Vertu Trophy Report: Accrington Stanley 3-2 Leeds United U21s | OneFootball

Vertu Trophy

Accrington Stanley 3 (Woods 68’, Pickles OG 78’, Bauress 81’)

Leeds United U21 2 (Gray 3’, 90’)

Accrington: Rogerson (GK), Henderson, Pye, Bauress (Sinclair 85’), Caton, Brown (Madden 60’), Martin, Smith, Conneely (C), O'Brien (Love 85’), Woods. Subs not used: Wright (GK), Matthews, Walton.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Douglas, Firth, Pickles (Mills 90’), Lopata-White, Enahoro-Marcus, Render (Bird 78’), Cresswell (C), Gray, Chadwick (Brockie 82’), McDonald (Wilson 83’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Pirie, White.

Referee: Aaron Bannister

Sent-off: Lopata-White (Leeds)

Venue: Wham Stadium

Attendance: 418

Leeds United Under-21s’ Vertu Trophy campaign came to an end against Accrington Stanley, despite Harry Gray netting a brace against the Sky Bet League Two outfit.

Having already entertained Port Vale and Fleetwood Town, boss Scott Gardner had named five changes to the side that faced Nottingham Forest U21s last time out.

Rory Mahady featured in goal, after another stellar display on loan at Scunthorpe United over the weekend whilst Gray led the line in what were torrential conditions.

On a typically sodden Lancastrian evening as the rain hammered down, action got underway and the Whites took the lead inside the opening moments!

A poor back pass from the hosts looking for James Rogerson was picked off by the tenacious Gray who, evading pressure from the onrushing Stanley goalkeeper, took a clever touch and fired into an empty net.

United had to be vigilant to prevent the opposition from restoring parity quickly afterwards. A low cross from Alex Henderson found Charlie Caton in the middle whose first time strike forced Mahady into a fine save down to his right.

A deflected Logan Pye effort then cannoned off a teammate and nearly skidded into the far corner, luckily bouncing just wide of the upright.

The Reds continued to threaten and Josh Woods kept a deep delivery alive, heading back into the middle which Henderson glanced beyond the far post.

Posing real danger on the break, a finely threaded pass from Josh McDonald released Gray down the right flank. Marauding to the edge of the area, the striker cut an enticing cross back in to the middle that was hacked away by a Stanley defender.

Following another chance for Henderson dragged off target, brilliant positioning from Reuben Lopata-White then diverted Caton’s close ranger header behind before the experienced Seamus Conneely flicked the resulting corner narrowly wide.

Breaking at an electric pace, a fantastic through ball released McDonald who charged into the area and beat Rogerson, only for the retreating Conneely to somehow turn the ball beyond the post!

Prior to Aaron Bannister bringing the opening period to a close, the referee was involved as he dismissed Lopata-White for an off-the-ball incident, leaving the visitors a man down as they looked to defend their lead after the break.

HALF TIME: Accrington Stanley 0-1 Leeds United U21

The teams emerged from the interval unchanged. Skipper Alfie Cresswell moved into the heart of defence in an enforced change to the system given the red card.

The hosts, looking to exploit their numerical advantage, twice went close in the opening moments, firstly through Charlie Brown who skewed a lashed effort over the upright before Conneely’s header was saved brilliantly by the sprawling Mahady.

Stanley then came within inches of equalising as Henderson rose highest yards from goal but his flicked header cannoned off the woodwork and away from danger.

Despite Accrington looking the more likely of the two to score, Rogerson kept the deficit at just one for his side, making a superb intervention to deny Gray a second.

McDonald had released the England youth international with a deft touch. Baring down on goal, the striker forced a great stop from the Stanley keeper.

Mahady’s goal was beginning to become increasingly tested but the Scottish youngster continued to stand tall, dealing with chance after chance and cross after cross, alongside a resolute United backline.

The pressure finally told, however, with just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining when Woods found the back of the net with a close-range header, meeting Henderson’s delivery from the left.

The hosts then took the lead in unfortunate circumstances. A cross swung in from the flank ricochetted off Ollie Pickles, wrongfooting Mahady and looping inside the far post.

A quickfire third came courtesy of Joe Bauress, finding the bottom corner after linking up with the experienced Paddy Madden, but the Whites still showed great character as Gray immediately reduced the deficit with a composed finish.

Pickles, atoning for his earlier own-goal, twisted and turned his way into the danger zone before laying it off for the 17-year-old to fire beyond Rogerson and ignite hope for Gardner’s team in the closing stages.

It proved too little too late for a youthful United team with the spirited display drawing the Vertu Trophy campaign to a close. Leeds will have learned a lot from testing themselves against established football league opposition and now head into the international break.

FULL TIME: Accrington Stanley 3-2 Leeds United U21