A night to remember as our U21s beat League One side Barnsley in the EFL Trophy! | OneFootball

EFL Trophy

Barnsley 3 (Shepherd 79’, Richards 84’, Connell 86’)

Leeds United U21 4 (Mills 19’, 41’, 70’; McDonald 43’)

Barnsley: Flavell (GK), Shepherd, Hamed Touré (Brownlie 46’), Okedina, Taylor (Graham 60’), Bland, Woodcock, Alker (Richards 46’), Saunders (Yoganathan 46’), Farrell (Town 46’), Connell (C). Subs not used: Ravenhill (GK), Dunne.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Chadwick, Cresswell, McDonald (Hodja 76’), Egan-Riley (Matykiewicz 71’), Vincent, Enahoro-Marcus, Lane, Pickles (C), Mills (Render 90’), Philpott (Balmer 90’). Subs not used: Cook (GK), White, Whitehead.

Venue: Oakwell | Attendance: 1,590 (375 away) | Referee: Aaron Bannister | Booked: Shepherd, Graham (Barnsley) Matykiewicz (Leeds)

It was a memorable evening for everyone connected with Leeds United as our Under-21s beat Sky Bet League One outfit Barnsley 4-3 in the opening EFL Trophy Group G fixture.

Scott Gardner’s team raced into a four goal lead through Callum Mills’ hat-trick and a Josh McDonald header before the hosts threatened to spoil the party late on, but our Academy youngsters showed their character to see out a superb victory in front of nearly 400 travelling supporters.

The Whites started the encounter brightly, launching an incisive break down the left through McDonald who found the run of Rhys Chadwick. The midfielder cut a low inviting ball into the path of the onrushing Mills but the 18-year-old was unable to find the bottom corner.

Down the other end, a first involvement of the evening for Scotland youth international Rory Mahady between the posts saw the keeper dive to his right to parry a well struck Clayton Taylor effort away from danger.

Leeds would have taken the lead if not for a piece of superb defending by Barnsley’s Jubril Okedina. A lightning move down the right resulted in Harvey Vincent crossing into the path of Mills at the back post though the Tykes’ centre-half produced a crucial block to deny United.

After two previous glimpses of goal, Mills wouldn’t be denied a third time! McDonald did brilliantly on the left and fizzed a pass into his teammate who did the rest, driving in field before powering a fierce strike past Kieren Flavell and into the back of the net!

Gardner’s youngsters had to be wary to prevent a quickfire leveller when Luke Alker, brother of our U21s forward Sam who missed the tie due to international duty, lashed a half volley towards the top corner which Mahady did excellently to tip over the upright.

Approaching the half-hour mark, Mills looked to turn provider as he picked out Ollie Pickles on the edge of the area. The skipper let fly, seeing a drive cannon off a red shirt and behind. From the resulting corner, Louis Enahoro-Marcus headed Freddie Lane’s looping delivery narrowly wide of the woodwork.

The Whites dominated the opening period and went close once more when Louie Philpott beat the offside trap and raced through on goal. Ignoring the option to square it, the left-back instead went alone and was denied by the sprawling Flavell.

The thoroughly deserved second arrived four minutes before the break. Vincent, who had been a constant threat down the right, once more darted into space and flashed a fantastic delivery across the face of goal which Mills had the simplest of tasks in bundling home!

Then, just moments after the restart, there was a slight sense of déjà vu… Vincent again marauded forward, hooked an enticing cross into the middle which McDonald this time was the beneficiary of, heading into the back of the net!

As Aaron Bannister’s half-time whistle sounded, the Whites were cheered off the pitch by the vocal travelling faithful, more than impressed with what they had seen.

HALF TIME: Barnsley 0-3 Leeds United U21

Unsurprisingly as the teams returned to the field, the hosts made several changes aiming to find a route back into the game. They had chances early on, too, with Louis Enahoro-Marcus called upon to make a timely block before Rylan Brownlie headed wide of the far post.

The visitors threatened a fourth when Philpott and McDonald combined on the left, resulting in the latter darting into the area and crossing towards Mills, only for Flavell to gather before the midfielder could grab his hattrick.

With the Tykes desperately searching for a lifeline, Mahady had to react well to get his body in the way of a skewed back pass. Shortly afterwards, Barnsley substitute Vimal Yoganathan rattled the woodwork after creating a yard of space in the box.

Breaking at pace through Philpott and McDonald once more, the ball was eventually worked to Vincent but with the angle narrowing, the forward was unable to beat the onrushing Flavell. From the resulting corner, both Enahoro-Marcus and Alfie Cresswell had attempts charged down by red shirts.

Selfless defending from captain Pickles then saw the midfielder hurl himself in front of Yoganathan who drilled a powerful effort goalwards. And how Leeds would reap the rewards almost immediately… United broke and Mills drove into the box, sat down the keeper and rolled in his third and the Whites’ fourth!

Barnsley reduced the arrears through a Jack Shepherd volley and quickly added a second through Armani Richards’ low strike into the bottom corner in the closing stages.

With the hosts having the wind in their sails, the Reds made it 4-3 through Luca Connell’s emphatic drive that rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced in, ensuring a nervy ending in South Yorkshire…

Gardner’s side gave their absolute all however and their efforts were rewarded as the full-time whistle sounded, bringing an enthralling encounter to a close. Next up for the Whites in the competition is a trip over the Pennines to face Oldham Athletic!

FULL TIME: Barnsley 3-4 Leeds United U21