U18s Report: Sunderland 3-0 Leeds United | OneFootball

U18 Premier League North

Sunderland U18 3 (Geragusian 18’, Proctor 55’, Neill 90’)

Leeds United U18 0

Sunderland: Metcalf (GK), Holcroft, Hester, Lightfoot, Kindon, Parker (Forsyth 73’), Dinsdale (Lienard 64’), Chungh, Neill, Proctor (Bowman 83’), Geragusian (Barker 46’). Subs not used: Robertson.

Leeds: Kenyon (GK), Firth, Billett, Whitehead (Morris 69’), Hamilton, Howard (Lane 53’), Vincent, Pickles, Boast, Mills (Simo 69’), Render. Subs not used: Wood, White.

Venue: Academy of Light

Referee: Samuel Ross

Booked: Chungh, Parker, Lightfoot, Kindon (Sunderland) Morris, Lane (Leeds)

Leeds United Under-18s were beaten in the U18 Premier League North by Sunderland Under-18s away from home.

It didn’t take long on a wet and windy morning at the Academy of Light for opportunities to arise for either side. A frantic opening few minutes saw George Kenyon impressively deny Marcus Neill, tipping the ball past the post at full stretch.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Jacob Howard latched onto the end of an Oliver Boast in-swinging delivery from a set piece on the edge of the area, connecting well but seeing his strike sail over the bar for the Whites.

The encounter began to become an open affair with neither side able to sustain long spells of possession, though it was the hosts who took the lead after 18 minutes when Finn Geragusian broke the deadlock with a low driven strike beyond Kenyon.

Rob Etherington’s side responded positively, posing a consistent threat towards the Sunderland goal. Pickles drew a fine save from the Black Cats’ stopper Ben Metcalf, after the midfielder was found by an indirect free kick inside the penalty area.

A slick passage of play between Boast and Harvey Vincent then brought a good attempt from the latter, which was also dealt with midway through the first half.

Leeds fought on until the interval looking for the leveller, with Jacob Render in particular finding joy on the ball, though the hosts’ defence stood firm until Samuel Ross’ whistle brought the first half to a close.

HALF TIME: Sunderland AFC U18 1-0 Leeds United U18

The Whites emerged unchanged looking to continue their momentum, although it wasn’t an attempt on goal which was the major talking point at the start of the second half.

A reckless challenge from Aaron Chungh on the halfway line saw Ross reach for his pocket for the first time of the afternoon, brandishing a yellow card, much to to the relief of the Mackem midfielder.

The tie’s intensity was accelerated with Leeds posing the biggest threat. Yet despite the ever-growing confidence of Etherington’s side who were controlling the share of the ball, it was Sunderland who doubled their advantage against the run of play through Tom Proctor.

A brief break in the Whites’ onslaught meant the midfielder had space to shoot from distance, lashing a shot into the top right corner.

The goal didn’t deter the away side from creating their own attempts after as Pickles came close again, as well as substitute Freddie Lane who dragged an effort narrowly wide of the post.

Minutes later, Lane rectified his wayward shot by bundling the ball into the back of the Sunderland net on the end of a curling corner, briefly igniting hope for the visitors. That was until celebrations were cut short when Ross ruled the goal out due to an alleged handball in the build-up.

As the home side looked to see out the encounter and run down the clock, the Whites threw everything at them. Chances fell to Pickles and Vincent whose respective strikes were denied by last-ditch defending.

With Leeds frantically searching for a route back into the clash, the hosts secured the points in added time when Marcus Neill rounded off a quick counter.

FULL TIME: Sunderland AFC U18 3-0 Leeds United U18