National League Cup Report: Tamworth 2-1 Leeds United U21 | OneFootball

National League Cup Group C

Tamworth 2 (Digie 26’, Tshikuna 42’)

Leeds United U21 1 (Coleman 74’)

Tamworth: Phillips (GK), Curley, Cockerill-Mollett, Digie, Fletcher, Finn (McGlinchey 81’), Williams (Okafor 74’), Tshikuna (Enoru 81’), Hollis (C), Sundire, Ponticelli. Subs not used: Foster (GK), Cullinane-Liburd, McKenzie, McCullagh.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Richards, Ferguson, Monteiro, Lopata-White, Mullen, Coleman, Cresswell (C), Gray (McDonald 46’), Chadwick, Douglas (McFadden 74’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Firth, Bird.

Venue: The Lamb Ground

Attendance: 351

Referee: Steven Copeland

Booked: Okafor, Sundire (Tamworth) Mullen, Cresswell, Monteiro (Leeds)

Leeds United Under-21s’ National League Cup group stage campaign ended with a narrow defeat away against Tamworth, despite Cian Coleman’s late goal setting up a tense ending at The Lamb Ground.

Scott Gardner's side progress to the quarter-finals of the competition by virtue of goals scored, after finishing in second place of the Group C standings.

The tie was slow in bursting into life with both sides enjoying spells of possession without creating any clear-cut chances; a wayward, hurried effort by Tamworth’s Matt Curley from 30-yards-out sailed high and wide of the upright in the only brief sight of goal in the opening quarter of an hour.

The Whites then began to get a real foothold in the clash and went close when Harry Gray collected a loose ball inside the hosts’ penalty area though, on the turn, the young striker was unable to make meaningful contact with the ball and the Lambs cleared their lines.

Fans that followed Tamworth’s FA Cup exploits would have been all too familiar with their long throw-in prowess and a hurled launch into the area almost brought an opener as it landed at Kennedy Digie’s feet but, at a narrow angle, the defender lashed over the bar.

After a dangerous Joe Richards cross was almost bundled into his own net by Digie, a succession of corners from Rhys Chadwick tested the hosts’ backline.

Jeremiah Mullen was first to threaten however the defender couldn’t direct a first-time effort on target, before Connor Douglas rifled a fierce strike agonisingly over Leon Phillips’ goal.

Moments later, the Staffordshire outfit did take the lead when Digie rose highest to glance Alex Fletcher’s cross beyond Mahady and into the far corner.

Keen to respond almost immediately, Coleman found space on the edge of the area, drilling a powerful effort wide of the post as Tamworth survived.

The home side were quick to send bodies forward at every set piece opportunity and went close to grabbing a second, when skipper Haydn Hollis’ header skimmed the crossbar and bounced behind. Kai Williams then blazed over after an arrowed throw-in dropped kindly for the attacker.

Andy Peaks’ team were rewarded with a second shortly before referee Steven Copeland brought the first half to a close courtesy of Nathan Tshikuna, who struck across Mahady from close range.

HALF TIME: Tamworth 2-0 Leeds United U21

Emerging for the second 45 minutes, a change in personnel from Gardner introduced Josh McDonald into the action, with the winger replacing Gray in a reshuffle to the front line.

The retreating Coleman had to be alert to prevent Digie extending the home side’s advantage following the restart, well placed to hack the defender’s low effort away from danger.

Despite the Whites dominating possession, Tamworth were dangerous on the break and Kyle Finn was next to go close, seeing a snapshot cannon off a teammate and trickle past the upright.

The deficit was almost halved approaching the hour mark, but a fine save from Phillips denied Richards. The Leeds full-back had initially done superbly to intercept a loose pass and drove into the area, drilling a testing strike towards the far corner which the Lambs’ stopper got down well to gather.

Shortly afterwards, Phillips’ services were called upon once more as he parried a well-struck Chadwick drive from the edge of the area, gratefully clutching the ball at the second attempt.

United were in the ascendency but the final ball was alluding them: a threaded pass through for McDonald from Ferguson just ran away from the substitute on The Lamb Ground’s slick, artificial surface when the Scottish youngster would have been in on goal.

With little over 15 minutes remaining on the clock, a sublime sprawling save from Mahady kept Leeds in the tie as he denied Tshikuna, with the visitors immediately launching an electric counter…

Chadwick fizzed a pass down the line for Richards to set off in pursuit. The defender latched onto the delivery, dancing past a red shirt inside the area and squaring it for Coleman who had the simplest of tasks to bundle home at the back post.

Entering the final stages, with Gardner’s side frantically searching for a leveller the tie grew open. A scramble inside United’s penalty area almost brought a third for the hosts, but a series of blocks and a resounding clearance from Monteiro averted the scare.

Leeds threw everything at the Lambs to force penalties, but the hosts’ defence stood firm as Copeland’s full-time whistle sounded.

United finish the group with eight points from four matches, progressing to the next round in second place of Group C by virtue of goals scored.

FULL TIME: Tamworth 2-1 Leeds United U21