U18S Report: Leeds United 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers | OneFootball

U18 Premier League North

Leeds United U18 2 (White 22’, Stockton 60’)

Wolverhampton Wanderers U18 1 (Saba 86’)

Leeds: Wood (GK), Walker, Balmer, Whitehead, Watson, Megson, Stockton (Bennett), Bhaskaran (C), White, Ibrovic-Fletcher, Mensah. Subs not used: Herrick, Heywood, Bridge, Hazell-Schofield, Watling, Hitchen.

Wolves: Arnold (GK), Garate (Ekhosuehi), Williams (Nkume), Saba, Aneke (C), Gonzales-Osbourne, Jackson (Ford), Huxley, Mathai-Jnr, Lyons, Oduor (Dean-Ford). Subs not used: Seidu, Hinks.

Venue: Thorp Arch | Referee: Ronan Coller-Booth | Booked: Ibrovic-Fletcher, Megson, White (Leeds) Saba, Gonzales-Osbourne, Dean-Ford (Wolves)

Goals for Logan White and Thomas Stockton helped Leeds United Under-18s to a 2-1 win at Thorp Arch against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-18s in their first home encounter of the season.

United started the match very strongly, dominating possession and not allowing Wolves to get any momentum. In the first half, the home side had the pick of the chances, as well as the only goal of the first 45.

The first notable opportunity for the hosts came after 16 minutes, when Logan White acrobatically met a cross that came from Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher from the right. This shot sailed just the wrong side of the woodwork but it was not long until the Young Whites got their goal thanks to the same pairing.

Following a flurry of chances for the hosts, including a strike from Alfie Walker that rattled the crossbar, Ibrovic-Fletcher linked up with White again, once more playing a ball into the middle of the box after running free down the right wing.

White did well to lose his man and had a simple tap-in from just yards to give Rob Etherington’s young team a deserved lead.

Leeds then had more opportunities to further extend their advantage however had to settle for a one goal advantage at the break.

The chances included a free kick from White that was not far away from the top right corner of the goal. White then was involved again, rolling the ball into the Wolves goal for a second time, however he was adjudged to have mistimed his run and the goal was ruled out for offside.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U18 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers U18

In the second half, Etherington’s squad were again the better of the two teams, with Leeds dictating a lot of the play and having the majority of the ball.

It took less than ten minutes for the Young Whites to have another opportunity with Loui Whitehead playing in Ibrovic-Fletcher who beat his man and fired a shot at goal.

This was parried out to Joe Bhaskaran, who saw his header saved, with the ball then falling to Kenneth Mensah at the far post but he could not sort his feet out and shot just wide from close range.

On the hour mark, Leeds got their just rewards for the way they played, doubling their lead just after Wolves had a header saved at the other end. The hosts moved the ball excellently on the left-hand side, with White and Bhaskaran linking up to find space on the flank.

The ball was played across to Ibrovic-Fletcher who had his shot saved, however Stockton was following in and fired the ball into the net to make the score 2-0.

It looked as if Leeds were going to cruise to victory but substitutions by Wolves disrupted the game, getting the visitors a small foothold late on.

This led to a late goal for Wanderers, with Elliott Saba being in the right position to have an attempted clearance ricochet off him and loop into the net to bring the score to 2-1.

Leeds were then put under some pressure by a late Wolves resurgence but kept composed and played themselves out of any possible danger, bringing the game to a close by holding the ball in the opposition half.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U18 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U18