U18 Premier League North

Middlesbrough U18 1 (Harrison 46’)

Leeds United U18 2 (Hitchen 32’, Bennett 55’)

Boro: Richardson (GK), Smith, Tremain (Woodhouse 46’), Edmundson, Givenson, Martin, Harrison, Jones (Shaw 46’), Kakai (Osasere 70’), Greenup (C), Roberts. Subs not used: Lloyd (GK), Moss.

Leeds: Wood (GK), Bridge (C), Balmer, Bhaskaran, Hamilton, Watson, Hitchen (Mensah 88’), Heywood, Watling (Massey 71’), Stockton (Dyson 90’), Bennett. Subs not used: Woolfrey (GK), Chambers.

Referee: Thomas Lishman

Booked: Greenup, Martin (Middlesbrough) Bennett (Leeds)

Venue: Rockcliffe Park Training Ground

Missing several players who featured with the Under-21s on Friday evening, a first-half strike from Zach Hitchen and a composed second-half finish from Oliver Bennett secured a deserved away victory for a very youthful Leeds United Under-18s against Middlesbrough Under-18s.

It was clear skies and a subtle breeze at Rockcliffe Park Training Ground, and it was Boro that threatened inside the opening two minutes as Tyler Smith found space down the right but a well-timed recovery tackle from Jacob Watson diverted the danger behind for a corner.

Leeds responded through skipper Isaac Bridge, who drove down the right before finding Hitchen, but his cross was comfortably gathered by Joseph Richardson.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead on 10 minutes when Joshua Hamilton’s long ball was flicked on by Bennett into the path of Bailey Watling, who finished confidently, only for the flag to rule it out for offside.

Harrison and Joseph Roberts combined well to spark a Middlesbrough counter but Hamilton stood firm and followed up with a crucial sliding challenge moments later to halt another attack.

Leeds began to assert themselves around the half-hour mark. Crisp interplay between Owen Heywood and Bennett released Thomas Stockton on the edge of the area, where he was brought down by Logan Edmundson. Hitchen’s free kick was blocked but the visitors soon found the breakthrough.

Moments later, Heywood won another set piece after spinning away from Joseph Jones. The ball was worked smartly to the left where Liam Balmer drilled a low cross across goal and Hitchen arrived at the far post to convert.

The goal lifted Leeds with Heywood driving forward again to force a save from Richardson, although the resulting corner came to nothing.

Middlesbrough pushed for a response before the break. Kakai tested Oliver Wood, who gathered comfortably, before Roberts won a free kick just outside the area. Harrison’s effort, however, was straight at the Leeds goalkeeper. Despite late pressure, Leeds held firm to take their lead into the interval.

HALF TIME: Middlesbrough U18 0-1 Leeds United U18

Middlesbrough made an immediate impact after the restart, equalising within a minute. Roberts and Smith combined down the left. The resulting cross found Harrison at the back post, who finished to make it one apiece.

The hosts nearly completed the turnaround moments later with Roberts again cutting inside from the left, only to see his effort strike the post.

Leeds responded well and regained the lead on 55 minutes. Watling threaded a pass through to Bennett, who lifted the ball over the advancing Richardson, with a slight deflection helping it into the net.

The visitors pushed for a third, with Stockton slipping Heywood through on goal, but Richardson reacted well to deny him with a low save.

Middlesbrough continued to search for another equaliser, sending a delivery into the Leeds penalty area where substitute Osasere met it with a header though Wood gathered comfortably, diving to his left.

Stockton then tested Richardson himself after linking up again with Heywood, forcing another sharp save to keep the home side in the contest.

Boro captain Isaac Greenup later fed Harrison down the left but Hamilton recovered well to concede only a corner, which Wood claimed confidently under pressure.

The hosts came closest to levelling when Alfie Shaw broke through one-on-one, only for Wood to race off his line and produce a crucial block with an outstretched foot.

Leeds still carried a threat heading into the closing stages. Stockton forced the Boro keeper to react and to tip over the top after a shot from the edge of the box. From the resulting corner, Alexander Massey headed wide.

Despite sustained Middlesbrough pressure in the dying moments, the wall of blue shirts defended resolutely to see out the victory and secure all three points heading into the international break.

FULL TIME: Middlesbrough U18 1-2 Leeds United U18