FA Youth Cup Report: AFC Fylde U18 2-3 Leeds United U18 | OneFootball

FA Youth Cup Third Round

AFC Fylde U18 2 (Holder 64’, Da Silva 67’)

Leeds United U18 3 (Pickles 32’, 38’ pen, Dudley 76’)

AFC Fylde: Clark (GK), Hailwood, Oliviera (Lee Green 85’), Meadowcroft, Coar, Palmer (Jackson 90’), Da Silva, Holder (C), McKay (Vika 90’), Frost (Cookson 61’), Moore (Stewart 61’). Subs not used: Dodgson (GK), Banks.

Leeds: Kenyon (GK), Dudley, Bird (C), Whitehead (Brown 90’), Hamilton (Billett 90’), Howard, Vincent, Pickles, Boast (Morris 90’), Lane (White 70’), Render. Subs not used: Wood (GK), Simo, Mills.

Venue: Mill Farm

Referee: Richard Holmes

Booked: Clark, Meadowcroft, Palmer, Jackson (AFC Fylde) Bird, Dudley, Howard (Leeds)

Sent off: Da Silva (AFC Fylde) Vincent (Leeds)

Leeds United Under-18s progressed to the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup, after an entertaining and feisty affair at Mill Farm saw Rob Etherington’s side edge past AFC Fylde Under-18s.

A first-half brace from Oliver Pickles had put the Whites in the driving seat at half-time, with Louie Dudley’s close-range strike after the hour mark 15 minutes from time setting up a home tie against reigning champions Manchester City Under-18s.

In front of a vocal crowd at Mill Farm, the hosts started on the front foot. Joleon Moore reacted quickest to a loose ball on the right flank, darting into the area and crossing dangerously looking for Elisiaro Da Silva, but fine defending from Jacob Howard saw the United defender make a vital challenge as Leeds cleared.

Immediately down the other end, Fylde goalkeeper Charlie Clark was almost caught in possession by the onrushing Pickles though, cannoning off the Whites’ midfielder, the ball fortuitously landed back at the feet of the young stopper.

An open-ended affair in the early stages on the Lancashire coast, the home side were next to threaten; Moore saw an effort deflect narrowly past the post before captain Stan Holder’s header from the resulting corner was easy pickings for George Kenyon between the posts for Leeds.

Moments later, Jacob Render, who found the back of the net in the previous round at Fratton Park, latched onto an incisive pass inside the area, only to be denied by a magnificent sprawling save by the onrushing Clark from close range.

Approaching the half-hour mark, a looping Fylde cross from the right landed the way of Mason McKay inside the area. Not to be deterred by the narrow angle, the Fylde forwarded unleashed a fierce volley that rattled the foot of the post and away from danger.

Leeds took the lead after 32 minutes and in style! Initially, full-back Coban Bird was hacked to the floor wide on the left-hand side. Pickles stood over the ball looking set to cross, but an emphatic near-post strike from the impressive midfielder saw the ball fly beyond the scampering Clark and nestle in the bottom corner!

One almost became two moments later as Etherington’s side surged forward for a quick-fire second, with Freddie Lane’s rasping drive from the edge of the area forcing the Fylde keeper into a hugely important save.

Within minutes, Pickles would have his brace! A sublime through ball from defender Jacob Howard picked out the run of Oliver Boast marauding into the area.

The striker was sent tumbling as he rounded Clark, giving referee Richard Holmes no option other than to point to the spot. Pickles stepped up, confidently slotting into the corner from 12 yards to double the Whites’ lead!

If not for Clark, however, the tie would have been put to bed before the break, as the Coasters’ stopper made impressive saves from Boast, Render and Harvey Vincent in quick succession.

HALF TIME: AFC Fylde U18 0-2 Leeds United U18

Both sides emerged for the second half unchanged, with a place in the Fifth Round of the competition at stake for the winners on the night.

Shortly after play had resumed, the Whites’ personnel would change though, when winger Vincent was shown a second yellow card after a late challenge inside the hosts’ half.

Immediately looking to use the extra man to their advantage, the hosts piled bodies forward and went close when Holder flashed an enticing delivery across the face of goal which somehow evaded everyone in the middle.

A flighted pass in-field from McKay was then brought down well by substitute Ashton Cookson, but fine defending from Josh Hamilton prevented the Fylde player from getting a shot on goal.

The hosts would halve the deficit just after the hour-mark, when skipper Holder found space inside the area and bundled into the corner beyond Kenyon.

Almost as soon as the Coasters had levelled proceedings, they were level. Forward Da Silva rose highest to meet a cross from the right, glancing a well-placed header into the back of the net from close range.

Etherington’s side responded and went within inches of retaking the lead through Pickles. The midfielder curled in a testing corner-kick which Clark couldn’t get near, however the ball crashed off the crossbar and bounced agonisingly away from danger.

After diffusing a dangerous Fylde attack, the Whites then broke at pace. Render raced away down the flank, driving over the half-way line and marauding into the area. With an inventive, chipped delivery into the middle, the attacker picked out the run of Dudley who, just yards from goal, fired home to restore the advantage for United!

Entering the game’s dying stages, the Lancashire outfit would have equalised once more if not for a sublime, point blank save from Kenyon! Da Silva met a cross six yards out, but a sprawling intervention from the keeper’s outstretched boot denied the hosts!

As the board went up to signal 11 minutes of stoppage time, Nathan Delfouneso’s side were reduced to 10 themselves when Da Silva then received his marching orders, after a poor challenge in the middle of the park.

Tempers flared before the full-time whistle eventually sounded, with Etherington’s youthful Whites progressing to the next round where they will host reigning champions Manchester City in a repeat of last season’s final.

FULL TIME: AFC Fylde U18 2-3 Leeds United U18