on the scoreline.

The full-time whistle sounded and sent Etherington’s Under-18s into the Fifth Round of the competition, setting up a tie against Sheffield United Under-18s.  

FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-4 Leeds United