Under 18s Premier League North
Leeds United U18 0
Liverpool U18 3 (Clarke 58’, Forrester 72’, Inglethorpe 86’)
Leeds United U18s: Wood (GK), Firth (C), Philpott, Whitehead, Simo, Howard, Njinko, Mills (Thompson 86’), Render (Morris 45’), Mensah (Alker 81’), White. Subs not used: Wolfrey (GK), Watson.
Liverpool U18s: Hall-Macdonald (GK), Conde (Lonmeni 77’), Clarke, Clarke, Owen, Murray-Holme (Upton 58’), Abe, Farkas (O’Connor 64’), Sonni-Lambie (C), (Inglethorpe 57’), Yeguo, Forrester. Subs not used: Benard (GK).
Referee: Steven Taylor
Booked: White, Whitehead (Leeds) Conde, Inglethorpe, Lonmeni (Liverpool)
Venue: Thorp Arch
Leeds United Under-18s suffered their first home defeat of the season, as three second half goals handed Liverpool Under-18s all three points at Thorp Arch.
It was a bright morning in Yorkshire as Rob Etherington’s youthful side looked to extend their unbeaten home run and the Whites began strongly by creating a series of chances. William Firth forged ahead, exploiting the open space inside three minutes, but saw his effort blocked by Harvy Owen.
Louie Phillot and Callum Mills then combined well down the left to trouble the visitors, but Liverpool defender Lenix Conde cleared for a corner.
Liverpool looked to fire back after the early onslaught as La’more Forrester attempted to counter from the corner but was surrounded by three white shirts, before a Firth sliding tackle prevented the attack going any further.
Logan White sparked energy down the left and drew a foul from Conde, who received an early booking. Elton Simo set off White again down the left as he skipped past Conde, but he recovered well to stop White troubling the visiting goal.
Jacob Render came close on a couple of occasions, firing just wide from inside the box, then later seeing a clever chip over Hall-Macdonald cleared away Prince Cissé.
Liverpool’s first sight of goal came 20 minutes in, as Forrester intercepted from Howard, who then played through Joshua Sonni-Lambie one on one but Wood was quick off his line, forcing the shot wide of the post.
Wood was called into action again moments later, as Forrester found space down the left flank where he pulled it back to Sonni-Lambie inside the box who from a low driven shot, forced an instinctive save.
As the half hour mark approached, White exploded into the box and was taken down by Conde but referee Steven Taylor waves away any appeals for a penalty.
Leeds finished the half the strongest, but despite the first half onslaught from Leeds, they went into the break goalless.
HALF-TIME: Leeds United U18s 0–0 Liverpool U18s
After the restart, Etherington’s side again threatened, with White forcing a one-on-one save from the Liverpool keeper.
Moments later, Nijnko accelerated down the right, cutting into the box, where he then collided with Owen, but again the referee waved any appeal for a penalty.
It was Liverpool who struck first in the game on 58 minutes when substitute Joseph Upton delivered an out swinging corner that Lucas Clarke headed home to give the Reds the lead.
That goal shifted the momentum, and Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute. Forrester, set up by Yeguo on the edge of the box, guided a composed finish into the bottom right corner.
The visitors then sealed the points late on, as Yeguo’s low cross was met by substitute Inglethorpe, who squeezed his effort under Wood and in off the post with four minutes remaining.
Leeds pushed for a consolation through Njinko in the closing stages, but his strike went narrowly wide.
The young Whites will now take a break from league action in their next outing, as they take on Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League Cup at Thorp Arch.
FULL-TIME: Leeds United U18s 0–3 Liverpool U18s
