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

FA Youth Cup Third Round

Portsmouth U18 2 (Singerr 31’, May 90’)

Leeds United U18 3 (Render 4’, McDonald 33’, White 102’)

Portsmouth: McDermott (GK), Ani, Martin, Howard, Sizer (Wilson 72’), Staight, Osifo (Chioma 46’), Buckland (Hammond 87’), Singerr, Clout (Thomas 109’), Agu (May 72’). Subs not used: Lewis (GK), Phillipson.

Leeds: Kenyon (GK), Firth (Thompson 57’), Bird, Pickles, Billett, Cresswell, Vincent (White 84’), Chadwick (C), Render (Watson 119’), Morris (Whitehead 84’), McDonald (Mills 120’). Subs not used: Wood (GK), Philpott.

Venue: Fratton Park

Referee: James Kerten

Booked: Osifo, Clout, Staight, May (Portsmouth) Chadwick, White (Leeds)

Sent off: Bird (Leeds)

Attendance: 627

Leeds United Under-18s booked their spot in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup with a thoroughly entertaining victory over Portsmouth Under-18s at Fratton Park, as Logan White’s extra time strike proved the difference for the young Whites!

Leeds started brightly and broke down the left through Josh McDonald who crossed dangerously with Jacob Render and Josh Morris lurking in the middle, though the ball narrowly evaded the two as the hosts survived a timely scare.

Portsmouth didn’t heed that warning however and Rob Etherington’s side took the lead moments later, when Render this time did get on the end of an excellent delivery from Harvey Vincent on the right to emphatically power a header beyond Conal McDermott and into the back of the net!

The visitors dominated the early proceedings on the south coast and their wingers in particular were causing Portsmouth all sorts of problems down the flanks, with Scottish attacker McDonald weaving his way to the edge of the area before laying it off for Vincent, who dragged an effort narrowly wide of the near post.

After the whirlwind start from Leeds, the home side began to get a foot in the match as they looked to wrestle back momentum, with a long-distance effort from Luke Staight sailing into the stand behind the goal in the first of a flurry of chances.

A tame effort from Pompey skipper Tayo Singerr was then easy pickings for George Kenyon between the posts for the Whites, before he then made a superb fingertip save to deny Chinedu Agu from the edge of the area, with Ashton Sizer heading wide from the resulting corner.

Singerr would level proceedings on the half hour mark after capitalising on a mistake at the back to bundle home an equaliser.

The parity would only last minutes however, as McDonald restored the lead almost immediately! More impressive play down the right from Vincent saw the winger flash an inviting delivery across the face of goal, with McDonald well placed to finish beyond McDermott.

Before referee James Kerten’s whistle brought an entertaining first half to a close, McDonald left the woodwork shaking as he looked to extend his side’s lead, lashing a fierce strike off the crossbar after clever play yet again with the lively Vincent.

HALF TIME: Portsmouth U18 1-2 Leeds United U18

The Whites, backed by an increasingly vocal travelling contingent at Fratton Park, emerged for the second 45 minutes unchanged as they looked to start on the front foot once more.

Leeds enjoyed large spells of possession, though it was Kenyon who was first called into action as he made a good diving save to deny Ciaran Martin’s low strike.

Vincent then went close to doubling the advantage with a rifled effort from distance, though the attacker’s drive fizzed narrowly wide.

The tie was beginning to grow into an end-to-end affair, with quick link up play between McDonald and Coban Bird seeing the latter send a dangerous cross into the box which McDermott did well to collect.

Immediately, the hosts broke and substitute Nathaniel Chioma floated an inviting delivery in from the right which Alfie Cresswell was well positioned to head away from danger.

United’s defence stood firm as the hosts desperately searched for an equaliser, limiting Pompey to just a few speculative chances from distance, with Staight stinging the palms of Kenyon from 25 yards out the closest the Hampshire outfit came heading into the dying moments.

Sam Hudson’s side weren’t to be denied however and scored deep into stoppage time as substitute Connor May bundled home from close range, sending the tie into extra time for a place in the Fourth Round.

FULL TIME: Portsmouth U18 2-2 Leeds United U18

As the additional period began, Leeds were reduced to 10 when Bird was shown a second yellow card by Kerten as the hosts looked to have momentum swinging in their favour.

Though the memo clearly hadn’t made its way to substitute White, who raced through on goal after latching onto a finely threaded pass from Rhys Chadwick.

With just McDermott to beat, the youngster kept his cool and finished confidently into the bottom corner to spark wild scenes among those in yellow!

The hosts threw everything forward looking to salvage a late goal to force penalties, but heroic defending from Leeds ensured the Whites progressed, where they will face AFC Fylde away from home in the next round.

EXTRA TIME OF FULL TIME: Portsmouth U18 2-3 Leeds United U18