U18 Premier League North

Leeds United 5 (Pickles 42’, Vincent 48’, Gray 57’, 62’, McDonald 78’)

Derby County 0

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Bird, Cresswell, Billett (Vincent 46’), Richards, Toulson (C), Pickles (Matykiewicz 83’), Brockie (Dudley 77’), Douglas (Brown 60’), Gray, McDonald. Subs not used: Grainger.

Derby: Price (GK), Perry, Gough, Imasuen, Tola, Hawkins, Richards, Agustien (Simons 60’), Green (Ward 60’), Oguntolu, Osong (Gordon 31’). Subs not used: Shattell.

Booked: Brockie, Toulson, Gray, Richards (Leeds) Agustien, Perry (Derby)

Sent off: Bird (Leeds)

Venue: Thorp Arch

Leeds United Under-18s continued their fine form with an impressive 5-0 victory against Derby County at Thorp Arch, on Wednesday afternoon. 

After going a goal up in the first 45 minutes, Rob Etherington’s youngsters hit four unanswered strikes in the second half, to seal an impressive three points on home turf.

When we got underway, it was the visitors who started the game the brighter of the two and they created the first chances of the game. Johnson Osong and Justin Oguntolu both went close for the Rams, but couldn’t convert their headers from close range.

After being on the back-foot for the opening 20 minutes, Leeds started to create some chances of their own. Coban Bird delivered a cross to the back post, but the unmarked Connor Douglas could only put his effort straight at the Derby keeper. 

As it looked like the game was going to go into the break goalless, Oliver Pickles had other ideas as he put the Whites ahead in the latter stages of the first half. 

Josh McDonald was allowed to break away, he played the ball to Pickles on the edge of the box and with a first-time effort, he struck the ball beautifully into the bottom corner.



A hard-working and closely-fought opening 45 minutes was brought to a close at Thorp Arch, with Leeds a goal ahead when the whistle was blown for the break.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Derby County

Etherington made one substitute at half time, introducing Harvey Vincent for Joe Billett, and Vincent was straight into action as he doubled Leeds’ advantage just three minutes after the restart.

Harry Gray did excellently to win the ball back and lay it off to Devon Brockie, he dinked a cross to the back-post and Vincent was there to fire a first-time volley into the bottom corner!



Just nine minutes later, the Whites had their third of the game, and Gray had his first!

The striker picked the ball up on the edge of the box, he cut inside and fired a shot in at the near post, leaving Harley Price with no chance and putting the Whites three goals ahead!



The hosts didn’t stop there though as they pushed on for more, and they got just that a few moments later with Gray adding his second of the game.

Vincent played a lovely ball over the top to the forward, he took the ball in his stride and once again cut inside and his beat his man, this time Gray opted for the far post and he made no mistake as his effort nestled into the top corner. 



With two to his name, Gray had a great opportunity to complete his hat-trick as he once again was played through on goal, but this time he couldn’t find the target with his effort.

With a little over 10 minutes to play, McDonald capped off a five-star performance for the Whites as he tucked away Leeds’ fifth of the afternoon.

Bird did well to get out a tight situation and lay the ball off to McDonald, he took a few touches and fired his effort into the bottom corner.



In the last few moments of the game the visitors were awarded a penalty. Bird was adjudged to have tripped Jerome Richards in the area and he received a second yellow for doing so.

Oguntolu stepped up to take the penalty, but goalkeeper Rory Mahady continued his penalty saving heroics this season and guessed the right way, producing a smart save to keep the effort out. 



That proved to be the last of the action which rounded off a stellar performance from Etherington’s side. This result pushes Leeds up to fourth in the U18 Premier League North, they will now prepare for Saturday’s fixture against Manchester City. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 5-0 Derby County